Can I get a grant to start my photography business. I need the photoshop CS3 software and money for camera?

I need a grant to start my photography and poem business. I need Photoshop CS3 and better camera and equipment and a place to work and money to run me while I'm getting it going.

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 starting a for-profit business.

One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/... , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups -- minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include

Iowa Women's Foundation http://www.iawf.org/
New Mexico Women's Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/CO...

"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."

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.

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/CATALO...

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

Check with your local Small Business Association (SBA) to see if they have free seminars on how to start a business, including getting a business loan for the start up capital you need, writing a business plan, etc.

People have a misconception that there is free money available in the form of grants to assist private businesses in starting up. This is largely due to unethical people who just want to take your money and give you fake information on available government "grants." Grants are generally reserved for nonprofit corporations that have applied for and been granted a special tax status that allows them to accept this money. Your status is going to be "for profit," rendering you ineligible to legally accept this funding. So, don't waste your money on books or consultants who promise you access to information that will help you find free money. There is no such thing. But if you are passionate about what you do, and you develop a good business plan and work hard, you should be able to pay back a loan.

Im not sure but you can do a magazine fundraiser with my company, what that is, is that you have my company鈥檚 catalog, and sell the stuff in it to people, in return you make a profit of 35-45% . Also I understand you may not have money, are company pays for all of the materials, the books, and shipping of the materials too you, so try it out; you have nothing to loss. Well just email me: Info@J-DProducts.com or you can email me with yahoo.