Any seasoned entrepreneur can tell you that starting your own business is not easy regardless of its size. It takes a lot of time, effort, passion, and money to get a company off the ground in any industry.

That, in essence, is what small business grants are designed to aid with. They may not be able to help with the time or effort parts, but they can and often do provide the necessary capital to get a company off the ground and moving in the right direction.

But what are small business grants, where do they come from, and how do you take advantage of them in your own situation? The answers to questions like those require you to keep a few important things in mind.