The Untold Secrets for Service-Based Businesses to Win Funding Consistently

Have you ever said, “I have a vision, but I don’t know where to start.”?

You’re not alone. For small businesses, especially in the service-based industry, securing grant funding can feel like a mystery.

Here’s the truth most people don’t tell you: winning grants isn’t about luck. It’s about having a plan, the right tools, and consistency.

Today, I’m breaking down the secrets to winning grants for small businesses and how you can create a clear strategy for 2025 to stay consistent, find opportunities, and actually win without burnout.

Get Your Foundation in Place

Before searching for grants, you need to make sure your business is “grant-ready.”?

Funders look for businesses that are credible, prepared, and aligned with their priorities. Here’s what you need to have ready:

• A Strong Business Plan: This should include your mission, financial projections, community impact, and what sets your service-based business apart.
• Legal & Financial Documents: Have your business registration, EIN, licenses, financial statements and tax returns organized. Funders want to know you’re legit.
• Impact Statement: Grants often go to businesses that benefit their community. Outline how your business solves a problem, creates jobs and opportunities, or makes a social impact.
• A Compelling Elevator Pitch: You need to tell your business’s story quickly and clearly. Why does your work matter? Who do you serve?

Example: A cleaning company that employs underrepresented groups and uses eco-friendly products can highlight community impact (job creation) and environmental responsibility, which are two factors funders love.

Tools You Need to Search for Grants

Finding grants can feel overwhelming, but with the right tools, you can definitely streamline the process.

• Grants.gov – A must have for federal grants. It’s the largest database of government-funded opportunities that current and upcoming.
• Local Government Websites – Many grants are overlooked because they’re hiding on your city, county, or state government sites.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs):?They offer resources and training and often share grant opportunities tailored for small businesses.
• Corporate Grant Programs: Companies like FedEx, Amazon, Verizon, and Comcast regularly offer small business grants. Keep an eye on their websites and join their mailing list.
• GrantWatch – A paid tool, but definitely worth it for access to local, state, and private grants.
• LinkedIn & Social Media: Follow grant-focused organizations, business leaders, and government agencies for real-time updates on funding opportunities.

Pro Tip: You can set up Google Alerts with keywords like “small business grant 2025,” “service-based business grants,” and “(your city/state) small business funding.” And let the opportunities come to you.

Where to Start: Build a Realistic Grant Application Plan

Let’s be real—I know grant writing takes time. Burnout happens when you’re chasing every opportunity without having an effective system. The goal is consistency, not chaos.

Here’s a plan to keep you on track for 2025:

Step 1: Research Opportunities Quarterly.

• Dedicate one week at the start of each quarter to researching grants. Look for deadlines, eligibility, and funding priorities. Create a spreadsheet to track:

1. Grant Name
2. Application
3. Deadline
4. Funding Amount
5. Requirements/Criteria
6. Links and Contact Info

Step 2: Set Monthly Application Goals.

• Start small. Apply for 1-2 grants per month, but no more than that. You don’t want to put too much on your plate and then give up. Over time, you’ll get faster and better at tailoring applications.

Step 3: Create a Template Library.

• Build templates for your business plan, services, community impact statement, outcomes, and elevator pitch. Save them as editable documents. This way, you’re not starting from scratch every time you complete an application. You’ll be consistently pulling information from your library.

Step 4: Celebrate Progress, Not Just Wins.

• Grant writing is highly competitive. Rejection happens. Stay focused by celebrating milestones—finishing an application, learning something new, or getting feedback from funders. Eventually, you will have a major win.

Step 5: Schedule Follow-Up Time.

• If you don’t win, don’t be afraid to follow up with the funder for feedback. Feedback is unrated, and not many businesses think to ask. Ask, “What can I improve for next time?” or “What are some things they are looking for in the application that I overlooked?”

That insight is gold.

Find Grants Specific to Service-Based Industries

Service-based businesses often think they’re at a disadvantage for grants. That’s not true. There are plenty of funders who recognize the value of small businesses that provide essential services.

Current Examples for Inspiration:

• FedEx Small Business Grant – Focuses on small businesses across industries that demonstrate innovation and impact. Past winners include service-based businesses like accounting firms and cleaning companies.
• City-Based Funding Programs – Cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta have launched programs specifically for small businesses to improve operations and grow locally.
• Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant – Offers funding and resources to small businesses to strengthen digital capabilities.

Tip: Look for grants tied to community improvement, job creation, or sustainability—these align well with service-based business goals.

Here are two service-based businesses in the United States that recently received grants:

GiftAMeal

• Grant Award Amount: $25,000
• Location: St. Louis, Missouri
• Service Industry: Social Impact Technology?

GiftAMeal is a platform that partners with restaurants to fight hunger. When a guest takes a photo of their order from a partner restaurant, GiftAMeal donates a meal to a family in need. Each month, over 40,000 meals are provided through 70 local food banks in 35 states. In the last year, they've grown from 200 to 700 partner restaurants. This grant will fuel their nationwide expansion, empowering them to reach new communities and make an even greater impact.

Sunny Brook Menagerie

• Grant Award Amount: $20,000
• Location: Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Service Industry: Animal Rescue and Education

Sunny Brook Menagerie is dedicated to animal rescue and educating others about the therapeutic benefits of animal interaction. The home-based animal encounter camp teaches kids biology and how to care for the animals at the farm. The grant will help purchase more scientific equipment, grow their resources, improve the animals’ enclosures, and expand to a larger property. The expansion will provide space to save more animals from auctions and kill pens.

These grants were awarded as part of Amazon Business's Small Business Grants program, which supports small businesses making an impact in their communities.?

Stay Consistent Without Burning Out

Grant success is a long term game. Here’s how you stay consistent throughout the year:

• Time-Block Grant Work: Schedule 1-2 hours per week dedicated to researching, writing, or refining grant applications. Treat it like a standing meeting.
• Focus on Quality Over Quantity: Tailor your applications to align with the funder’s mission. A customized application will outperform a rushed one every time.
• Use a System to Stay Organized: Tools like Trello, Asana, Airtable, or even Google Sheets can help you track deadlines, progress, and follow-ups.
• Join Grant Networks and Workshops: Connect with other small business owners, grant writers, and local economic development organizations. Shared knowledge goes a long way.

Your Funding Plan for 2025 Starts Now

Winning grants consistently isn’t about chasing every opportunity. You need to have a plan, be prepared, and stay persistent.

• Get your foundation in place.
• Use the right tools to search.
• Create a simple, realistic plan for the year.
• Target grants that align with your business goals.

Remember this: every grant application is a chance to learn and improve. The businesses that win grants aren’t the ones that apply “when they have time”—they’re the ones who show up consistently and put in the work.

Your business deserves funding. Your community deserves your impact.?

Let’s make 2025 the year you stop saying, “I don’t know where to begin,” and start saying, “I’m ready.”

Which of these strategies will you implement first? Drop a comment and let me know!

About the Author

Laine Bradley is a sought-after speaker, advocate for business growth, and expert in grant funding and financial strategies. With years of experience helping businesses, community-based organizations, and local governments secure essential funding, Laine is dedicated to empowering leaders to thrive in today’s competitive world. Through her work within Vraiment Financial and her Funding Watch newsletter, Laine provides insights, actionable strategies, and up-to-date resources that enable organizations to expand their impact and reach. Her mission is to bridge the funding gap by equipping business and community leaders with the knowledge and confidence they need to secure capital and achieve lasting success.

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