federal grants

[pb_fool]

Hey,

we are trying to start a field in a town near mine(15 mintues away). We were given the land by a local owner, who has go-carts and mini golf. But now we need money for rental markers, bunkers, and netting.

I have been looking for grants, but I have not found any yet. Do any of you know of any grants? Plz help!!!

[tinfoil]

Federal grants for paintball? I doubt it. But I live in Canada so things are a bit different now (I?m assuming your from the US). What I would do is get a small business loan either from the bank, or from your parents. Either or, now is the time to talk a financial planner, talk to your parents. Or you could check the white pages; the government should have some program setup to help small a business get started.

Go to some of the local paintball stores and talk to the manager. Ask them for figures on their fields ? number of people that come in, what their starting cost were, annual revenue, who their suppliers are, etc. When your talking to the managers, try and avoid saying your planning to start your own field, they might get a little testy. Instead hint at a school economics project without saying it. After you have all that, and put together in a nice presentation, talk to a landscaper. You will want a blueprint of the field, and they might be able to give you some pointers on improving the landscape.

Next, pay rent. Talk to the person that owns the land, and offer to pay rent. If he gave it to you, I doubt he would want a large amount. Talk to a lawyer and see if you can get a contract made up for a lease renewable ever year or two. Paying rent gives you some legal protection, and the contract makes sure that if you put a lot of effort into the field, the owner won?t kick you off. And feel free to give the owner a few kick backs in the contract.

Once you get the figures, the landscape plan, and the contract, go to the bank and apply for a small business loan, or go to your parents.

Crap that?s long. Hope I answered your question. Just one thing, ask for help when ever you can. Also, if you start your own business, and it is successful, you will start a very good credit rating. Hope I didn?t scare you, starting your own business can be fun, even if you are trying hard never to work in an office.

Or visit some local paintball stores and ask the owners if the want some free land for an outdoor field.