Best Advice on Obtaining Government Funding

As a small business owner in the UK, you must be aware that the British government hands out billions of pounds to small business owners and entrepreneurs each year. You also must know that it is extremely difficult to obtain funding on your own from the government.

But it is available. Government funding is out there, just take a look at some funding recipients and how much they were able to receive in government funding.

So what advice can we give you to help you obtain government funding?

There is no secret key, or a trick to applying and obtaining funding – but timing is important.

It is very important to create a check list and follow it in order to successfully apply for funding. Here is an example we recommend:

• Start with a business plan
• Figure out your needs (in funding)
• Find out which agencies and funding programs are out there
• Do you meet the criteria?
• What is the funding deadline for applications?
• Do you need expert help?
• Apply, and apply again

Following this checklist will ensure that you have a quality business plan which you can use to present your idea (your business) to the application managers or funding scheme coordinators who will determine whether you meet the criteria of funding or not. A business plan is also a roadmap to the success of your business.

Aside from the obvious business plan, you must know whether you really need funding, and if so how much and what for. These are important factors to know and to have answers to before you actually move forward.

Once you’ve figured out that you do need funding, finding the programs which offer what you are looking for can be difficult.

When you narrow down your funding scheme search, figuring out the deadline of the scheme is key. You don’t want to apply at the end of the deadline process, nor do you want to miss the deadline. So be sure to keep up to date with the schemes you want to apply to and do it on time.

Expert help is always available to get the applications filled out, to pin-point the best funding schemes for you and to guide you every step of the way. A simple search online can direct you to expert help.

Once you find the scheme, and you apply – give it some time. You will be notified by the funding agency of your success. If you fail, don’t give up, instead fix up your business plan, keep working on your business and find other schemes which you may be better suited for.