Competitiveness Consulting Rebate
Get up to 50% of your consulting costs back, up to $30,000 a year, for consulting that improves productivity and revenue. You must pay the consultant first and contribute at least 25% of the budget yourself.
“The Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program provides a rebate to small and medium sized businesses engaged in specified industries for external business consulting projects.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
The official page does not say whether you need approval before you hire the consultant. Ask the program office before you apply, because money spent early usually does not count.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- You are a privately owned, incorporated SME in Northern or Central BC with fewer than 500 employees and under $100 million in revenue.
- You need customized external consulting to improve productivity, revenue, or job creation, such as marketing strategy or operational efficiency.
- You have the cash flow to pay the consultant first and wait for reimbursement, since this is a rebate program.
Probably not the right fit if
- You are located outside the NDIT region in Northern or Central BC, as this program does not cover other parts of Canada.
- You are not incorporated or are a non-profit not solely focused on job or economic benefit, since only incorporated SMEs and specific community entities qualify.
- You need funding for physical assets or general operating expenses, because this covers only external consulting services.
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a staff-training program:
Project cost
$15,000
Program pays
$7,500
You pay
$7,500
Illustration using this program's published rate and cap; amounts and eligibility are decided by the program.
Up to 50% of eligible consulting costs, capped at $30,000 per year.
What may be supported
- Customized workplace health and safety plans
- Development of marketing strategies
- Development of operational efficiencies
- Staff training on new systems or software
How applying works
Effort: moderateYou must download forms to your desktop before applying online to avoid data loss, then complete the application and reporting forms after the project.
- 01Download and save the application guide and reporting form to your computer desktop.
- 02Log in to the NDIT Portal at https://ndit.my.site.com/s/login.
- 03Complete the online application using the saved forms to ensure data is not lost.
- 04Hire the external consultant and complete the project (confirm if pre-approval is required).
- 05Submit the reporting form to claim the rebate.
Who to ask: Email: info@northerndevelopment.bc.ca; Phone: (250) 561-2525; Address: 301-1268 Fifth Avenue, Prince George, BC V2L3L2; Online contact form available on the website.
Documents commonly required
- Application guide (downloaded to desktop)
- Reporting form (downloaded to desktop)
- Proof of incorporation and business location in NDIT region
- Invoices from external consultants
What to know before you count on it
- You must pay the full cost first; this is a rebate, not a grant paid in advance.
- You must contribute a minimum of 25% of the project budget yourself.
- The reimbursed amount is generally taxable income; ask your accountant.
- Intake is continuous but budget-limited; apply early as funds may run out.
What are your odds?
The main risks are spending before you know if approval is needed, sending an incomplete application, or applying after the budget runs out.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need approval before I hire the consultant?
The official page does not say. Ask the program office before you hire anyone. For most rebate programs, you must be approved before you spend.
What costs are excluded?
The official page does not list excluded costs. It says the rebate is for external business consulting projects. Ask the program office before you apply.
Is the rebate taxable?
Generally, yes. Ask your accountant.
Can I apply if I am a non-profit?
Only if your sole purpose is to create jobs and economic benefit in your industry (e.g., community forests).
More funding by what it pays for
What you can combine it with
Check if you can combine this with other provincial or federal consulting rebates; confirm on the official page.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Page last updated ; status and deadline checked . Source: official program page.