I talk to a lot of solo business owners about money. The conversation usually goes one of two ways: either they are bootstrapping everything and quietly stressed about cash flow, or they are spending a lot of time chasing clients to avoid being in the first situation.
Almost none of them are applying for grants.
I get it. Grants have a reputation. Long forms, vague eligibility, committees that take four months to say no. That reputation is partly deserved. But it is not the whole picture.
Right now, in June 2026, there are three grants closing in the next two weeks. They are real. They have clear eligibility. And the people running them are actively looking for businesses like yours.
Here is what each one is, what it requires, and - honestly - whether it is worth your time.
Grant 1: Allstate Main Street Grants Program
Amount: $20,000 (plus a 12-week virtual Boost Camp business accelerator) Deadline: June 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM ET - this Tuesday
This is the most significant one on the list, so let me spend the most time on it.
Allstate is awarding $20,000 grants to 100 entrepreneurs through its Main Street Grants Program. That is $2 million in total funding going to small business owners. The grant comes with something arguably more valuable: a 12-week virtual Boost Camp accelerator that includes mentorship, business coaching, and community access.
Who qualifies:
- For-profit business
- Registered in the United States, Washington D.C., or Puerto Rico
- Business owner is 18 years old or older
- At least $25,000 in business revenue in calendar year 2025
That last requirement is worth noting. This is not a startup grant. Allstate wants businesses that are already operating - you need to have actually earned $25K last year, which rules out brand-new ventures but is a very low bar for anyone who has been running their business for a year or more.
$25,000 in annual revenue is roughly $2,100 a month. Freelancers, photographers, contractors, independent consultants, service business owners, and solo operators of all kinds commonly clear that threshold without thinking of themselves as "established businesses." If that sounds like you, the eligibility box is probably checked.
The realistic math: 100 grants from a pool of how many applicants? Allstate does not publish that number. But $20,000 in non-dilutive cash - meaning you do not give up equity, you do not take on debt, you just receive money - is worth a few hours of application time. The Boost Camp alone has real value for solo operators who do not have a management team to pressure-test their decisions.
Where to apply: allstate.com/foundation and search for Main Street Grants. Deadline is Tuesday at 6 PM Eastern.
Grant 2: eBay Up & Running Grant Program
Amount: Not publicly disclosed (varies) Deadline: June 25, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST
eBay's Up & Running Grant is specifically designed for entrepreneurs with a focus on live selling - the format where sellers interact with buyers in real time via video, often through eBay Live, TikTok Shop, or similar platforms.
If live selling is part of your business model, or you have been curious about it, this grant is directly relevant. eBay uses it to surface and support sellers who are growing that channel.
The eligibility details are tighter than the Allstate grant and specific to eBay's seller community. If you already have an active eBay selling account and do any volume of live commerce, it is worth spending time on the application page to see if you qualify.
Where to apply: eBay's seller hub at ebay.com/sh/landing/grantsupport. Deadline is Wednesday June 25.
Grant 3: Skip's $10,000 Summer Grant
Amount: $10,000 (awarded to two recipients) Deadline: June 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET
Skip is offering a $10,000 grant to two eligible entrepreneurs or small business owners. The eligibility is broad: US-based, at least 18 years old. The selection criteria focus on the business story and how the funds would be used.
This is a smaller pool - two awards instead of 100 - so the odds are more lottery-like. But the application is designed to be straightforward, and $10,000 is $10,000.
Where to apply: skipaccrual.com - grant details are in the funding section. Deadline is June 30.
A Note on How to Actually Write a Grant Application
Most grant applications ask a version of the same four questions:
- What does your business do and who does it serve?
- What challenge are you trying to solve?
- How would you use the money?
- Why should we choose you?
The applications that fail usually fail on question 3. "Pay bills" is not a use of funds. "Hire a part-time employee to handle fulfillment so I can spend more time on client work, which I project will increase revenue by 20%" is a use of funds.
Be specific. The committee reading your application is looking for evidence that you know exactly what the money would do - and that you have thought about the outcome, not just the check.
The Time Math
Let's be honest about what this takes. A solid grant application - one that actually has a chance - takes three to five hours. For the Allstate grant: that is three to five hours for a shot at $20,000 plus a 12-week accelerator.
The hourly math on that is fine even at low odds.
The grant-application muscle, once you have it, is also reusable. Applications you write for one program inform the next one. Most of the content - your business description, your financial snapshot, your use-of-funds narrative - carries over.
Grant funding does not replace revenue. But for a solo business owner, $10,000 to $20,000 in non-dilutive cash that goes directly into the business is the kind of thing that can fund the hire, the equipment upgrade, or the marketing campaign you have been deferring for a year.
The Allstate deadline is Tuesday. The application is open right now.
Sources: Allstate Foundation Main Street Grants | eBay Up & Running Grant Program | Hello Alice Grant Directory | grantsforsmallbusinessowners.com