Is a grant essentially free money from the government?

Thank you for asking if grants are essentially sums of money for free from the government. The answer is no. This is a popular misconception regarding grants.

The UK Government values its small businesses and seeks to provide financial assistance when possible whether that comes in the form of a grant or a loan. Loans do have to be repaid, grants do not. However, grants are not by any means free money.

Grants are highly competitive with strict eligibility criteria, rules, and regulations. If a grant is awarded and the terms and conditions are not met, then funds will most likely be required to be repaid and future funding will cease.

If you think you might qualify for a grant or loan from the government, consider using a third party resource to help you with the process. You can search for applicable funds using our Startup Assessment Tool , a convenient app provided by the UKStartups.org. You can also call UKStartups and speak to a representative at 020 3880 8554, toll free.

There are hundreds of government funding schemes available for small business owners in the UK. In fact, our Funding Database currently has over 600 government funding schemes and over 500 private investors available for small business owners and startup entrepreneurs. What are you doing to take advantage of this? Become a member and start your search.

Take advantage of the Small Business Startup Assessment Tool below and see the tools and resources you need to succeed at starting your small business. It just takes 30 seconds and will also tell you if there may be any funding assistance available.

Be sure to look at the hundreds of daily questions and answers we have from entrepreneurs like you who want to learn more about starting a business, creating a business plan, searching for funding. Our small business experts take the time to answer each and every single question, so if you have something on your mind – we can help!

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