Comments on: Small Business Loan for Women

By: lex H

lex H — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:08:52 +0000

Some of the richest and most successful business people I see running around London are 20 year old internet entrepreneurs – while the bankers all turn grey and loose their jobs – times are changing don't let age hold u back.

Who ever you approach for the loan you need a business case or to be able to prove you have a profitable business model.

If it is a start up they will normally want to see you put in an equal amount of money to show commitment.

The bank or government won't lend if they are not convinced or think they will get their money back.

If you have time on your hands I'd suggest an internet business or something that can be done with very little set up costs.

By: Serious Answers

Serious Answers — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:24:04 +0000

The Small Business Administration has an office dedicated to women entrepreneurs – the Office of Women's Business Entrepreneurship. Here is their webpage on lending programs available to women http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wlending.html

It is hard to find grants to start a business — even for women and minorities. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov – these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business — THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT – Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:

Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572484500/powerhomebizguid
Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0808007386/powerhomebizguid
Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580626815/powerhomebizguid
The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158062202X/powerhomebizguid
Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471690635/powerhomebizguid
Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764124897/powerhomebizguid

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

By: tortillasyfrijoles

tortillasyfrijoles — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:06:07 +0000

Go to the city of New Orleans. Where the council is located. Probably have building permits etc in that building. They would be able to help you . ,Or direct you in the right direction, You might also want to check with city services, they usually have a number , just for the specific area
Good Luck

By: ellie

ellie — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:29:07 +0000

You stand a greater chance of getting a government-guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/financing than a government grant. Read the SBA Financing page to learn about criteria needed for borrowing

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups — minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women's Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women's Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CON_FAQ2.html

I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:

By: Miss Orlando

Miss Orlando — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:04:05 +0000

By: momoftwis22002

momoftwis22002 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:51:40 +0000

Have you tried to see about small business grants. Just type women small business grant and choose one and fill out some information and they will email you back to order a CD or e-book and of course you will have to pay a fee or just the shipping and handling or even go to a half off book store & see and read on how you can get a grant. This what I am trying to do. Also, Go online to…….. check them out. Good Luck! I hope this will help.

By: BettyLee

BettyLee — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:37:47 +0000

By: olivia

olivia — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:09:32 +0000

caldwell banking .. .

By: taysmith1222

taysmith1222 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:33:41 +0000

This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but, I think you are taking over an established business, as in, someone in your family or all of you are taking over legal ownership of the restaurant…you could go to a regular bank in your area and get a small business loan using your restaurant as collateral. With solid cash flow statements, I can't see why you would be turned down. Local banks are always looking to partner with local businesses because it makes them look good and builds their credibility in the community.

So, before you get adventurous, start by looking to see which banks are listed in your local chamber of commerce directory. Those folks would be the ones looking to support local businesses. When you get a local banking contact, invite that person to your restaurant for lunch…or join the chamber of commerce and host a chamber event, like a happy hour if your serve drinks or offer chamber members coupons.

In my opinion, when it comes to banking, relationship building in your local business community is more effective than fishing around for companies offering programs who don't really understand the true value of your business.