877-472-6814

A gentleman named Aaron has called me from this number (or at least left this return number to call) with an extension of 251. He claims to represent a company in Henderson, Nevada (outside Las Vegas) and he is offering me large amounts of small business funding. According to Aaron, large corporations like PepsiCo want to give away large sums of money to reduce tax liability and his company screens prospective recipients for these small business grants. He insisted that there were grants for small business owners, especially for females and rural areas (categories into which I fit) and numerous other categories that boost the economy and so provide in an indirect way more tax revenue to the IRS. I believed this caller completely. But I cannot find his website anywhere and so I am thinking that a)I copied it down wrong or b)this is a scam. I understood the caller to say that the company has been in business for 30 years and the website has loads of good information about properly setting up a small business at www.sbfcompany.com. If someone could confirm legitimacy here, I would greatly appreciate it.

run,,,,,,,,,,,,don't walk

I have spoken with these people a number of times and am wondering the same thing.  I saw the Run... don't walk reply below.  Did this person give you any particulars.  The website you are looking for is www.sbfgrants.com.  I would appreciate any further insight that anyone has available.

What do you know and why so cryptic a message?

I to as a small business owner have been contacted by this Company but a different representative.  They are very agressive in asking for my $2,600 upfront so they can "go to work for me". I would love to talk to someone who has ACTUALLY received grant money thru this company ie: sbfcompany.com

I also have talked to them, same story, and am afraid to do it for the same reason. I want to hear a success story first.

Same here, I want to believe him but am NOT going to write a 2,600 check without some sort of proof.

I was called by the Small Business Funding Company Inc. not but 5 minutes ago and my husband did a little research. He told me it was a scam so I hung up on "Micheal" @ ext. 239. Well, he called back and when I informed him that a web-site called them a scam (Bluff) he got all choked up and started to stutter and all he could muster was "it was a disgruntled client". I then informed him that 3000 people were disgruntled (Another Bluff) and he hung up with me. This is an obvious scam folks don't buy money as in don't pay money to recieve it, plain and simple.

I felt the same way but received my grant about 3 weeks ago for a total of $128,000 it did take about 8 months but I'm sure happy now.

The address is sbfcompany.com and I recieved my grant last week of $42,000 and should still be getting more soon they say.  Not a bad investmont for $2600.

For those who did receive grant money, what was required of you time-wise (aside from the $2600?).  Are you required to submit business plans, etc.?  Would you recommend this to others?  For what purpose was your money granted?  Take me through it step-by-step.  They don't give you a lot of detail up front, so I'm wondering what other surprises may be in store.

Hey Joe, how about a little more info? what's your business'website? For all we know you work for SBF yourself...

All I know for sure is that all of their business licenses are in line, and everything is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. They've been in business since June of 2006, and haven't accrued any OFFICIAL negative feedback in that time. I'm still leary but I kind of want to try it...

Hey guys, I just go off the phone with the Federal Trade Commission, and they said if they are asking for money up front, it is fraudulant. SO DON'T DO IT! CALL THE FTC YOURSELF AND ASK THEM IF YOU WANT!

Ricky,  thanks for the info, but they justified it as a retainer like you would pay an attorney for services.  That's legal, right?!  
I still would like to hear some more in-depth feedback from satisfied or dissatisfied customers, not just naysayers.  I haven't found much about them at all online.

They declined to give references based on the Freedom of Information Act (still don't see how that applies).  And when I asked why there were no testimonials on the website, they gave me a flaky answer too.  I don't see the harm in having testimonials on a website.  I guess company sponsored testimonials can all be faked anyway, so maybe that would not be helpful.

I am inclined to believe they are legit, but the upfront money and lack of references makes me reluctant to proceed.

My "sales agent" was getting a little emotional about my red flags and put me on with someone else who was a lot less emotional and more matter-of-fact and informative.  He added some more credabilty.

The FTC cannot advise or disadvise a client to business wilh anyone! Does this mean that any company that charges money upfront(ABOUT 90% OF ALL BUSINESS DO)IS FRAUDULENT! I guess I should stop buying mcdonalds hamburgers because they want me to pay upfront before they deliver the burger, stop shopping on ebay or maybe all attorneys that charge retainer upfront are also scams? Grants are very real there are alot of very good outfits in the country that get people grants. I would advise anyone to do more research about grants before you make a snap decision based on a phonecall to the ftc, attorney general or BBB. Any of these organizations cannot tell you to do business with anyone or they would be held liable, instead they will always say proceed at your own risk(call and ask if you should buy hamburgers from mcdonald and pay upfront and watch them say they same thing). I would also call up the FTC and ask if they advise paying up front for other services every e-commerce website online that sells products or provides a service charges upfront before they deliver the goods. If your looking into getting a grant just research the company and make sure they have proper business license and good grant writers. If they have multiple complaints with the bbb saying "I paid the company upfront money and they didnt get me a grant" then RUN, if not and everything looks good give it a try you will find that every grant writer in the country charges money upfront to write a grant(it takes 3-6 months of work thats why thy charge upfront). Ebay would have never made it with out getting a grant to get started and now they are a multi-billion dollar business.Amazon.com got grants,Ross Perot got started with grants, Hell even Sesame Street the kids program was started by grant money. Grants are real, most people just are not educated enough on the subject! Most people just assume things, and dont look into it further. Do more research and you all will find that 100's of billions of dollars are givin out every year in this country for various grants. But it all starts by hiring a grant writer!

Geez guys, it's a scam!!!! The second I claimed it to be a scam to the telemarketer he stumbled and stuttered and wound up hanging up on me? Chris,I have dealt with grants before as my wife and I own a retail business. Any company that proposes to get you a grant should get you the grant and then deduct their fee from the total. Not charge you up front! you'll never see your money. Interesting how "Joe" chimed in and got his money right after I said what I said. Well here's a news flash for everyone, I have alerted the FBI's Fraud Division in Nevada about this so called Company and as far as the BBB. I checked and found Nadda, Ziltch, And Zero information on them. Prove me wrong! Prove it!

Thank you to all who are honestly responding here.

I have been approached by this company and could not believe how unprofessional they are on the phone.  They get defensive when you ask simple questions about their company and talk right over you.  They hound you with calls and messages even after you tell them you are not interested.  People...free money has never come to me by a telemarketer in a sweatshop with background noise.  I recommend going to the www.score.org website and do a little reading.  

Good luck with your ventures!

Someone who has been scammed for thousands in pursuit of entrepenuership.

Obviously, the posters here that claim they received a grant are SBF people.  They talk a line to you.  First of all, if some company out there is going to give out Thousands or Millions of Dollars to small business.  They can afford to hire a Grant administrator to distribute the money they want to donate.  They are not going to go to some outside company and pay them a percentage to give their money away.  Additionally, when they contact you, they tell you in a matter of minutes that you are already qualified for this huge amount of money, and they stress urgency to send them a retainer right away!  I told them, if them funds are secured, just hold the retainer out of the grant money, they always have an excuse for you to send them money right away.  If it is a legimitate grant, there is NO CHARGE to the consumer.  Furthermore, there is no easier place to rip people off than the State Of Nevada.  That is one town were you can steal peoples money and break no laws so when they tell you they are approved by the Better Business Bureau, remember, The BBB has PAID membership!

I rec'd the same call from a female caller claiming grants to small business with the 2600 fee out of the grant awarded to me and not until then. What the heck why not try if no money up front? I will wait until next call. No loss no gain. I only gave my name and cell number.

Can you give us the number of this place that does this for 2600 out of the Grant???