I guess you could say that I started from a rather fortunate position. When I decided to embark on this freelance writing journey, I had enough money saved up that I didn’t need a full-time income right away. It also helped that the startup costs were remarkably minimal, because I already had a computer from which I could work.
If you’re looking to open a brick-and-mortar store or start some other kind of business, however, the startup costs can represent a major prohibitive factor. Thankfully, the government can help you in this regard. This review of Grants-Loans.org will describe some of the resources that are available to you if you’d like to start or expand your small business.
How to Get Government Grants
Just as there is a process to apply for student loans and grants when you want to go to school, there is also a lot of bureaucratic red tape to endure when you want a business-related grant too. You could try to solicit some seed money from venture capitalists, of course, but it’s nice to know that the government is there to help you.
When you go to Grants-Loans.org, one of the first tools you’ll want to use is the grants and loans wizard, accessible through the main link in the left sidebar. Going through that utility, you’ll learn whether you are eligible for Canadian government grants. Even if you are running an online business, the wizard will want to know your province of operations.
Following through on this wizard, you’ll learn what government programs you can use for your new or existing small business, leading you to the appropriate place to apply for these programs.
How Much Money Can I Expect?
Naturally, the amount of government funding you can get will range considerably. For instance, Koolhaus Games of Vancouver received more than $30,000 in government funding to “develop new technologies to enhance video games.”
By contrast, a canoe manufacturer was able to get a $300k+ loan from the government to purchase equipment and facilities. It really is dependent on your specific needs and the project at hand.
More to the Helping Hand
In addition to working as a “middleman” between you and the government in relation to small business loans and grants, Grants-Loans.org also has an impressive section filled with small business resources.
These articles can be a good place to start if you want to learn some tips related to cash flow, business acquisition, or even human resources.
Money Is Just the Beginning
Many people with regular jobs will tell you that they aspire to own their own businesses and be their own bosses. That’s a fair dream to have, but so many of these people do not take the necessary steps to realize their dreams. They say that they don’t have the funding to get started, so they remain in stagnation.
You also have to realize that money is a means to an end. If you can get some government funding through loans or grants, that may be your window of opportunity toward true entrepreneurship. Know that it can be a risky business, but the rewards can be positively immense.
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