Five Grant Resources for Small Businesses
There are many business concepts that never come to fruition due to lack of funding. You may have a strong business plan but may not qualify for traditional bank financing because you lack sufficient collateral, a down payment, or a business track record.  Fortunately there are grant programs available through government agencies and private organizations. Here are five of the top sources of small business grants.

The Franchise Registry
When evaluating a franchise opportunity, look for system eligibility with the Franchise Registry. If the franchise system is eligible for this program, you will receive expedited loan processing through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). If the system is not listed, you should immediately contact them and inquire as to their eligibility status with the SBA. If they are not listed on this website, you cannot receive expedited loan processing through the SBA. (Per SBA Procedural Notice dated September 15, 1998.)

Federal Business Opportunities
Search active federal business opportunities. 

Business Partner Network
The Business Partner Network is the single source for vendor data for the Federal Government.

IRS Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center
Find it Fast! Know what you're looking for and want to find it fast? Select business topics using our A-Z listing, or by business type such as sole proprietor, corporation, etc. We also provide links to major business subjects, such as Business Expenses, which provides a gateway to all related information on that subject.

Insurance Information Institute
The mission of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is to improve public understanding of insurance -- what it does and how it works.

Independent Contractor or employee?
The courts have considered many facts in deciding whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee. These relevant facts fall into three main categories: behavioral control; financial control; and relationship of the parties. In each case, it is very important to consider all the facts – no single fact provides the answer.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the Federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks.

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only federal agency dedicated to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in the United States. Through a network of minority business centers and strategic partners, MBDA works with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses in size, scale and capacity. These firms are then better positioned to create jobs, impact local economies and expand into national and global markets. MBDA has spent more than four decades increasing the competitiveness of minority firms.

Women's Economic Development Agency (WEDA)
The mission of Women's Economic Development Agency (WEDA) is to assist women in achieving economic independence through a holistic approach to business development and wealth builting that encompasses classroom training, technical assistance, mentoring and access to pertinent resources.