8 Grants That Can Help You Build Up Your Small Business To Make More Money
For decades the American Dream centered on getting a great job for a great company with a great pension. But a lot has changed over the years, and in 2026 there’s a case to be made that a popular modern version of the American Dream isn’t about climbing the corporate ladder, but about being your own boss, with your own vision and the helm of your own highly profitable business.
Launching, running and growing a business can get pretty expensive and while the Small Business Administration (SBA) doesn’t offer funding for start-up or expansion costs, it does offer small-business grants to help empower them. Some can be very lucrative — let’s check them out.
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Small Business Manufacturing Grant
If you’re running a manufacturing business and want to make it the best it can be, look into the Empower To Grow (E2G) Manufacturing in America Grant. To qualify, your business (for profit or nonprofit) must have been in business for at least three years and have hands-on usage of manufacturing tools or related training. This grant “pays” by providing innovative hands-on, in-person manufacturing training and technical assistance. The most recent deadline to apply passed in June, but applications will most likely open again in May 2027.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small businesses (for profit and with less than 500 employees) that are developing innovative technologies with commercial potential can apply for the SBIR grant, which is also known as “America’s Seed Fund’. Your business also must be majority-owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, have a Unique Entity ID and be registered with SAM.gov. The SBIR grant is a federally-funded grant that pays its recipients in phases and can reach up to $2 million, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
The STTR grant is a part of America’s Seed Fund and very similar to the SBIR grant, with the core difference being your business must have a formal partnership with an eligible nonprofit research institution. Money from this grant is also released in phases and can reach up to $2 million, per the NSF. The application process for the STTR grant is a bit convoluted as the participating agencies have varying timelines and deadlines. Your best bet is to review the Funding Opportunities page on SBIR.gov for openings that could be a fit.
5 Veteran-Owned Small-Business Grants
If you’re a veteran who owns a small business, you have a few grants you may qualify for. Check out the following funding opportunities.
Boots to Business (B2B) on SBA.gov
Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (SDVETP) on SBA.gov
Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) on SBA.gov
Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneur Training Program (VFPETP) on SBA.gov
Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP) on Grants.gov
Application requirements, rewards/funding and deadlines vary. These are less competitive grants than SBIR and STTR and you can sitll potentially get hundreds of thousands of dollars, so you really should look into these grants if you’re a candidate.
Checklist for Applying
Applying for a small-business grant isn’t something to rush through. If the deadline is tomorrow and you’re just embarking on your application strategy, consider waiting until the next window to apply opens.
In addition to any specific application documents such as letters of recommendation and resumes, prepare to have the following ready to submit.
Documents: You need to show that your business is legitimate and functional. Get ready to scan bank statements, tax returns (both business and personal), cashflow and balance statements, registration papers, licenses and permits.
Business Purpose, Operations and Plan: Write a detailed summary of everything your business does and/or is in the process of doing. Share market analyses, names and titles of employees, your operations and marketing strategies and a research-backed financial projection of where your business will be in one to three years.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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