Three Grants and Programs That Can Boost Small Businesses

Do you have a brilliant business idea and need an injection of cash to get it going? Then you'll want to consider applying for grants and programs. There are several options for grants and programs that offer financial awards to help small businesses. Flourish Media shares three grants and programs to kickstart your research.

Prioritize Financial Organization

Small Businessify explains that cash flow is important for all businesses - no matter how big or small. It’s essential for small businesses to incorporate healthy habits of managing cash flow and tracking business expenses, so it may prove beneficial to check into bookkeeping services prices and outsource these tasks. As basic elements of financial organization, managing cash flow and expenses offers many benefits in the future, such as:

● Predicting potential financial problems and managing them effectively

● Laying the groundwork of positive financial habits to carry in the future

● Optimizing a tax strategy

● Leveraging the potential of sales trends

● Being proactive about managing expenses and income to generate profit

As finances are a critical component of business success, it’s worth investing in tools to streamline the financial organization.  

Does Your Business Have a Reliable Invoicing System?

The old way of manually invoicing clients has shifted to a more efficient method with modern technology. That said, you can help grow your business by automating time-consuming tasks. Invoicing software exists to help businesses streamline their income and manage finances. With a reliable invoicing system, businesses can save time by invoicing in bulk, duplicating similar invoices, and working efficiently.

Small Business Grants and Programs

Have you been searching for grants for your business and feel overwhelmed by all the options? Here are three to consider.

Patagonia Corporate Grant Program

There are several established corporations that give back and award finances to small businesses with big potential. Patagonia is one of these corporations that gives up to $20,000 to innovative, non-profit organizations.

The Patagonia Corporate Grant Program looks for organizations that prioritize the preservation and protection of the environment. If the business demonstrates a bold, direct-action agenda and showcases a commitment to long-term change, then they stand a chance to win. The grant is available to businesses around the world, as long as they meet the criteria as stipulated by Patagonia.

The Amber Grant

Run by WomensNet, the Amber Grant is a monthly award that contributes $10,000 to a female entrepreneur.  At the end of the year, an additional $25,000 is awarded to one of the previous 12 winners from the year.

The application process is easy and uncomplicated. Applicants are encouraged to speak from the heart and describe what matters to them when completing the online application form, which only takes a few minutes to complete. To secure the application, a $15 entrance fee needs to be paid.

First Nations Development Institute Grant

According to the 2019 Annual Business Survey, less than 20 percent of all U.S businesses were minority-owned. The First Nations Development Institute Grant aims to boost projects that help Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians achieve their business dreams.

There are several available grants that are available, offering both financial and technical resources to tribes and Native non-profit organizations. For example, the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship awards 10 fellowships of $75,000 each.

In order to achieve success with your startup, you need to maintain a positive mindset and the belief that you can and will succeed. Keeping those in mind, you can efficiently tackle each step of starting a business. When you’re ready to address the step of securing funding, let the above tips be your guide.

Flourish Media is your first choice for marketing training. We help small businesses operate like corporations by providing the most current resources through consulting, workshops, and development programs. Reach out to us today! mail@flourishmediaco.com

Photo via: Unsplash

Written by: Emma Grace Brown; egrace@emmagracebrown.com