I am trying to find to best way to apply for a grant for my
girlfriends new Pet Grooming Business. She needs equipment and tools
which get pretty expensive. I heard that Females starting their own
business have a good chance at getting grants. I don't know where or
how to apply. Please help me! Her business is located in Broomall,
Pennsylvania

Hi industry-ga,

The Small Business Administartion is the best source of information on
starting a small business. They do not provide grants, but they have
many other sources of funding that the new business owner can tap
into.

Their online Woman's Business Center has good information and the
local offices provide some very helpful mentoring and other resources.
http://www.onlinewbc.gov/faq.html#grants

They provide a list of links to grant information from their site.
http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization has some links to grants for startups.
http://www.osec.doc.gov/osdbu/Other_small_business_resources.htm#wosb1

The Center for Women’s Business Research 
http://www.nfwbo.org/
has links to assorted women's organizations that provide information
to assist new businesses run by women.

There are some places that sell directories to grants. Standard advice
is to avoid them. The information at federal government websites is
the same as what you'd pay for.

You can check to see what they have. Here's one:
http://www.smallbusinesscenter.com/

One of the most complete directories on this topic is Deborah L.
Kluge's small, minority and women owned business page:
http://www.proposalwriter.com/small.html#General

The benefit to government help in the form loans is that the loans are
generally low interest and are made available to women who would have
a problem with getting money through more traditional credit sources.
It might be scary to consider taking a large loan for a startup
business. Think about it though. If you don't think the business will
be a success, why are you considering wasting your time? But... if you
believe that there is a good possibility of success, you'll be paying
the loan back out of your profits. With the economy in flux and
layoffs looming, working for yourself is one good way to give yourself
some security. It is hard, but ask any successful business owner and
you'll hear that it's definitely worth the effort.

search terms: grants for women small business

Good luck to both of you!

bcguide-ga

Thank you!