If you are either a start up (pre revenue) firm or an established small or medium (we’ll define medium a bit later) sized company in Canada you should be investigating, and using the Government of Canada small business loan program.

Why? We will give you 4 reasons – great terms, rates, structures and qualification criteria. Could you ask for anything better in Canadian business financing? We don’t think so and we have been a fan of the program now for years.

Many clients or callers requesting information on the program (the formal name is BIL / CSBF) often utilize the terms ‘grants’ when requesting info on the program. The BIL /CSBF program is not a grant. It is a special business financing program sponsored by Industry Canada (those good folks in Ottawa…). The program was developed by the government to assist the thousands of firms who might not qualify for what the finance folks call ‘traditional financing’ – aka “the bank!”.

We also promised you we would qualify the term ‘medium sized firm’ when it comes to qualifying for the program. In the case of the Small Business loan program any firm under 5 Million dollars in either actual or projected revenue still qualifies for the program. Naturally your firm has to be privately owned, and be considered a ‘for profit’ business. (We’re all ‘for profit’!)

As we said, many customers call looking for ‘grants’ – we’re all for free grant money also – we are sure it exists out there somewhere, we just have never found it. Actually, let’s clarify that, two great programs, S R ED, and film tax credits are non repayable credits you can easily apply for if you qualify for either of those credits. Those two programs are a discussion for another day though.

Typical client questions always include – how much can we get or apply for? What are the rates and terms? And what’s the process involved? Get ready for a short, simply and basic primer in all those three areas!

The Canada government small business loan has a maximum cap of 350,000.00 dollars. However, if you chose to use this financing for real estate you can actually receive 500k. We note that for many years the program had a cap of 250k and during the global recession (2008-2009) the government raised the limit on the program.

Many firms who are either new or have challenges might think the rates and structures are onerous under the program. Exactly the opposite… financing is at only 3% over prime, and from a term perspective you can go from 5-7 years, we typically structure 5 years as a reasonable term.

Penalties to pay back if you’re successful – There are none!

There isn’t a day when we don’t spend time advising clients on what can be financed under the program…that’s where a lot of mis-information exists. The program only covers equipment, leaseholds and real estate. We would add that software is included in the equipment category.

So who is using the program? Almost 8000 businesses did in 2010 – so you can be sure that the program works and is robust.

The greatest challenge around the program in our opinion has been the confusion on where and how to apply. We’ve completed transactions in a week and then heard from clients that they have spent months floundering on their processes in this type of financing. Speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor in the area of government small business loans will get you on the fast track to some of the best financing available in Canada today.

By: Stan Prokop

It doesn’t matter if your business has already started or whether you just have the concept under way. The small business grants for woman are designed to help you establish a new little company. They are also designed to help established smaller organizations expand and improve. Is it safe to say that you are reading this article because you are seeking knowledge on getting government grants for women?

One of the most ideal financial ways to start your business is through grants. Grants tend to be given to those who will contribute to the economy at large while starting their own small business. Business grants are given to people who qualify from the federal government dept. A point to remember is that since grants money are not loans they don’t have to be paid back.

a. Women’s Business Grants Defined-Women can run a business outside of the home or a home-based business by utilizing business grants money. They can be used to:$1500 grant – Women Studying Business in College. $10000 Grant Money – Blind College. $12000 Grant Money-Women’s College Scholarships – Single Parents.

1) Acquisition of a new or existing business. 2) Equipment financing. 3) Salaries and related expenses. 4) Office Rent. 5) Start a new or expand an existing business. 6) Office expenses and overhead.To promote and encourage business growth these are generally given to woman small business owners. You have to be at least 18 years old to qualify.

b.The Use Of Governments Grants:

A grant is one way to support a business idea and turn the dreams of an entrepreneur into reality. A list of government grant for woman types offered are the following:1) Education grants. 2) Housing grants. 3) Individual grants for personal necessities. 4) Business grants for starting a new business.

By: Jane Addams

Do you need money to start a business or to improve it?

Entrepreneurs are idea thinkers and deal makers. More and more people now are interested in creating own business because of the endless opportunities in the world, even uneducated individuals. Have you dreamed of opening a fresh and new product, a new way of producing something, an innovative market, online business, or some other type of business?

There are thousands of opportunities that you can find from emerging communications, culture, and science and technology. As beginners, you have to gather as much information as you can for the success of your chosen field. All you need to do is identify these business opportunities and turn them into a real business enterprise.

