Business Plan Grants & Funding
Strong business planning is foundational to entrepreneurial success. Federal SBA programs, state economic development agencies, and nonprofits offer free and grant-funded consulting, technical assistance, and business planning services to help entrepreneurs develop comprehensive plans. Discover funding and resources to support business plan development, feasibility studies, professional consulting, and business planning training below.
Types of Business Planning Grants & Resources
Free SBA Business Planning Services
SBA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and SCORE mentors offer free business planning consultation, guidance, and support.
Paid Consulting Grants
Grants covering cost of professional consultants, business advisors, and planning specialists to develop comprehensive business plans.
Business Planning Training & Workshops
Funded workshops, webinars, and training programs teaching business planning frameworks, financial projections, marketing strategy, and operations planning.
Feasibility & Market Research Grants
Funding for market research, feasibility analysis, competitive analysis, and business model validation supporting plan development.
Major Federal Business Planning Programs
SBA Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
Purpose: Free, one-on-one business consulting and planning assistance nationwide
Services: Business plan development, financial analysis, market research, management consulting, strategic planning
Cost: FREE for startup and small business owners
Coverage: All 50 states, every region, ~900 SBDC locations
Expertise: SBDC advisors with business, finance, marketing, and operations experience
Website: Find Your SBDC
SCORE Mentoring Program
Purpose: Free mentoring from experienced business executives and entrepreneurs
Services: Business planning, startup guidance, strategic advice, operational consulting, financial guidance
Cost: FREE mentoring (online and in-person options)
Mentors: 10,000+ experienced business leaders volunteering expertise
Availability: Flexible scheduling, long-term mentoring relationships available
Website: SCORE Mentoring
SBA Women's Business Centers (WBC)
Purpose: Free business training and consulting for women entrepreneurs
Services: Business planning, startup guidance, financing assistance, marketing training, management coaching
Cost: FREE counseling and low-cost training programs
Coverage: 100+ Women's Business Centers across all states
Expertise: Specialized support for women-owned business challenges and opportunities
Website: Find Your WBC
Federal & State Business Planning Grants
Purpose: Fund paid consulting for plan development, feasibility studies, and business analysis
Programs: State economic development grants, minority business development grants, rural development grants
Funding Amounts: $2K-$25K typical for planning consulting
Eligible Services: Professional consultant fees, market research, financial modeling, business plan writing
Availability: Vary by state (check your state economic development office)
Website: EDA Grants
Who Can Access Business Planning Resources?
Business planning assistance and grants serve entrepreneurs and small business owners at all stages of development:
- Pre-Startup Entrepreneurs: People developing business ideas before launch, need plan for funding applications
- First-Time Business Owners: New business owners in first 2-3 years refining strategy and operations
- Existing Small Business Owners: Established businesses planning expansion, pivots, or strategic changes
- Women Entrepreneurs: Women-owned businesses eligible for specialized Women's Business Center support
- Minority-Owned Businesses: Socially/economically disadvantaged groups with targeted grant programs
- Veteran-Owned Businesses: Military veterans starting or growing businesses
- Rural Entrepreneurs: Businesses in rural areas eligible for rural development grants
- Young Entrepreneurs: Youth under 30 with special startup programs and mentoring
No charge for most SBA services. SBDC, SCORE, and WBC offer free consulting. Grants available to subsidize professional consultant costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a business plan include?
Comprehensive business plan includes: (1) Executive Summary (1-2 pages): overview of business concept, market opportunity, competitive advantage, financial projections summary. (2) Company Description: mission, location, legal structure, products/services. (3) Market Analysis: target market size, customer demographics, market trends, growth potential. (4) Competitive Analysis: competitors, competitive advantages, market positioning. (5) Marketing Strategy: customer acquisition, pricing, sales channels, customer retention. (6) Operations Plan: location, equipment, suppliers, staffing, processes. (7) Management Structure: ownership, management team, advisors, organizational structure. (8) Financial Projections: startup costs, 3-year income statement, cash flow, break-even analysis, balance sheet. (9) Funding Request: how much capital needed, uses of funds. (10) Appendices: resumes, market research data, product photos, customer letters. Total length: 15-40 pages typical. SBA provides free templates at SBA.gov.
How much does professional business plan development cost?
Cost varies: (1) DIY with free SBA/SCORE guidance: $0-500 (your time, software). (2) Business plan template + personal implementation: $50-500. (3) Consultant-assisted planning: $1,000-5,000. (4) Full professional plan from specialist: $3,000-10,000+. For comprehensive professional plans: expect $150-300/hour consultant rates, 20-30 hours for thorough plan. Grants can cover 50-100% of consultant costs. Strategy: Start with free SBDC consultation, use SBA templates for first draft, hire consultant for final polish if you get grant funding.
What's the difference between SBDC, SCORE, and Women's Business Centers?
SBDC (Small Business Development Centers): Government-funded network of ~900 centers offering free, confidential consulting on all business topics. Consultants often have business expertise. Good for startup planning, financial analysis, market research. SCORE: Nonprofit volunteer mentors (mostly retired business executives). Free mentoring, flexible schedule, strong for strategic guidance and industry-specific advice. Some locations have low-cost workshops. Good for personalized long-term mentoring relationship. Women's Business Centers (WBC): Specialized SBA program for women entrepreneurs. Free consulting plus low-cost training programs. Specialized expertise in women-specific challenges (financing gaps, leadership development, networking). All free or very low cost. Choice: Use all three! Each offers unique value. SBDC for comprehensive planning, SCORE for mentoring, WBC if you're a woman entrepreneur.
