Article · Guide page

Government grants and loans (USA.gov)

USA.gov · usa.gov Free Beginner

The federal government's guide to how grants and loans work, including a warning about 'free money from the government' scams and where to go to start and fund a business.

The government does not offer free money to individuals to start businesses.
Loans, not grants, are the usual federal route for a small business.
Report grant scams; never pay a fee to get a grant.

Open on usa.gov ↗

The question it answers

Which grants can a small business or startup in the US get?

Read with it

This is the founder-perspective answer to your exact question, delivered as an interview rather than a listicle. The clearest... Feel the Boot Podcast · 35 min Non-Dilutive Startup Fundraising: When SBIR Grants Help and When They Distract Feel the Boot (with Caroline Arzoo)
The SBA's own statement that it does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business, and where federal grant money... sba.gov Article · Guide page Grants (U.S. Small Business Administration) U.S. Small Business Administration
The official portal for the SBIR and STTR programmes, which award non-dilutive federal funding to small businesses developing... sbir.gov Tool · Portal SBIR and STTR: America's Seed Fund U.S. Small Business Administration
The National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR programme for deep-tech startups: up to $2 million in seed funding and zero equity,... seedfund.nsf.gov Tool · Programme page NSF SBIR/STTR (America's Seed Fund at NSF) National Science Foundation
A law firm's summary of the April 2026 reauthorization: the programmes lapsed for six months, were restored on 13 April 2026,... crowell.com Article · ~6 min read SBIR/STTR programs reauthorized after six-month lapse Crowell and Moring
The single federal site to search and apply for every federal grant opportunity; most opportunities are for organisations and... grants.gov Tool · Portal Grants.gov U.S. Government

eChai Partner Brands The partnership →