Are there grants out there to start my own photography studio?
I really want to start my own photography studio, but my head spins just thinking about it! Money is the problem. I have none, and don't know anyone who has it to invest. I have the education, and started a business plan, but need a grant. My credit isn't good enough to get a loan that size.
You stand a greater chance of getting a government-guaranteed loan through the Small Business Administration http://www.sba.gov/financing than a government grant. Read the SBA Financing page to learn about criteria needed for borrowing
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 to 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."
Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show
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
I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business:
Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572484500/powerhomebizguid
Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0808007386/powerhomebizguid
Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580626815/powerhomebizguid
The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/158062202X/powerhomebizguid
Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471690635/powerhomebizguid
Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764124897/powerhomebizguid
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . 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.
Junebug - Lomo Fisheye Photography and the NAP Grant
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A Way of Life: Portraits from the Funeral Trade - Photographs and Interviews by Len Grant £9.95 ... |
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1000 More Graphic Elements: 2 (Grant Design Collaborative) £12.76 ... |
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The World's Biggest Book of Photography Competitions, Awards, Grants and Places To Sell Your Photos Online £11.99 ... |
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Photography Art Print, Cary Grant (50 x 40cm Art Prints/Posters) £11.95 High quality poster measuring 50 x 40 cm... |
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Photography Art Print, Hugh Grant (50 x 40cm Art Prints/Posters) £11.95 High quality poster measuring 50 x 40 cm... |
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Photography Art Print, Cary Grant (50 x 40cm Art Prints/Posters) £11.95 High quality poster measuring 50 x 40 cm... |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Grants bottling plant from Robert Harding £17.99 Photo Jigsaw, Grants bottling plant. Grants bottling plant, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe. Chosen by Robert Harding. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also supplied are a re-sealable bag, a photo example of the image and a self assemble flat packed box for storage. This item is shipped from our UK lab.... |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Close-up of statue of General Grant on horseback in New Orleans from Robert Harding £17.99 Photo Jigsaw, Close-up of statue of General Grant on horseback in New Orleans. Close-up of statue of General Grant on horseback in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America, North America. Chosen by Robert Harding. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also supplied are a re-sealable bag, a photo example of ... |
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Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Bull porcupine caribou (Grants caribou) (Rangifer tarandus granti), Denali from Robert Harding £17.99 Photo Jigsaw, Bull porcupine caribou (Grants caribou) (Rangifer tarandus granti), Denali. Bull porcupine caribou (Grants caribou) (Rangifer tarandus granti), Denali National Park, Alaska, United States of America. Chosen by Robert Harding. Bespoke 300 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle 17x12 (43x30cm). The jigsaw is delivered bagged and on a back board making a superb gift. Also supplied are a re-sealable bag, a... |
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