Business Plans for Seeking Grants

Getting a group of venture capitalists to loosen their purse strings and invest in a start-up is daunting enough. Imagine convincing the federal government to part with the precious tax dollars, and that too without any prospect of repayment in the future!

Welcome to the world of business grants and more. Grants are offered to non profit organizations, businesses carrying out meaningful work that benefit the community and also to veterans and disabled persons. The category may be small, but the competition for funds stays fierce.

Getting a business grant

Apart from the government agencies, certain non profit organizations, foundations and even businesses are also willing to provide grants that do not have to be paid back ever. But the qualifications and requirements are quite strict.

Following is a step-by-step guide to getting your grant proposal accepted:

1. There are various federal, state and local grants geared towards specific needs and tasks. The first step is to compile a list of the grants that are available to your business and prioritize the same based on the amount of money, level of ease and possibility of being awarded the grant.
2. You need to write and present a convincing business plan just like to the regular business investors. It should begin with a clear vision and mission that establishes the goals and objectives of the business. Next come the strategies for achieving the greater good and how they will be aligned throughout the organization. The business plan needs to clearly establish the target market, competition, marketing tactics, strengths, weaknesses, potential challenges and how they will be overcome. The viability and return on investment also has to be set out in clear terms. A purview of the leadership and management is essential and so is a plan of how the grant dollars will be spent. In sum, the business plan should sound professional and efficient even while being appealing and credible.
3. In addition to the above, the plan has to be tailored to suit the organization that you are applying for. It should lay out how the business matches the philosophy and mission of the granting organization and will also manage to fulfill the established need in the society.
4. Moreover, many grants have strict application requirements and these should be followed in the precise order itself. So, using a generic business plan for all grant applications will never do.

The possibility of ‘free money’ can seem enticing, but getting there is another story altogether. This is why a business needs a professional business plan consultant at the helm of affairs who will guide and steer the ship towards the grant and increase your chances of getting the funding. A business plan writer is indeed in the right place to craft a professional business plan that meets the grant guidelines and will net you the dollars that never need to be paid back!

The author is highly experienced in providing well researched quality information and tips about business consultancy and planning.Find more information regarding business planning, consultancy through Planwriters.net.