Dear Shirley,
Thank you for visiting PowerHomeBiz.com and subscribing to the weekly
newsletter.
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 a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots
and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.
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 if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has
information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has,
albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any
grants for starting a for profit business.
Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html ...
"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants o 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."
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
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's
Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. 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.
http://www.cfda.gov
http://www.grants.gov
http://gtionline.fdncenter.org
http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html
---------------------------
The Government has created a portal to help individuals who need benefits
because of life events. Visit
http://www.govbenefits.gov
Use the drop down button DO YOU NEED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF A LIFE EVENT?
Choose the life situation best applicable to you and then see if you qualify
for the available government assistance.
Forget grant money - there's hardly any money for individuals. Go to the
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov - these are two
sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and
information on grants. But you'd be hard pressed to find any grant that
would support individuals.
What type of licenses does a Janitorial company require??
It depends on where you are located, if you are going to lease your own
office or will you simply work from home, and the requirements of your
city/county business offices.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, for example, you will be required to
get the following if you are starting a janitorial business (if it applies
to your situation):
Business License (Business Tax Certificate) Burglar Alarm Permit Fire
Department Permit - Fire Protection Land Use Permit Zoning Approval
Fictitious Name Filing (DBA) Air Tanks Permit Corporation, Company or
Partnership Filings (if considering) Industrial Activities Storm Water
General Permit Sales & Use Permit (Seller's Permit) State EPA Identification
Number
If you have additional questions, please feel free to email us. Again,
thank you for being part of PowerHomeBiz.com
Isabel Isidro
Managing Editor
PowerHomeBiz.com
The opinions expressed in this column are those of the
author, not of PowerHomeBiz.com. Users should not treat the Guide's response as
legal, accounting, or professional advice as all answers are intended to be
general in nature. Such advice can only be properly given by qualified
professionals who are fully aware of a user's specific geographical areas or
circumstances, such as an attorney or accountant.