Being an entrepreneur is hard especially for beginners. However, with diligence, hard work, patience, knowledge, and a whole lot of other qualities, even you can become a successful entrepreneur. But, the most important thing is capital. If you have all about these, but no capital to start up. So, your dream is impossible.

Free business grants are a great way to find money to set up and expand your business. The government offers real chances and supports to good projects and causes. The government has several programs to assist you both financially and mentally to be entrepreneurs. There are over 1,400 federal government programs and 17,000 state available in any given year.

A federal grant can help you to start up a business which point you into the entrepreneur way. There are many of funding sources including government agency contacts, state contacts, and foundation grant contacts with direct links to their respective websites.

All U.S. citizens and residents are eligible to receive U.S. Federal Government, State Government and Private Foundation-funded grants and loans. Remember, these programs do not require credit checks, collateral, security deposits or co-signers. Even if you have declared a bankruptcy or currently have bad credit: as a tax payer and U.S. citizen or resident, you are entitled to this money!

Grant money is completely independent from your personal credit rating. Your receiving grant money is entirely based on personal need, regardless of your credit history.

When someone tells you that you can’t do something…

Look around…

Consider all options…

Then GO for it!

Use all the things God gave you!

Be creative!

In the end, you will succeed and prove them wrong!

Always remember

“When there is a will, there is a way”

By: Chai Saelim

Grants are available to people that are starting businesses, particularly people that are considered to be disadvantaged. African American women fall under this category and for them, acquiring grants is typically very attainable so long as they follow the steps outlined in this article. In order to qualify for the grants the business must be at a minimum, 51% minority owned.

The first step in acquiring grants for black women to start a business is to write a solid business plan. This is critical as it allows for credibility to your business, for in the early stages without any hard data your business is just an idea. It is important for this idea to seem concrete and well formulated to lend credibility to the undertaking.

Next get your Sec 8(a) certified which is for disadvantaged minority business owners and makes it a lot easier to get your grant approved. You will want to attain this through the Small Business Association. After you get your certification from the Small Business Association get your DUNNS number which is used by federal organizations to organize where they grant funds and is necessary for any federal funds the business is to receive. Finally you will register your business at the government grants website.

After you have completed the above steps you should be set to begin receive your government grants. The only thing left is focusing on your business and finding the most effective means for spreading the word. You will definitely want to look towards the internet as a way to market in an inexpensive and effective way.

By: Matthew E Peterson

When does a woman qualify for these grants?

If you are a woman who owns about 51% of a business or you wish to start up a new business, it will be considered as the woman owned enterprise. In this case, you will then qualify for a large number of small business grants for women.

Why will these grants bring a smile to your face?

As a matter of fact, this article posts nice news for you. Briefly, this kind of financial aid is really nice in terms that you do not have to pay the money back, unlike bank loans.

In fact, grants for women in small businesses can be utilized to meet various business expenses. For example, a business requires an office, either on rent or otherwise, and here you can use government grants for women to meet such expenses.

How can these grants be put to use?

It can be very well used for paying for the employees’ wages or other overheads. It can be either used to start a firm or for its expansion. Indeed, it is your decision how to use the money, but you should use it carefully.

What is the toughest situation for a woman in terms of business?

Any business can have few debt and these can be paid effectively by the help of these grants. In this context, it would be very useful for your application, if you can show that you have already paid around 50% of the debt.

How can the grants be availed?

Indeed, it is not impossible to get grants for women in businesses. It is just a question of devoting enough time and effort to prepare your application the best way ever. Here are 4 tips that can help you.

Tip #1: Do your research well.

It is very important to have a strong research work done on various agencies that can offer grants. In this context, you will find a wide variety of grants starting from hundred dollars to thousands.

Tip #2: Put the web to use effectively.

You should use the web the best way possible as there are sites that can help you to find the best grant. They also give you important information to obtain a grant and a list of the documents you need to prepare.

Tip #3: Get a professional accountant to help you.

It is always advisable to take a professional help from well-known accountants as they are experts. Following this strategy, you make sure that your application is not going to be rejected.

Tip #4: Draw up a strong plan.

Drafting the best plan will further ensure that you get the grants. So, this should be given due importance. In this manner, I would like to advise you to search the internet for templates to see how professionals make these plans.

