How to Use Grants to Grow Your Nutrition Business

What If You Could Expand Without Financial Stress?

Imagine hiring more staff, opening new locations, or launching an innovative program—without taking on debt or draining your savings. Sounds impossible, right?

What many business owners don’t realize is that billions of dollars in government grants are available every year to support small businesses. Yet, most never take advantage of this funding simply because they don’t know it exists or assume they won’t qualify.

In this episode of How to Build a Profitable Nutrition Business, I spoke with Kim Yabsley, a grants expert from Growology. She helped our own dietitian business secure over $120,000 in grant funding, which allowed us to scale from a small operation to a team of 18 staff. Grants became one of the most valuable tools in our growth strategy, and they could be for you too.

Why Would the Government Give You Money?

At first, I struggled to understand why the government would offer funding to businesses. But as Kim explained, grants aren’t just handouts—they’re an investment. Governments want to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and support industries that contribute to the economy.

Businesses that receive grant funding can hire more people, serve more clients, and ultimately contribute more in taxes. That’s why funding exists for businesses in nearly every industry, including health, nutrition, and fitness. The challenge isn’t whether the money is available; it’s knowing where to find it and how to apply successfully.

“There are 4,000 different grants available right now, with $74 billion in public funding,” Kim told me. “Most business owners assume grants don’t apply to them, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

How Grants Transformed Our Business

Before working with Kim, I had no idea that government grants could help businesses like ours. But once we started applying, we quickly saw the impact.

One of the most helpful grants covered wage reimbursements, allowing us to hire admin staff at little to no cost. This was a game-changer for our business because dietetics is extremely admin-heavy. Having front desk staff made our business run more efficiently, yet hiring them would have been a huge financial jump without the support of grants.

We also used expansion grants that gave us $20,000 per employee when opening new locations. This financial cushion made it possible to grow into new regions without the usual financial pressure. Instead of waiting until we had enough revenue to afford expansion, we were able to take action right away.

Another grant helped us develop MEALZEE, our meal-planning software. At the time, we had an early version that was functional but clunky. Grant funding allowed us to refine and scale it into a web application, which laid the foundation for a much larger project.

“I don’t think we could have expanded the way we did without grants,” I said on the podcast. “They were truly transformational for our business.”

How to Find Grants for Your Business

Kim explained that the first step to securing grants is understanding what governments want to fund.

Different levels of government prioritize different types of businesses. Local councils often provide funding for community-based projects, state governments focus on regional development and innovation, and the federal government supports industries that contribute to national economic growth.

Each state has its own small business website (such as business.qld.gov.au in Queensland) where you can find grant opportunities. The key is to align your business goals with the government’s funding priorities. For example, if your state is focused on supporting regional businesses, you may find grants that help you expand into those areas.

Once you find a relevant grant, the next step is getting “grant ready”. Successful applicants have clear financial records, a solid business plan, and a detailed proposal outlining exactly how they’ll use the funds. Kim explained that many businesses get rejected not because their idea is bad, but because they fail to present a compelling, well-structured application.

How to Write a Winning Grant Application

When government assessors review grant applications, they often have thousands of submissions to go through. To stand out, your application needs to be clear, concise, and well-structured.

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is writing vague applications. Funders want to know exactly how you’ll use the money, what impact it will have, and how you’ll measure success. Strong applications include real data, clear objectives, and measurable outcomes.

Kim put it this way: “Imagine a panel of assessors has 3,000 applications on their desk and only 15 grants to award. Your job is to make their decision easy by presenting a strong, straightforward case.”

Even if you don’t win on your first try, consistency is key. The average success rate for grant applications is 17%, meaning most businesses need to apply several times before securing funding.

A Simple Way to Find Grants That Suit Your Business

If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of researching grants, Kim and her team at Growology have created The Ultimate Grants Guide—a regularly updated resource that lists available grants in plain, simple language. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars per month for a grants database, this guide is available for just $17.

Kim also runs a low-cost membership program, which provides monthly grant updates, templates to streamline the application process, and expert feedback to improve your chances of success.

We’ll include the link in the show notes, but you can also follow Kim on Instagram (@kimyabsley), Growology on Facebook or LinkedIn for ongoing tips and updates.

Final Thoughts: Are Grants the Missing Link in Your Business Growth?

Most nutrition business owners focus on growing revenue through getting more clients or increasing their prices. But grants provide a completely different pathway to growth—one that doesn’t rely on raising your rates or overloading your schedule.

The key to success is planning ahead, applying strategically, and staying consistent. Grant funding won’t land in your account overnight, but if you stick with it, it can provide the financial boost you need to hire staff, develop new services, or expand into new locations without the financial strain.

If you’ve never looked into grants before, now is the time to start. You might be surprised at what’s available—and how much it could transform your business.