Are you a woman who is finding it difficult to start your own business in the United States due to lack of funds? Don’t worry, you are not alone in this battle as there are thousands, maybe even millions of other people in the same situation as you! However, there are ways to overcome this problem of lack of funds that women face today, one of the most obvious being the use of small business grants that are offered by the government, as well as various agencies and organizations within the country to help women entrepreneurs. The government has especially intensified its efforts to help women entrepreneurs nowadays as they realize the potential of these women entrepreneurs that could help boost the economy further.

Let’s now look at tips and advice on how budding women entrepreneurs can get small business grants to help them start their own small businesses and possibly grow them even more in the near future:

1) Before you start applying for grants, make sure you have your business planned out carefully. Be prepared with a great business plan, with the exact amounts and figures you need for every aspect of your business, such as overhead, labor, facilities, and other expenses. Once you have the figures in place, add an additional 25-30% to this amount as a contingency measure to protect against unexpected expenses. A well planned business plan could do wonders for you to get a good grant to help you with your business.

2) Hire the services of a consultant to help you find and obtain a small business grant. Although this may be a bit costly for you, the experience and knowledge that the consultant brings to your grant application could prove invaluable and may be the deciding factor in whether you win or fail your bid.

3) Use the Internet and the available website with good results. Visit relevant sites such as the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) where you can find a list of small business grants you can apply for, as well as the Small Business Administration (SBA) website where you will find all the required information regarding grant applications here. Other helpful sites, especially for women entrepreneurs, include usagovernmentgrants.org and, of course, grants.gov, a government-linked site where your grant-seeking efforts could pay off.

4) Don’t forget to work on your presentation skill as well, as you will be required to present in front of a grant making committee. So, prepare to impress them with your proposal, and all the best in getting the small business grant for you!