And finally, here are my parting words for you.

Thus, finding small business grants for women may be carried out easily and quickly on the World Wide Web. To apply for these grants successfully, it is a must to devote some effort and time. But, you can be rest assured that your efforts will pay off.

By: Asem Eltaher

Starting a small business can be expensive, and if you’re a woman trying to find a grant to assist with the start up costs, it may not always seem to be the easiest thing to do. It’s no secret that more and more women owned businesses are popping up everyday. Believe it or not, there are literally millions of dollars in the form of grants from the government waiting to be claimed for those individuals who want to start a craft business, become consultants or even start their own record labels. With a few helpful strategies you will be able to find woman owned business grants that get you the money you need.

When you first start looking for a grant, you may be tempted to pay someone hundreds of dollars to get one for you, but there are other ways that don’t cost you a penny. And while these other methods may take a little more time and research on your part, they are far more satisfying in the long run. One website that should be looked at is LadiesClub2000.com. You will need to sign up for a free membership, but once you do you will have access to information that can tell you how to qualify for woman owned business grants.

Women have the potential to start a variety of different companies, and the type of woman owned business grants that you can potentially receive depends on what type of business you are planning to open. By checking out womens-finance.com you will learn about two different types of grants. The New Business grant typically gives amounts between $500 and $5,000 while the Existing Business grant ranges between $1,000 and $5,000. You will need to apply to the site and then be accepted, but it is certainly worth the effort.

The government does want you to succeed with your small business and that’s why there is so much money available in the form of woman owned business grants. Many grants do have requirements that you need to meet, and being over 65 or a minority can often help the process of qualifying for a grant. Visit sites that look for women to give grant money too. Such a site is womanowned.com which works to aid females in entrepreneurialism and get them on the road to success.

By: Dave Gorski

Government and private grants for starting a small business can provide you with the financing you need to get your new venture off the ground running. No body wants to risk everything they have, no matter how solid a business plan sees. But the economy must continue to grow, and that won’t happen unless entrepreneurs continue to launch successful new businesses.

That’s why the government supports small businesses by providing free grant money. Other organizations also benefit from major tax incentives when they give away money to help people start or expand a business of their own, which is why it is not uncommon to find grants in the private sector.

Those who apply should have a strong sense of the amount of money they need, what they will spend the money on, and their plans for business growth. The grant reviewer is going to want to know details about your business and why it should invest in you.

While they don’t expect you to pay the money back, the government and private foundations do want to be sure their money is being used in the right places. By helping people move their business to the next level. the government does benefit from potential job creation and more tax income. For the private and non-profit organizations, they get good PR by saying they helped you establish and build your venture.

When you search the grant database, don’t get overwhelmed by the number of options that are available. There is no limit on the number of small grants you can apply for, so making the perfect match is not critical.

By: Austin Warty

Federal Government Grants are available to a great many people. Most require you to be a United States citizen and eighteen years of age. There are five basic types to consider.

1. Formula funds are only available to state agencies. This money is given to agencies to distribute to the people that they feel are in need of them. However some money may be specified to go to a certain department like urban development or forestry.

2. Project funding is the most common type of program. It is given for specific projects. There is usually competition for the money, as there is only so much allocated. These people or organizations make a written application for the funds. The applications are looked over by a group of peers. Each one is rated on points. The one with the highest rating is awarded the funding.

Some examples of project funding are money given to pay for nursing programs. There might be funds for low income housing. Some may provide assistance for the elderly in certain cases.

3. Categorical funding is very specific about how the money is spent. Some of these may be formula funding projects. Often times, the recipients must match the amount of the grant for their project. For example, a group may ask for $10,000. They may have spend $10,000 of their own money to receive the funding.

4. Block funding does not have the restrictions of the categorical ones. A federal agency gives a large amount of money to state agencies. The money is usually for general purposes and not anything in specific. As long as the money is spent on the particular goal or purpose, it does not matter how it is spent. This gives state agencies a great deal of leeway. For example, funds may be awarded for drug education. This can be achieved by many different methods. As long as the end result is in drug education, the state agency is in compliance with the rules.

5. Earmark funds are appropriated by the United States Congress. They are awarded to a person or group by a vote. There is no competition for the funding. This is sometimes unpopular as certain groups may be able to influence legislators in their favor.

By: Bob Y Grant