We try to update this page regularly to bring you the latest grants and support packages available to small businesses. However, we can’t always respond to changes as quickly as we’d like to. Confirm the terms of any grants before applying.
Where do I get money for starting a business?
One of the most important decisions you’ll make when starting out on your business adventure is deciding on how you’ll fund it. Your first thought may be to head to a bank for a business loan, but high interest rates and strict terms and conditions can make this an expensive option in the long-term.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of alternative routes you can take to raise that all-important capital to get your business off the ground.
- Start-up loans
A type of soft loan, start-up loans can offer start-ups or young businesses lower interest rates or longer repayment periods. The government-backed Start Up Loans Company is among the most popular soft loans. It offers small businesses the option to borrow £25,000 at a fixed rate interest of 6% per year over a repayment term of up to five years, as well as 12 months of free mentoring. Try to ensure you have a healthy contingency budget so that you can keep up with repayments if the unexpected happens. - Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme is designed to help raise money for your business when it starts trading by offering tax reliefs to investors buying shares in your company. You can receive a maximum of £150,000 through SEIS investments provided that your business meets certain qualifying conditions. - Enterprise Zones
Enterprise Zones are designated areas throughout England that provide tax breaks and Government benefits to support new and expanding firms. Businesses that operate within Enterprise Zones receive benefits ranging from 100% business rate discounts of up to £275,000 per business over a 5-year period to 100% enhanced capital allowances to help companies make large investments.
Has one of these routes caught your attention? Find out more about these funding options and more with our guide to alternative funding for small businesses to help you decide on the path that’s right for you.
What is a small business grant?
From cash awards to tax reliefs, government grants come in all shapes and sizes. In general, government business grants can be split into the following types:
- Equity finance
These can offer start-ups and young businesses reductions on income tax and investments if they’re less than two years old and have fewer than 25 employees. - Direct grants
This is when money is granted directly to a new business to cover start-up essentials, including equipment and staff training. Many grants will expect your business to provide 50% of the value of the grant. - Soft loan
These tend to be government-backed and can offer repayment terms and conditions that may be more generous than those on offer through banks and building societies. This could mean that your business pays lower interest rates or enjoy longer repayment periods.
Where to look for small business grants
Depending on where you’re located in the country, there are many funding and grant options available to your business. If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of grants available, visit the Government’s business finance support finder to search for grants and funding options relevant to your business size, locality and industry.
- Business grants in England
From the North East to the South West, there are 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that can provide funding and advice to help boost your business in your local economy. They are business-led partnerships between local authorities and local private sector businesses designed to drive economic growth and job creation, improve infrastructure, and better workforce skillset within the local area. - Business grants in Scotland
Depending on where you’re based in the country, your business could be eligible to apply for grants on offer by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise as well as local councils. For a detailed list of funding options that could be available to your business in Scotland, visit the Scottish Government’s Funding Opportunities, which provides access to over 600 funding options and grants. - Business grants in Northern Ireland
For Northern Irish businesses, grants on offer include NISPO II’s Proof of Concept grant (which is designed for pre-launch start-ups), and Invest NI grants for more established companies. Visit Enterprise Ireland for additional support and information on where you can find grants for your business. - Business grants in Wales
Keep your eyes peeled on Business Wales’ finance locator to find grants that your business could be eligible to apply for as well as detailed information on the application process and how to best manage business’ finances.
What business grants are available to small businesses?
If you’re looking for new resources but are struggling to locate the funds, below are a few of the small business grants that you could apply for.
