Jean L. Serio

You're one of the half million women who want to start up a business this year. You've come up with a fabulous business idea. Determined your niche. Written a faultless business plan, forecasted sales and profitability for the next 5 years. However, what you don't know is how to acquire the funding needed to get your business off the 8 x 1/2 inch sheet of paper you developed it on.

It's true. There is millions of dollars in Grant Money available:

Did you know there was millions of Grant Dollars available to women? Issued by the federal and state U.S. governments, and other private groups, to help fund your new business? It might surprise you that some grants the U.S. has set aside from women are - $10 billion for start up businesses; $650,000 to help struggling women's businesses; $1 billion for educations. And that's just to start!

The U.S. Small Business Administration says, today, every two out three businesses is started up by women. Women, they've discovered, are more likely to be successful with their entrepreneurial businesses than men. Unfortunately, women find it more difficult to get funding than men do.

In fact, there are thousands of grants available, today, for women. Including those allocated by the U.S. Government. Grants for:

* Women with disabilities starting up a business; * Grants for women who work out of their homes: * To start day-care centers: * To work on new ideas and inventions; * To help low-income women start up a business; * billions of dollars worth of contracts for women doing business with the U.S. Government, to name a few.

Some Facts About Grants:

1. You must qualify.

2. Requirements may include such things as location, financial status, age; when applying for grants given to the disabled - a specific disability. Not all disability groups are covered.

3. Your business objectives must match those required.

4. There are use and use restrictions on grant money.

5. You may need an experienced grant person to translate grant descriptions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has a Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. Go online at www.sba.gov for info. This catalog contains a description of each grant offered, along with sections on "objectives, elegibility requirements, use and use restrictions". It also lists the name of the granting agency and amount being granted.

Check out Grant/US Gov. section of www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com which not only gives you grant info, shows you you how to write a great business plan, how to properly apply for a grant, other places to apply for grants, for example.

Grants for Minorities:

If you're an African American woman, Hispanic or member of any other minority group, there are 4-6 billion dollars in grants, subsidies, stipends and other financial aid offered by the U.S. government. Most programs offer grants, or supplements, you never need repay. Others offer financial assistance. Plus there may be dozens of grants available through your local state government.

More Info:

The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership is trying to level the playing field for both women startups and women with established businesses. Lots of help here. Also, check their "Hot List" of valuable outside resources. www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness

Some Final Thoughts:

While there are millions of dollars in grant money available for women, you must qualify. And - you must call, write for, or go online to get the proper forms and information necessary for the type of grant that fits your needs. You must accurately fill out those forms. Plus provide letters of reference as well as any supporting documents required. And, very importantly, you must write a kick-butt grant proposal and cover letter. But there is no limit on the numbers of grants you can apply for. And if you're turned down, you can immediately apply for another.

Jean L. Serio, Copyright 2006. Are you one of the 1-2 million women tired of working the 9-5 grind, sick of worrying about making ends meet? As you know, starting up a business still remains one of the best strategies for providing you financial freedom. Discover how to start a business, today, with your own step-by-step Action Plan. Plus to ensure you receive all the details FREE, and learn how to harness the power and resources you need to start, first sign up for your Free Newsletter "Start Up a Business Today" and receive your Bonus Report "5 Mistakes Women Make Starting Up a Biz". Go to: www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com "We help you make it happen!"