1. Loans and cash advances
BDC Small Business Loan - for existing business
Business Development Bank of Canada
Keep your cash flow. Rather than using the money you need for day-to-day activities, consider applying for additional financing. With the BDC Small Business Loan, you could get up to $100,000 within 5 business days, no application fees or hassles. The entire process is completed online.
You need to have been operating your business for the past 24 months.
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
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Canada Small Business Financing Program
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
This program could help you secure up to $1 million from a financial institution by sharing the risk with your lender.
The loans can be used to:
- Purchase or improve land or buildings
- Purchase leasehold improvements or improve leased property
- Purchase new or used equipment
Eligible small businesses should have annual gross revenues of no more than $10 million.
Discuss your business needs with a financial officer at any bank, caisse populaire, or credit union in Canada. Find a lender near you.
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BDC Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan
Business Development Bank of Canada
As an Indigenous entrepreneur, you could get up to $150,000 to start a business, or up to $250,000 to grow your existing business.
Operations can be on or off reserve.
You can use the loan to:
- Acquire fixed assets
- Finance franchise fees
- Cover start-up costs
- Start exporting
- Replenish working capital to support your company's growth
Learn more
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2. Grants, contributions and financial assistance
Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Is your Indigenous corporation, co-operative, organization or partner organization (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) participating in the conservation and recovery of species at risk? Funding is available through two streams:
- Species at Risk – focusing on the recovery of species at risk on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act
- Prevention – focusing on other species to prevent them from becoming a conservation concern
Eligible activities include:
- Habitat protection
- Habitat improvement
- Program planning and development
- Surveys, inventories and monitoring
A minimum of 20% of matching contributions is required. For every $1 you are provided you must raise $0.20 through financial or in-kind resources.
Other conditions apply.
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Accessibility program for tourist establishments
Tourisme Québec
You could receive financial assistance to cover up to 80% of eligible costs, to a maximum amount of $20,000 per project for infrastructure improvement projects to increase the accessibility of your tourist establishment.
Eligible work includes:
- Barrier-free outdoor area and stair-free indoor area
- Barrier-free entrances — accessible to people in wheelchairs
- Accessible washrooms
- Barrier-free rooms
Work must be performed on an existing establishment and comply with Kéroul accessibility criteria.
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
(in French only)
Form(s)
(in French only)
AgriAssurance Program: National Industry Association Component
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
If your not-for-profit organization operates in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, including fish and seafood, you could receive funding in the form of a non-repayable contribution of up to 75% of eligible program costs.
Assistance will be provided to help you develop and adopt assurance systems, standards and tools to support health and safety claims regarding your agricultural and agri-food products.
Conditions apply.
Learn more
Find contacts
Form(s)
AgriAssurance: Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Component
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
If your business operates in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, including fish and seafood, you can apply for funding in the form of a non-repayable contribution of up to 50% of project costs to help you implement assurance projects that address market and regulatory requirements.
You will receive assistance implementing third-party assurance certification projects that address international market requirements, thereby increasing export opportunities for Canadian agricultural and agri-food products.
Other conditions apply.
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Form(s)
Appui pour la conversion à l'agriculture biologique
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
You could receive financial assistance of up to $40,000 to stimulate production and adopt organic farming practices.
The program is divided into two parts:
- Support for converting plant, maple, and honey production
- Support for constructing or modifying livestock facilities to meet organic standards
Companies who have discontinued their certification or whose certification has been revoked during the past 5 years are not eligible.
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
(in French only)
Find contacts
(in French only)
Business Assistance — Immigrant Investor Program
Investissement Québec
You could benefit from a non-repayable financial contribution of up to $250,000 to help pay for most growth projects, such as:
- Increasing, modernizing or improving production
- Getting certified for conforming to a standard
- Technological innovation or design
- Marketing products outside Québec
You must:
- Obtain the recommendation of an accredited financial intermediary that is recognized by Investissement Québec
- Have less than $35 million in total assets
- Submit a project with a cost of at least $300,000
Other conditions apply.
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Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Your not-for-profit organization can apply for a non-repayable contribution of up to $1 million towards the costs of an industry-led project that helps the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector to:
- Seize opportunities (take advantage of a situation or circumstance to develop a new idea, product, niche, or market opportunity)
- Respond to new and/or emerging issues
- Pathfind and/or pilot solutions to new and ongoing issues
Eligible applicants are:
- Not-for-profit organizations and associations, including cooperatives
- Marketing boards
- Aboriginal groups
Individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible.
Learn more
Programme d'appui aux fromageries
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
Is your cheese factory registered in Quebec? Does it process less than 5 million litres of milk annually? If yes, you could receive financial assistance to optimize the production capacity of your cheese factory and enhance its profitability.
The financial assistance covers 50% of the eligible costs, to a maximum of $100,000 for projects identified as priority in the diagnostic, and $45,000 for the implementation of a basic quality control system.
To be eligible, your business must also:
- Have a licence to produce dairy products
- Provide a complete diagnostic approved by the Ministère
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
(in French only)
Programme de valorisation, d'aménagement et de restauration des habitats du saumon atlantique
Fondation de la faune du Québec
You could obtain financial assistance to fund your initiatives to conserve, improve or restore Atlantic salmon habitat.
With this financial support, you may be able to cover up to 80% of the eligible costs for:
- Pre-project studies or monitoring enhancements (maximum amount of $40,000 per project)
- Habitat enhancements (maximum amount of $150,000 per project)
You must sign a memorandum of understanding with the Fondation de la faune and obtain all required permits and permissions prior to starting this project.
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
(in French only)
Programme PME en action — Appui à la productivité des PME
Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
If your for-profit business or social enterprise is part of the manufacturing or major services sector, you could receive a non-repayable contribution of up to 40% of eligible expenses, including:
- Professional fees
- Purchase of specialized information
Eligible projects include:
- Supply chain optimization
- Implementation of an integrated management system or a customer relationship management system
- Bring your operations into compliance with production standards
- Implementation of a cost accounting system
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
(in French only)
Find contacts
(in French only)
Support for Québec Farm Business Development
La Financière agricole
You could benefit from an investment grant of up to $20,000 for development projects such as:
- Increased production volume, performance, or profitability
- Compliance with animal welfare and organic production standards
- Start-up of a new agricultural or agri-food business
Your project should also involve:
- Construction or renovation of a building, including necessary equipment
- Land improvement works, such as drainage or reclamation of fallow land
Other conditions apply.
Learn more
Find contacts
Form(s)
3. Other resources
You can also consult our other directories of financing programs.
You could also avail yourself of non-financial resources to succeed in your business venture.