The need for business grants for women is real and apparent. While women may own and operate more than nine million business concerns in the U.S., they receive a miniscule amount of funding in the form of business loans from such traditional sources as venture capital firms or banks. One reason for this is that, typically, women own smaller business operations that don’t require large sums of capital so their financing options are somewhat limited.
A business grant is not easy to obtain and, as a result, start up capital is often borrowed from family members or an aspiring would-be business owner will end up maxing out her credit cards to get things going. This can cause problems with their personal finances.
As an alternative, start up business loans are available that require unblemished credit histories and collateral that may be difficult for many women to produce. Here’s where business grants for women can mean so much, even when for a relatively small amount.
According to Entrepreneur Magazine, women are more progressive than men and are more likely to earn a college degree, start a non-profit organization or launch a successful business. Yet, despite their successes in business and career, and the fact that they make up more than half the population, they are still discriminated against in many areas and treated as a minority.
Women’s grants, especially small business grants for women, give them a leg up in an unfair system. Similar to affirmative action programs for other minorities, grants for women give them a way to get through a system that has always been unjust against their gender.
A business grant can help a woman launch or expand a home- based business or start a non-profit organization. Here are a few interesting tidbits relating to women in business:
- Three-fourths of females earn less money than their male counterparts earn
- The majority of entrepreneurs in the U.S. are women (and single parents)
- Women have been proven to be more financially stable and financially responsible than men
Millions of dollars per year are allocated to business grants for women and yet many grants go unclaimed. According to statistics, fewer than 15% of the women in the U.S. consider making a grant application. The money is there and waiting to be claimed. These grants have the means of empowering the recipients to build something better for themselves, their families and their communities. It might be worth a few minutes to see if you qualify.