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Find real grants and free business help
Governments offer loans, grants, and free advisors that most founders never claim. This checklist shows where the real support is and how to apply without wasting weeks.
The checklist
All 10 steps, in working order.
This is the exact list seeded into your workspace when you pick Get Grants & Public Support, then it's yours to edit, reorder, and extend.
The guide
How to run this checklist well.
Who this checklist is for
Founders who suspect there's government money or help out there but don't know where to start — or who've been burned by "free grant" ads. It works for any industry and any state, and it's most useful before you take on expensive debt.
What it takes
Almost everything here is free: applying for federal grants costs nothing, SAM.gov registration is free, and SBA resource partners charge nothing for advising. Budget roughly 10–20 hours spread over a few weeks. The hardest part is patience — registrations and applications move on government timelines, not yours.
How the checklist flows
Start with "Know what support exists" to get the honest lay of the land: for most small businesses, loans and free advising are far more common than cash grants. "Meet your free advisors" connects you with SCORE mentors and Small Business Development Centers. Then "Check SBA loan programs" and "Search for real grants" cover the money itself, "Register where required" handles SAM.gov and similar prerequisites, and "Write one strong application" turns research into submissions.
Mistakes that sink first-timers
- Believing "free government grant" ads — legitimate agencies never charge a fee to apply.
- Skipping registration lead times; SAM.gov can take weeks to activate, and you can't apply federally without it.
- Spraying weak applications everywhere instead of tailoring one strong package to programs you actually fit.
Real-world examples
- The SBA's microloan program lends up to $50,000 through nonprofit intermediaries, many of which also provide free business mentoring.
- SCORE and SBDCs, both SBA resource partners, offer free one-on-one counseling nationwide.
- Grants.gov is the searchable database of federal grant opportunities; applying through it requires a free SAM.gov entity registration.
From a founder's point of view
Most founders discover the free advising is worth more than the money they came for. A mentor who has read hundreds of loan packages will fix yours in an hour. The grants are rarer than the ads suggest — but the support system is real.
Your first milestone
A completed conversation with a free advisor (SCORE or your local SBDC) and a shortlist of two or three programs you genuinely qualify for.
Related updates
Recent news that touches this.
This checklist is already waiting for you.
Every step above is a live task inside FoundersCheckList.AI, seeded in one tap, tracked, and pushed forward by an AI coach that reads your real progress.
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Run it with a coach watching your back.
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