--- {"title": "How to find grants for tourism and hospitality owners", "description": "Steps for tourism and hospitality owners to prepare, search for, and check small business grants before applying.", "url": "https://cdings.com/how-to-find-small-business-grants-for-tourism-and-hospitality-owners/", "date": "2026-10-31"} --- Steps for tourism and hospitality owners to prepare, search for, and check small business grants before applying. Tourism and hospitality owners can find small business grants by gathering basic business facts, searching several sources, and checking each funder's rules before applying. Raise Buddy is one option that lists 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 Tourism and hospitality owners can gather the basic facts before searching, since funders often ask for the same details. Keeping them in one place makes each search and application quicker. - **Business structure.** Know whether the business is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, corporation or another type. - **Location.** Keep the registration location and the location of each property, restaurant, tour route or venue. - **Business description.** Write a short explanation of what you offer, such as lodging, meals, tours, events or guided experiences, and who you serve. - **Business history.** Note when the business opened, how many people it employs, and basic sales information for each season. - **Tax information.** Gather recent tax returns and any letters from tax agencies. Check each funder's own document list. - **Licenses and permits.** Keep copies of local operating licenses, food or lodging permits, and insurance certificates ready, and check whether each funder asks for them. - **Funding purpose.** Decide whether the money is for equipment, renovation, accessibility upgrades, staff training, energy efficiency, marketing or another need. A one-page summary with these facts can keep answers consistent across applications. ## Step by step Working through these steps in order keeps the search focused and helps you avoid applying for funding that does not fit. 1. **Define the funding goal.** Decide what the money will support, such as a renovation, new equipment, staff training or a marketing push, and whether a grant or a loan fits that goal. 2. **Set basic search rules.** Note the location, the type of tourism or hospitality business, the business age, ownership details, and any other facts that affect who can apply. 3. **Search several sources.** Review government program lists, local business and tourism 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 options 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. 7. **Prepare each application.** Adjust answers to the specific program and provide the information it asks for. 8. **Track applications.** Record where each one 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. Seasonal businesses may find that deadlines and document requests arrive during busy periods, so set reminders early. ## Tools that can do it Different sources can help with different parts of finding funding. **Government program lists.** Government websites can show grant and loan programs. Check each program's own rules, documents, and deadlines. **Local business and tourism offices.** Local organizations may provide information about programs in a specific area. Check what services they provide and whether there are costs. **Banks, credit unions, and community lenders.** These organizations can explain loan options, required documents, and costs for 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 from several countries, such as the UK's Find a Grant, Australia's GrantConnect, France's Aides-territoires, Japan's jGrants, Spain's BDNS and Austria's Transparenzportal. [^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, even though five more languages are planned. [^1] ## Common mistakes to avoid Most problems with funding searches come from skipping small checks at the start. - **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 answers can take time to prepare. - **Using different business figures in different places.** Keep sales and business details consistent across applications, including busy-season and quiet-season numbers. - **Not tracking follow-ups.** Missing a request for information can slow down the process. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between a grant and a loan for a tourism business? A grant is money that usually does not need repayment, but it may have rules about who can receive it and how it can be used. A loan must be repaid and usually includes interest. Owners should compare the purpose, cost, and requirements of each option before choosing a funding path, especially when the money is needed for a seasonal cash gap or a renovation. ### What documents do hospitality businesses need to find small business grants? Common items include business registration details, location information, a short business description, and recent tax records. Some funders may also ask for licenses, permits, or proof of insurance. Check each program's own document list, because requirements can differ between funding sources and a missing item can slow an application. ### Can Raise Buddy show whether a tourism business can apply for a grant? Raise Buddy says whether you can apply, what one step stands in the way, or what is unclear, using the funder's own words. [^1] It also lists funding you may be able to apply for after you paste your website or describe what you do. [^1] Read the funder's original rules before you apply, and confirm any unclear point directly with the funder. ### Does Raise Buddy apply for grants for a hospitality business? Raise Buddy keeps track of where each application stands, but you apply on the funder's own site. [^1] The owner still needs to review the requirements, prepare answers, and send the application through the process the funder requires. Keep a separate copy of each answer you send, so your records match what each funder received. ### How much does Raise Buddy cost for a tourism owner? 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] On the Pro plan, ten AI personas read your organization and matches and write what to do first, and none of them is a real person. [^1] 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)