But think about it: if grants were available for every person selling a product or service, you'd been up against stiff competition in every industry because of the numbers of people selling what you also want to sell.

In the past 16 years, I've visited a foundation in New York that makes grant books available to anyone entering the facility.

These grant books are incredibly thick, separated by state, alphabetized listings, or grant type. There are plenty of people looking for the same information: where to find grants for everything imaginable, including school, business, and non-profit projects to name a few.

With all the people visiting the facility looking for grant money, I've never had to wait for a turn to look at a particular grant book. Everyone's reviewing something new each time.

Why do I visit this grant foundation? Because I like to be updated on what's available in the many grant categories. I'll also document grants and application procedures that may assist new entrepreneurs as they search for money sources.

There is one fact about finding and applying for a grant that you've probably heard and is definitely true. Grants are not available for everyone. If you've decided to start a business, the main person who must be ready to bear all risks is you, the aspiring business owner. In most cases there's no getting around this.

No company or institution will front you thousands of dollars on a dream. If there is a grant available, you will be obligated to jump through hoops in order to receive a check.

One hoop is the preparation of a full and complete business plan. Without a focused plan, which includes sections on marketing, competition, cash flow, and growth projections, your dream will be considered as frivolous by the grant provider.

Another hoop may be an interview in person or by telephone. The manner in which you project your vision is a big consideration. You must look and sound successful before one dollar is issued.

There are other hoops, all depending on the grant provider. No part of receiving money is easy, but it is possible if you look for and find feasible sources.

Throughout the years I've noticed that most grants are provided to non-profit institutions, but some are given to individuals. Grant providers give money to people who:

*Reside in certain low-revenue states (lower revenue than traditional metropolitan areas)
*Are part of specific ethnic or religious backgrounds
*Graduated for certain colleges

This is why everyone does not qualify to receive a grant. Many of us do not fit into the above categories, though there are many other categories not mentioned here.

The New York based-foundation is a comprehensive facility and popular place for grant hopefuls, but it's not the only location to find grant information. Some libraries make this data handy in their reference sections. There are also online sources, but most (if not all) are subscription only, and if you subscribe there's no guarantee that a grant is waiting for you.

Most of all, you must be careful about online sources. Not all are reputable. Be careful that you don't spend potential business investment money with an online site that only delivers a bad experience.

Need more help?
Click here for our Success Tips article, Where to Find Start-Up Cash on the Internet

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