My wife has been doing a significant amount of research about starting a business, specifically a franchise. She is aware that there are government grants available for small business start-up capital (especially for women in business), but does anyone know of a means of researching these grants without buying some guide (such as Matthew Lesko). Or, is something like this worth the investment?
Posts: 19 | Location: Hoover, AL, USA | Registered: 07-08-02
Some past (though not extensive) experience revealed a "Catch-22" or sorts: more and more, grants are being provided to healthy businesses rather than startups.
Have you tried these folks?
Central Alabama Women's Business Center 2 North 20th Street, Suite 830 Birmingham, AL 35203 Phone 205.453.0249
Posts: 7891 | Location: in the backwoods of North Carolina | Registered: 06-07-02
I've never really liked the way the Small Business Administration conducts business (more like a beaurocratic monstrosity than a good idea), but the fact of the matter is that the federal government is still caught up in affirmative action, and federal grants and contracts tend to favor businesses owned by women and minorities.
No book required, just find the federal building in your city and see of the SBA has an office. I don't know if they offer "grants", but they do offer "loans".
Posts: 3632 | Location: Washington, US | Registered: 06-03-02