Can I get a grant to pay for business plan consulting?
Yes, but limited availability. Grant types: (1) State economic development grants: Some states fund business plan development for eligible businesses (typically minority/women/rural-focused). ($2K-15K typical). (2) Regional development grants: Federal and state funds for business planning in underserved areas. (3) Minority/women business grants: Often include planning consulting funds. (4) Industry-specific grants: Agriculture, manufacturing, cleantech often fund feasibility studies. Strategy: (1) Check your state's economic development office for planning grants. (2) Look for minority/women business development programs if eligible. (3) Use free SBDC consulting first, then apply for grant to cover professional consultant. (4) Some foundations fund startup planning for nonprofits. Most grants favor hiring outside consultant—free SBA services supplementary but don't substitute.
How long does business plan development typically take?
Timeline: (1) DIY with templates: 2-4 weeks if full-time effort, 4-8 weeks if part-time. (2) With SBDC consultant guidance: 4-8 weeks (meetings every 1-2 weeks). (3) With outside consultant: 6-12 weeks depending on complexity. (4) For complex business: 3-6 months possible. Key: Plan can be drafted quickly, but quality planning requires research time. Recommendation: (1) Start SBDC/SCORE consultation immediately. (2) Allocate 10-15 hours of research and planning time. (3) Use templates to structure thinking. (4) Update plan annually as business evolves. Don't let perfect be enemy of good—a good plan written sooner is better than a perfect plan written later.
Do I need a business plan to get a business loan?
Yes, almost universally required. Lenders want: (1) Clear business concept and market opportunity. (2) Realistic financial projections showing loan repayment capacity. (3) Competitive advantage explanation. (4) Management team credibility. Business plan provides all this. Loan requirements: SBA loans require comprehensive plan. Bank loans typically require 5-10 page plan minimum. Microlenders accept simpler plans. Grants often require business plan as part of application. Strategy: Invest time in quality plan upfront. Every dollar in planning support saves time and improves funding success. Use free SBA resources initially, invest in professional help if seeking significant funding.
How to Get Business Planning Support
- Find Your Local SBDC: Visit SBA.gov/sbdc and search your location. Contact SBDC, schedule free consultation. Bring: business idea outline, financial situation overview, questions. First meeting: often initial assessment and planning roadmap.
- Connect with SCORE Mentor: Visit SCORE.org, browse mentors in your industry/expertise area, request mentor match. Online application takes 5 minutes. Mentor typically responds within 1 week with introduction and availability.
- Access Free Resources: Start with free templates and guides: SBA Business Guide, SCORE Templates, SBDC workshops (often free). These provide frameworks for planning.
- Research Planning Grants (if needed professional help): Contact your state's Department of Economic Development or Small Business office. Ask about: business planning grants, consulting subsidies, feasibility study grants. Check SBA state office for available programs.
- Develop Initial Plan: Using templates and SBDC guidance, develop first draft: executive summary, market analysis, competitive positioning, financial projections. Doesn't need to be perfect—consultant refines from there.
- Refinement with Consultant: If using paid consultant (via grant or personal funds): Share draft plan, discuss feedback, refine through 2-3 revision cycles. Consultant adds depth: detailed financial modeling, market research validation, competitive analysis, operational detail.
- Finalize & Use for Funding: Finalized plan becomes tool for: loan applications, grant applications, investor pitches, team alignment, business decisions. Plan should be reviewed/updated annually as business evolves and market changes.
Business Planning Resources & Support
SBA Small Business Development Centers
Free business consulting and planning assistance from ~900 SBDC locations nationwide.
SCORE Mentoring
Free mentoring from experienced business executives and entrepreneurs for business planning.
Women's Business Centers
Free consulting and low-cost training for women entrepreneurs' business planning and development.
SBA Business Planning Guide
Comprehensive guide to business planning with templates, worksheets, and detailed instructions.
SCORE Business Plan Templates
Free downloadable business plan templates and worksheets from SCORE.
Economic Development Agency Grants
Federal and state business planning and consulting grants through EDA and state offices.
Business Planning & Development Grants (99)
Showing 1-20 of 99 grants
National Institute of General Medical Sciences Predoctoral Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (T32)
National Institutes of Health
Institutional Training Programs to Advance Translational Research on Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (ADRD) (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (T32)
National Institutes of Health
Atlanta FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Denver FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Training Project Grants (T03)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA
Austin FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Chicago FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Philadelphia FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Seattle FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
Department of Commerce
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)
National Institutes of Health
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
National Institutes of Health
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
National Institutes of Health
Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (U34 Clinical Trials Optional)
National Institutes of Health
Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T32)
National Institutes of Health
Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Planning Grant Program (R34 Clinical Trials Optional)
National Institutes of Health
Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health
Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T34)
National Institutes of Health
NIDCR Behavioral and Social Intervention Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)
National Institutes of Health
NINDS Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) for Training of Postdoctoral Fellows (F32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institutes of Health