- Innovation vouchers
Supplied by the government via Innovate UK, your business may be eligible for claims of up to £5,000 towards the cost of expert advice. Whether it’s seeking professional advice on your latest idea, tech advice or how to effectively utilise intellectual property, training grants for small businesses encourage businesses to seek out knowledge that could help them develop further. - Apprenticeship funding
If you’ve taken on an apprentice, you know the benefits of training an employee while they work for you. But did you know that you can get help to cover your apprentice’s training costs? Small businesses usually do not bear the full brunt of paying for an apprentice’s training – the government will often help. The amount that the government will cover depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy or not. You pay the levy if you’re an employer with a pay bill over £3 million. To find out more about different funding options for your apprentice read more here. - Grants for young people
There are grants available to help nurture the young future of the UK business world. The Princes Trust’s enterprise programme is set up to equip 18-30-year-old business owners with access to low-interest start-up loans, mentoring and advice.
Are small business grants taxable?
In general, cash grants tend to be taxable because they’re a form of income. The amount you’re left over with after subtracting the relevant allowances and expenses will likely be liable to tax.
Keeping on top of taxes can prove difficult when you’re already spinning the many plates that running a business involves. To lend businesses a helping hand, the government offers schemes designed to help reduce the costs of paying taxes on business grants.
Tax relief for small businesses
- Business rates relief
If your business occupies one property with a rateable value of less than £15,000, your business could be eligible. Read the UK Government’s guide on small business rates relief to find out more. - Employment Allowance
This allowance could reduce your employers’ (secondary) Class 1 National Insurance each time you run your payroll until the £5000 has gone or the tax year ends (whatever is sooner). Visit here for terms and conditions. - Research and Development Tax Credit
This tax relief scheme is designed to encourage small businesses to spend more money and time on researching and creating new products and services or honing existing ones by reimbursing them via a cash payment or corporation tax reduction. Read our guide on this tax scheme for terms and conditions.
Working out the tax on business grants is filled with loads of grey areas, so if you’re ever unsure, it might be worth your while seeking professional help to ensure everything is above board.
How to apply for a small business grant
Applying for small business grants can be tricky but there are simple steps you can take to keep your stress levels to a minimum and (hopefully) increase your chances of bagging that money to better your business.
- Be organised
Planning is everything when it comes to attempting to secure additional funding for your business. By laying the groundwork, you’ll get a better idea of exactly what you’re looking to achieve with this additional money and how much you’re likely to need. - Get in touch
Interested in applying for a specific grant? Get in touch with the grant awarding body to discuss your chances of making a successful application and to chat over any aspects you’re not too sure about. - The early bird catches the worm
Some grants have a limited amount of funds available, so submitting early could raise your chances of securing additional funding for your business. - Perfect your business plan
Grant awarding bodies will want to see extensive plans showing how your business could develop if you’re successful in attaining the grant. The more in-depth the information you provide, the easier grant-awarding bodies can understand how they could help you, so spend time showing how the funding could impact your business for the better. - Get to grips with grant objectives
Make sure that you show how your business meets the specific qualifying criteria that the grant awarding body is looking for. Take time to learn why the grant is being awarded so that you can tailor your application accordingly. - Explain how you’ll use the grant
Highlight in your application how the grant will grow your business – whether it’s being used to purchase new equipment or upskill staff – and how these developments will benefit your service and market. - The larger the grant, the trickier the application
A general rule of thumb is that the greater the grant funding award, the more complicated the eligibility and application process will be. As such, plan your time accordingly so that you can devote plenty of time to your application. - If at first you don’t succeed: try, try again
You’re your business’s biggest champion, so even if you don’t get the grant you had your sights set on, dust yourself off, ask for feedback and continue to apply for small business grants to help turn your business dreams into a reality. Some of the world’s biggest companies have struggled to clinch funding the first-time round, so don’t be disheartened.
Successfully gaining a grant for your business could give your company the boost it needs, but securing funding involves preparation, thorough investigation and a tenacious spirit. If you’ve spotted a grant that you think your business could benefit from, get in touch with the awarding body and contact those in the know to increase your chances.
And if you’re unsuccessful, don’t be disheartened. Ask for feedback, keep an eye on GRANTfinder and apply what you’ve learned to new grant opportunities that could help your business work harder.
All links are checked and valid at time of publishing, 25 October 2022.
