Open
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 70,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Overview
If you are a woman between the ages of 19 and 39, you could access a loan of up to $70,000 with flexible repayment options, as well as free, ongoing business advice from your personal business advisor.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- No objectives are currently available
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 70,000 $
- Up to 10% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Starting a business.
- Buying a business.
- Expanding a business.
Documents Needed
- Loan Application Checklist
- Business plan
- Market research confirming demand
- Monthly cash flow forecast for the next two years
- Historic financial statements and proposed purchase agreement, if buying a business
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Women entrepreneurs in British Columbia.
- Business owners aged 19 to 39.
- Businesses starting, purchasing or expanding in British Columbia.
Who is not eligible
- Pre-start-up projects requiring seed or early-stage capital.
- Businesses without operational control over key activities.
- Multi-tiered marketing businesses.
- Speculative investment projects.
- Projects requiring more than $70,000 without secured additional funding.
Eligible expenses
This loan program assists young women entrepreneurs in British Columbia to start, purchase, or expand their businesses. Participants benefit from financial assistance and strategic guidance to develop their ventures effectively.
- Starting a new business venture.
- Purchasing an existing business.
- Expanding an existing business operation.
- Accessing ongoing business advice from a personal Business Advisor.
- Receiving mentoring support.
- Participating in free business skills training programs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Pre-start-up projects requiring seed or early-stage capital.
- Refinancing existing debt from another lender.
- Speculative investments.
- Projects requiring more than $70,000 without secured additional funding.
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia
Processing and Agreement
- Attend a mandatory Business Loan Info Session.
- WeBC reviews its lending criteria and your questions during the session.
- WeBC assesses the complete application after all required information is received.
- A final lending decision is provided in about four weeks.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for the WeBC Youth Loan program:
- Free, ongoing business advice is available from a personal Business Advisor throughout the loan term.
- The loan is unsecured, meaning no collateral is needed to secure the funds.
- There are flexible repayment options, including up to six months with interest-only payments.
- A one-time loan administration fee of 1% is charged before disbursement.
- There is no penalty for early repayment of the loan.
- Free business skills training and mentoring are part of the support provided.
- Participation in a Business Loan Info Session is necessary to obtain an application form and insights into the process.
- The process entails about four weeks for assessment once all necessary information is submitted.
- If lacking in experience, other skills relevant to business operations are considered, and there are opportunities for skill-building workshops.
- A minimum personal equity of 10% of the loan amount is required instead of the usual 25%.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth?
If you are a woman between the ages of 19 and 39, you could access a loan of up to $70,000 with flexible repayment options, as well as free, ongoing business advice from your personal business advisor.
How much funding can be received?
WeBC — Business Loans for Youth Funds up to 10% of admissible expenses, capped at $70,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth program?
To be eligible for the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth program, you must:
Women aged 19 to 39
51% ownership and control
Business registered in British Columbia
What expenses are eligible under WeBC — Business Loans for Youth?
Starting a business.
Buying a business.
Expanding a business.
Who can I contact for more information about the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth?
You can contact WeBC or by phone at 1-800-643-7014.
Where is the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth available?
The WeBC — Business Loans for Youth program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the WeBC — Business Loans for Youth a grant, loan, or tax credit?
WeBC — Business Loans for Youth is a Loans and Capital investments