A small business grant comes in many forms and has various requirements. While there’s nothing you can do to guarantee you get a grant, there are some things you can do to increase your likelihood of getting picked for one.
Start Local
Big nationwide grants can be appealing due to their large awards. Before you spend countless hours preparing submissions for nationwide grants, though, consider starting local.
Look for any small grants offered by your town or city. Then, branch out to the state level and regional level. These grants may not be as big as some of the ones offered to the entire country, but you’ll also be competing with a smaller pool and have a greater chance of getting one.
Research Previous Winners
If you’ve found a grant that looks like a good fit for your business, do some digging and see who the previous winners were. Note any patterns you see between the business. Seeing what kinds of businesses are awarded a certain grant can help you narrow down if your business is a good fit, what you could possibly do to increase your chances, and ultimately help you save time by not applying to a grant you’re unlikely to land.
Take Your Time with Applications
Grant applications can be long and grueling. Take it slowly when filling them out and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by trying to rush them. A mistake on the application could cost you the grant, so make sure it’s time well spent by filling out the forms the right way.
Consider Hiring a Grant Writer
Grant writing is an art, so consider hiring a grant writer if possible. A grant writer will know what kind of language to use to make your application stand out, which can make quite the impact when you’re competing.
It’s worth noting that grant writers can be rather expensive, so if you’re strapped for cash you may want to hold off and consider taking some free grant writing courses instead.
Instead of taking out loans you’ll have to pay back, grants offer you the opportunity to earn money without going into debt. Before you start applying to grant programs, ensure you’ve covered all your business’s legal bases.
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