A business grant is a sum of money given to entrepreneurs, either by organizations or individuals, or the government, most commonly governments to either start-up or continue or boost a business.
In such cases, many young entrepreneurs in the labour market would want an upper hand in getting such grants to either boost their businesses, continue a business that seems to be dropping or start up a business to help their lives.
Many times it becomes a thing of concern as the number of persons applying for a grant could sometimes triple the total number of persons the grantors originally had in mind to give out this grant to.
What do you do in this case to get an upper hand in winning the grant ahead of many other applicants?
Winning a business grant goes beyond just getting the money, it involves winning the trust and belief of your grantor and every other individual involved.
Here, we’ll be looking at ten (10) tips for winning a business grant.
Consider these tips and find yourself at the top of the game.
1. Learn how to write good business proposals
A business grant is a sum of money given to entrepreneurs to either start up or boost a business, which money isn’t to be paid back.
Grants for entrepreneurial and creative laid-off graduates are an example of a business grant.
For you to win a business grant, you’ll need to learn how to write a good, mind-blowing, enticing business proposal, that will capture the mind of the grantor.
This gives you an upper hand in winning the grant. Make sure you don’t do the regular.
Add some creativity that makes you outstanding.
2. Work on your communication skills
When it has to do with an oral explanation of your business structure, you need to work thoroughly on your communication skills.
Most businesses require good communication skills, and if you don’t have this requirement, it’ll be really difficult for you to win a grant for such businesses.
This is one thing that disqualifies many from getting a grant.
3. Keep to the time of appointments
Most times young entrepreneurs miss out on opportunities because they lack the discipline to keep to time of appointments with their grantors.
Time is an essential part of business success. Every successful entrepreneur in the world understands this.
In fact, time is the unit of destiny, everything is dependent on time and if you’re not conscious of timing, you’ll lose out on many things, one such thing is winning a business grant.
4. Be sure to fill in your details correctly
While filling in your details for a grant, be sure to go through each detail and make sure they’re correctly filled in.
Discovering an error in your details could lead to you losing out on the grant.
5. Don’t show you’re desperate
Someone desperate to get something will always end up a mess at it.
Don’t let your grantor see any atom of desperation in you, it is a dangerous factor and could disqualify you completely.
While you must be persistent, patience is also required. It is one of the tips for sourcing grant funding opportunities.
6. Be sincere and honest
Don’t go for a grant if you’re not ready to start up whatever business you’re opting for. Be sincere with yourself and honest with your grantors.
7. Use personal details
Use information that is yours while filling out any form for a grant.
Most people tend to use other people’s information, example of such is using someone else’s account details to get a grant when every other detail is yours.
This is one factor that can disqualify you completely.
See Business Funding Opportunities & Awards for African Entrepreneurs.
8. Be tolerant
Many grantors could be so annoying if I should say, make sure you can tolerate whatever thing they do or say to get the grant you’re looking for.
9. Present a good business structure
Learn how to draw a good business structure. The structure of your business will tell anyone if it’ll last or not.
A grantor will always want to give grants to entrepreneurs whose business structures prove the lifespan of such business will be long-lasting.
If you have a good business structure on the ground here are 6 grants you can apply for right now.
10. You mustn’t discuss it with everyone
It’s not everyone who should know you’re applying for a grant.
There are competitors everywhere, and you never can tell who wants an advantage over you in whatever grant you’re looking for.
Conclusion
Winning a business grant like I’ve earlier stated, goes beyond just getting the money to start up a business or to boost an ongoing business.
It is you who also win the trust and belief of the grantor and every other person involved in the grant.
The competition in the labour market is at its peak, many young graduates are out there without work and many others are in the queue, waiting to be graduated.
This makes the competition high and tough. What do you do to get an upper hand over everyone else?
Follow these few tips and find yourself at the top of the game.
