ILLINOIS SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Grants are not Available to Start Small Businesses Would-be entrepreneurs often ask us: Where can I get find grants to start a business? And, sadly, some of these individuals pay big money to attend business financing seminars that travel from city to city talking enticingly about “free” government money for your business. All you have to do is pay these folks up front and they will fill out some paperwork for you to apply for these “grants.” Trouble is, the rare few that are available are so highly specialized in research fields that the odds of getting them are astronomical. In practical terms, it is a dead end. Forget about government grants to start a new business. It won’t happen. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) gets the same question daily at their small business Answer Desk. And their response is always the same: “The SBA does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses.” Beware of companies and individuals who, for a fee will provide information on grants available for small business start-up. Grants do not exist, companies and individuals who want to take advantage of you do. Consider these facts: •
More than 78 million small businesses are in operation in the United States
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U.S. small businesses employ more than the Fortune 500 combined
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Small businesses account for almost 2/3 of the nation's gross receipts
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Small businesses are plentiful, healthy and active in the United States.
If you are considering small business ownership, call for an information packet or better yet, make an appointment with one of our counselors — (847) 543-2033. We will coach you through start-up decisions including funding, loans, finances and business plans.