Generally speaking, there are no grants or “free money” available to start for-profit businesses. There are some grants available for for-profit businesses, but they are usually for research and development, energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy generating systems.
Most new businesses are financed with debt, rather than equity. Once you have a business plan put together and know how much money you’re going to need, your first contact should be your local banker. If the bank cannot provide enough financing to get your business off the ground, contact an organization that does “gap” or subordinate financing to help fill the gap between what your bank will loan and what you need.
There are excellent resources available on the internet for putting together a business plan. Some resources are listed on the Business Resources page of this section of the website. Or, contact the Murray County Economic Development Office for help.
The Murray County Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (EDRLF) provides gap financing to new and expanding businesses. Major financing will usually come from conventional sources, like your local bank, while the revolving loan fund is used to “fill the gap” between what the conventional source(s) will lend and the amount actually needed for the project.
Terms vary. There is no set interest rate; however it is usually lower than the typical business loan.