SBA Grants
Small Business Administration grants and funding resources for US small businesses, including SBIR/STTR federal research grants, state programs, and disaster assistance.
Overview
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is the primary federal agency serving small businesses. While the SBA is better known for its loan programs (7(a), 504, microloans), it also maintains an important role in directing small businesses to available grants. The SBA itself administers very few direct grants to businesses - it primarily helps businesses access SBIR and STTR research grants through federal agency partners, state-level small business development programs, and disaster assistance grants. The SBA Grants page at sba.gov/funding-programs/grants is the central gateway for finding what is available.
What You Can Find Here
- SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants - federally mandated R&D grants for small businesses at participating agencies
- STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grants - collaborative R&D grants requiring partnership with a US research institution
- State and local small business grants - links to state economic development programs
- Community Advantage program and Microloan program - low-cost capital for underserved small businesses
- SBA-sponsored programs for specific populations including veterans, women, and minority business owners
- Business Plan Competition grants through affiliated SBDC (Small Business Development Center) programs
- Disaster assistance grants for small businesses affected by declared disasters
Who Should Use This
- US small businesses (under 500 employees) conducting R&D in areas relevant to federal agency missions
- Technology startups seeking SBIR Phase I funding to test technical feasibility
- Businesses in declared disaster areas seeking SBA disaster assistance
- Women-owned, veteran-owned, and minority-owned small businesses seeking targeted programs
- Small businesses in underserved communities seeking microloans or community advantage funding
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit sba.gov/funding-programs/grants to read the overview and find links to current grant opportunities
- Step 2: For SBIR/STTR grants, go to sbir.gov which aggregates all agency SBIR solicitations
- Step 3: Contact your local SBA office or SBDC (Small Business Development Center) for personalized guidance on available state and local programs
- Step 4: Check your state's economic development agency for state-level small business grant programs not covered by SBA
- Step 5: For disaster grants, visit disasterassistance.gov after a federally declared disaster and apply for SBA disaster assistance
Things to Check Before Applying
- The SBA does not give out general-purpose grants directly to businesses - most SBA programs are loan guarantees or connections to other programs
- SBIR and STTR grants have strict eligibility requirements: the business must be US-owned and operated, for-profit, and under 500 employees
- Beware of scams claiming to offer SBA grants - the SBA does not charge fees for grant information and never asks for upfront payments
- State-level small business grants vary enormously by state, industry, and economic conditions - check your specific state program
- SBA disaster assistance includes low-interest loans, not all assistance is grant-based
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the SBA give free money to small businesses?
Not directly for most purposes. The SBA primarily provides loan guarantees, counseling, and connections to programs. SBIR/STTR grants are available for qualifying R&D businesses. Scams frequently misrepresent SBA as giving out free grants.
What is the difference between SBIR and STTR?
SBIR grants are for small businesses conducting R&D with primarily internal resources. STTR grants specifically require collaboration with a US university or non-profit research institution, with the institution performing at least 30% of the work.
Are SBA grants available to nonprofits?
No. SBA programs are specifically for for-profit small businesses. Nonprofits should look to foundation grants, federal program grants, or state nonprofit programs.
What is an SBDC and how can it help?
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are SBA-funded organizations housed at universities and chambers of commerce that provide free business advice including help identifying grant opportunities.
Can startups with no revenue apply for SBIR?
Yes. SBIR Phase I grants are specifically designed for early-stage innovation. The business must be for-profit and US-based, but there is no revenue or profitability requirement.
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