Funding A Small Business With Other People’s Money

The Holy Grail for a small business startup is to be able to outsource the risk. The rational behind it is to avoid putting one’s personal savings on the line, and instead rely on funding the business with Small Business Grants, Personal Loans, etc. To achieve the zero risk status, funding would have to be achieved without submitting personal assets as collateral.

Business grants, in general are not easy to come by. This obstacle is an irony given the industries that have sprung up catering to entrepreneurs in need of such funds. US Business Grants are provided mostly to organizations that are planning projects that directly benefit the local community. Further a lot of such financial aid goes to organizations such as Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), and Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE).

The SBA does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses. They offer a small business loan program structured such that SBA guarantees a loan offered by a 3rd party lender up to 85%. SBDC is an offshoot of the SBA. Its mission is to provide management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. As such, that office is helpful with regards to obtaining information and as a source of mentoring, but with regards to monetary aid the program comes up short. SCORE is yet another organization that is geared more toward mentoring as opposed to doling out money to small businesses. Given this situation, one of the best sources to acquire US Small Business Grants may be to align your business to the needs of the local community and to apply for a grant directly with the U.S. Small Business Administration.