Financing for Small Businesses in Canada
Small Business Financing in Canada is essential for entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their ventures. Whether you are launching a new business or scaling an existing one, finding the right financing options can be crucial to your success. Understanding the various loans and credit options available can help you secure the funds needed to fuel your business growth. This article delves into the different loan programs, personal financing methods, and strategies for working with financial institutions to get your small business funded.

OVIN — Electric Vehicle (EV) — Stream 1
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Indigenous Initiatives Fund IV
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Arts Across Canada — Foreign Artist Tours
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Enabling Accessibility Fund — Small projects
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Construction
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries

Canada–Germany 2026 Quantum collaborative industrial research and development call for proposals
- Maximum amount : 700,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

SMART Cluster's 9th call for proposals – advanced manufacturing
- No Condition
- Manufacturing

ÉcoPerformance — Simplified Implementation
- From $100,000 to $250,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

- From $20,000 to $2,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 2
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Lac-Saint-Jean-Est — Rural Region Fund - Signature Innovation
- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Accès-Loisirs
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Business Growth — Growth support vouchers
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Coaticook — Vitality Entrepreneurship Fund
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Group Entrepreneurship Capital Program
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Finance and insurance
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Papineau —Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Podium Manufacturier
- From $40,000 to $70,000
- Manufacturing

Peak Perks
- Maximum amount : 75 $
- Utilities
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Financial Assistance to Support Rental Housing
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 33% of project cost
- Construction

- From $200,000 to $1,500,000
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Small Business Program
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

Sustainable industrial buildings subsidy
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries

Social Economy Development Fund
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC L'Islet — Child development assistance measure for the south of the territory
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Public administration

Business growth — Éco-Capitale
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Trade Commissioner Service — Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)
- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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Summer Company
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- All industries

Tourism Growth Program (TGP) — Quebec
- From $60,000 to $250,000
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Collines-de-l'Outaouais — FRR Stream 3
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

innovÉÉ — SI2TEC
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Small Business BC — Workplace Accessibility Grant
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- All industries

MAPAQ — Supporting the development of greenhouse businesses
- From $100,000 to $600,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- All industries

MRC Témiscamingue — Fund YOUR SME
- Maximum amount : 3,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade

MRC Bécancour — Business Support Fund (BSF)
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

MRC L'Islet — Sectoral agreement for the development of culture in Chaudière-Appalaches
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Information and cultural industries

- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Cultural Development
- Minimum amount : 500 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PacifiCan — Regional Economic Growth through Innovation — Business Scale-Up and Productivity
- From $200,000 to $5,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Studies and consulting services
- From $3,000 to $25,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

MRC La Vallée-de-l'Or — Support Program for Structuring Projects (PSPS)
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Enabling Accessibility Fund – Youth Innovation Component
- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)

Regional partnership and digital transformation agreement for tourism 2022-2025 – Festivals and events
- From $60,000 to $15,000
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Biofood market development program — Component 2
- From $50,000 to $750,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Arthabaska — Young Promoters Fund (FJP)
- Maximum amount : 8,000 $
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Musicaction — International Event
- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 3
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Technology Leadership: Genomics stream
- Up to 45% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Game Changer Pitch Competition
- No Condition
- Utilities
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Programme Innovation (PI)
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Other services (except public administration)

Ville de La Tuque — RRF stream 2 - Support for local and regional development skills
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services
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MTRIC — PARTENAR-IA — Academic
- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing

MRC Collines-de-l'Outaouais — FRR Stream 2
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC L'Islet — SME Propulsion Measurement
- From $3,000 to $25,000
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Bellechasse — Social Economy Enterprise Development Fund (FDEÉS)
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Northern Ontario Development Program — Community Economic Development
- Up to 33% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities
- Manufacturing

MRC La Vallée-de-l’Or — Regions and Rurality Fund – Component 3 – Market Gardening Program
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Support program for the development of reserved designations and promotional terms — Component 2
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MRC Caniapiscau — FDE
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

True North
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- All industries

Musicaction — Skills development
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

MRC Kamouraska — Regional Outreach Support Program (FRR-1)
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Support program for economic development projects (PAPDE) — Component 1 : Supporting the development of entrepreneurship
- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Marguerite-D'Youville — Business Support Fund – Stream 2
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 20% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Open Innovation Subsidy Program for start-up companies
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services

MRC Kamouraska — Support Program for Innovative Projects for Cultural Development and Community Animation
- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Fund to stimulate international business tourism – Stream 1 - Produce a bid book or business plan
- From $5,000 to $200,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

PME MTL — Subsidies to support social economy initiatives
- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Up to 80% of project cost
- All industries

MRC Papineau — Digital Transformation and Development Fund (FADN)
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

Productivity - Small commercial companies
- From $15,000 to $25,000
- Up to 35% of project cost
- All industries

MRC L'Islet — Local Services Development Fund
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 2 - Support for local and regional development skills
- No Condition
- All industries

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 1
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services

MRC Bécancour — Social Economy Fund (SEF)
- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Business Support
- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries
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Musicaction — Canvassing
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

PME MTL — New Community Businesses
- From $23,000 to $23,000
- All industries

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

PME MTL — Funds for Retail businesses
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Retail trade

Rio Tinto Aluminium Valley Fund
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Protein Industries Canada — Artificial Intelligence
- Up to 45% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

MRC Maskinongé — Programme DÉPART
- No Condition
- All industries

Developing a green alley or public space in CDN-NDG
- No Condition
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Innovation PEI Small Business Assistance
- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Workforce Training and Employment — Employment Partnerships
- No Condition
- All industries

Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE) – Validate
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Health care and social assistance

Tourism Development Fund (TDF)
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services

Business Energy Rebates
- Maximum amount : 4,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE)
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

Ontario Junior Exploration Program
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

AFA — Public Art Galleries Operating Funding
- Up to 22% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Sustainable Growth Investment — Young Entrepreneurs
- Maximum amount : 45,000 $
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Skills for Success Program — Training and Tools Stream
- No Condition
- All industries

Alberta Innovates — Alberta Digital Traction Program
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation & Southern Ontario Prosperity Program — Not-for-profit organizations
- Minimum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

- Up to 75% of project cost
- Accommodation and food services

Musicaction — Incubator project
- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

NADF Financing
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- All industries

First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund — Capacity Funding
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 37.5% of project cost
- Utilities

Small Business Support Program — Small Business Opportunities Fund
- No Condition
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services