---
{"title": "How to find funding programs open to new business owners in 2026", "description": "Learn how immigrant entrepreneurs can prepare, search, and check funding programs open to new business owners before applying.", "url": "https://cdings.com/how-to-find-funding-programs-open-to-new-business-owners-for-immigrant-entrepreneurs/", "date": "2026-10-26"}
---
Learn how immigrant entrepreneurs can prepare, search, and check funding programs open to new business owners before applying.

Start by gathering basic business and tax details, then search several funding sources and check each program's rules before applying. Raise Buddy is one option that lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for after you paste your website or describe what you do. [^1]

| Option | What it does | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Raise Buddy Free plan [^1] | Opens programs up to $1,000. [^1] | Free. [^1] |
| Raise Buddy Plus plan [^1] | Opens programs up to $5,000. [^1] | $14.99 a month. [^1] |
| Raise Buddy Pro plan [^1] | Opens every program, with advisors' review and AI connection. [^1] | $199 a month. [^1] |

## What you need before you start

Gather the basic facts a funder may ask for before you search, so you can review each opportunity quickly. Keeping these details in one place also keeps answers consistent across applications.

- **Business structure.** Know whether the business is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, corporation or another type.
- **Location.** Keep the registration location and the place where the business operates.
- **Business description.** Write a short explanation of what the business sells and who it serves.
- **Business history.** Note when the business started, its size, and basic revenue information.
- **Tax information.** Gather recent tax returns and any letters from tax agencies. Check each funder's document list.
- **Ownership details.** Record who owns the business, because some programs have ownership rules.
- **Residency and language.** Some programs ask about residency or citizenship status, and some ask for documents in English. Check each funder's requirements and whether translated copies are needed.
- **Funding purpose.** Decide whether the money is for equipment, hiring, inventory, expansion, or another need.

A one-page summary of these facts can help keep applications consistent.

## Step by step

1. **Define the funding goal.** Decide what the money will support and whether a grant, loan, or another funding type fits that goal.

2. **Set basic search rules.** Note the location, industry, business age, ownership details, and any residency or citizenship rules that matter for eligibility.

3. **Search several sources.** Review government program lists, local business support offices, lenders, and other organizations that offer funding.

4. **Read eligibility rules carefully.** Check who can apply, what the money can be used for, deadlines, and required documents before spending time on an application.

5. **Build a shortlist.** Separate opportunities into ones that match now, ones that need preparation, and ones that need more information.

6. **Confirm unclear details.** Contact the funder or lender when rules, documents, or spending limits are not clear. Ask whether a translated document is accepted.

7. **Prepare each application.** Adjust answers to the specific program and provide the requested information.

8. **Track applications.** Record where each application was sent, when it was submitted, and what action comes next.

9. **Review results and update the search.** Funding programs change, so keep business details ready for future opportunities.

## Tools that can do it

Different sources can help with different parts of finding funding.

**Government program lists.** Check each program's own page for rules, documents, and deadlines.

**Local business support offices.** Ask what services they provide, which programs they know about in your area, and whether any services cost money.

**Banks, credit unions, and community lenders.** Ask them to explain loan options, required documents, and the costs of borrowing.

**Raise Buddy.** Raise Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You paste your website or describe what you do, and it lists grants, loans, credits, prizes and other funding you may be able to apply for. [^1] Each match says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, with the funder's own words. [^1] It can read a Schedule C, Form 1120, 1065 or 990, or an IRS letter, from a photo or PDF into a draft profile you confirm, and it does not keep the EIN or the papers. [^1] Its program list includes sources in the UK, Australia, France, Japan, Spain and Austria. [^1] It includes private foundations that take applications, read from their own Form 990-PF tax returns. [^1] It covers 25 ways to raise money, such as angel investors, SBA loans and equity crowdfunding, each with its official rules and a first step. [^1] It keeps track of where each of your applications stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [^1]

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000, Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000, and Pro is $199 a month with every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. [^1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [^1] For a guest, each search list stops after the first 5. [^1] The app works on the web and on phones. [^1] Only English is shown for now, though five more languages are planned. [^1]

## Common mistakes to avoid

- **Ruling out a program without reading its rules.** Some programs have rules about residency, ownership, or business age that you may meet even if the name sounds unfamiliar.

- **Applying without checking eligibility.** A funding opportunity only helps when the business meets the stated rules.

- **Ignoring spending limits.** Some funding can only be used for certain purposes, so check the allowed uses before accepting money.

- **Relying on a list without checking the source.** Confirm deadlines and requirements with the funder or lender.

- **Confusing grants and loans.** Grants and loans have different repayment expectations and costs.

- **Waiting until the last minute.** Documents, registrations, and translations can take time to prepare.

- **Using different business details in different places.** Keep financial and business information consistent across applications.

- **Not tracking follow-ups.** Missing a request for information can slow down the process.

## Frequently asked questions

### What documents are needed to find funding programs for a new business?

Common documents include business registration details, location information, a short business description, and recent tax records. Some funders may also ask about residency, ownership, or the purpose of the money. Some ask for documents in English, so check whether translated copies are accepted. Check each program's own document list, because requirements differ between funding sources and it is easy to miss one.

### Does Raise Buddy apply for funding on a business's behalf?

No. Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but the business applies on the funder's own site. [^1] The business owner still needs to review the requirements, prepare the answers, and send the application through the funder's required process.

### How much does Raise Buddy cost?

The Free plan opens programs up to $1,000, Plus is $14.99 a month and opens programs up to $5,000, and Pro is $199 a month with every program, advisors' review, and AI connection. [^1] The first three matches in each section open on every plan, so you can look at some matches before choosing a paid plan. [^1]

### Can Raise Buddy check whether a business is eligible before it applies?

Raise Buddy gives each match a statement about whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, using the funder's own words. [^1] That helps you sort opportunities into ones to pursue now and ones that need preparation. You should still read the funder's full rules before you apply, because the statement is a starting point and not a decision by the funder.

### Can Raise Buddy read tax papers without keeping them?

Raise Buddy can read a Schedule C, Form 1120, 1065 or 990, or an IRS letter, from a photo or PDF into a draft profile that you confirm. [^1] It does not keep the EIN or the papers after the profile is drafted, so you still keep your own copies. Check each funder's document list, because some programs may ask for different records.

Free plan opens programs up to $1,000; Plus is $14.99 a month (up to $5,000); Pro is $199 a month (every program, advisors' review, AI connection). The first three matches in each section open on every plan. [^1] - [Visit Raise Buddy](/go/start)

## Sources

[^1]: Raise Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/start)