For any small business, cash flow is a hot topic. Knowing where and when you’ll make your next big sale is not common, and entrepreneurs are always looking for the next breakthrough. 

With the range of funding types available to small, for-profit businesses, it can be hard to know which funding opportunity is the best fit for your venture. Before we jump into our list of current grants, loans, venture capital, and owner investment options, let’s compare and contrast at a high level.

TYPES OF FUNDING

Grant funding, while typically the first place businesses look for “free money”, is not as simple as it seems. Grants are like a gift of funds, usually geared toward a certain purpose or specific activities outlined by the organization issuing the funds. In short, grants don’t need to be repaid, but often come with rigid rules and regulations to ensure you’re spending your grant money the way you promised – this might mean reporting back on your spending, seeking ‘match’ funding, using funds by a certain date, or repaying the granting organization what you didn’t spend down. While complex, grant funding is a favorite among small businesses across many industries – from ‘mom-and-pop’ shops on main streets to tech start-ups commercializing their innovations. 

Loans are typically where entrepreneurs look for funding next. Issued by a financial institution or lender (banks, credit unions, non-profit lending organizations) these funds are to be repayed with interest over a specified term. Loans can come in many different forms, built to fit your business stage and financial needs. Entrepreneurs can expect lenders to assess their readiness for a loan, checking credit history, personal assets, debt, and even a business’s cash flow before setting the criteria (interest rate, term) or offering a loan. Typically, there is less restriction on the use of loans than with a grant – loans can cover more generalized business costs and allow a business owner the time to build up cash flow at a sustainable pace. 

Venture funding is another option, but it may not be the right fit for the everyday entrepreneur. Start-up ventures that have a high potential for growth are candidates for venture capital. In exchange for funding, the business gives a portion of ownership to its venture capital firm, which then impacts the way the company is structured and operated. While this might be perfect for a high-growth, quick-scaling business like a tech startup or innovative product, the ownership over the company may impact how the business makes decisions, profits, or plans for the future – many venture-funded entities operate on short timelines (3-5 years) and look to sell or ‘exit’ their business after a certain level of success. 

Of course, the age-old investment in small businesses comes from owner capital – investing your own money into your new idea. This is done in many ways – purchasing inventory or covering costs with cash or personal credit, leveraging your own assets, or even borrowing from your own savings. 

EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS

Below, we’ve shared a list started by Delaware Prosperity Partnership (updated as of November 2025) of active funding opportunities, including grants, accelerators, research funding, competitions, and more. Read through at your own pace – if you find an opportunity you want to pursue, reach out to your SBDC Advisor for support with loan packaging, grant applications, or a check-in on financial projections!