Export Funding NB
Get reimbursed for up to 65% of eligible export costs, capped at $15,000. You must pay 100% upfront and get approval before spending, so plan your cash flow carefully.
“For the minimum project size of $5,000, the reimbursement would equal $3,250; for a project of $23,076.92 or greater, the maximum reimbursement would be $15,000.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
Approval must come BEFORE you spend: costs incurred before approval are not eligible, and the project must be completed within six months of approval.
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 New Brunswick SME with a CRA business number that is exporting or planning to export.
- You have shown growth in revenue, profit, or workforce over the past two years.
- You need funding for incremental export activities like market research, lead generation, or export-focused digital marketing.
Probably not the right fit if
- You are in retail, wholesale, real estate, government services, personal or social services, or softwood lumber.
- You have already incurred costs or made financial commitments before submitting your application.
- Your total project cost is under $5,000, which is the minimum required to qualify.
How much you'd realistically get
For example, an export-ready website with translated marketing:
Project cost
$23,000
Program pays
$14,950
You pay
$8,050
Illustration using this program's published rate and cap; amounts and eligibility are decided by the program.
You can receive between $3,250 and $15,000, covering up to 65% of eligible costs.
What may be supported
- Market research or export plan development
- Lead generation activities
- Export focused website additions
- Integration of e-commerce functionality & AI Tools
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Paid online advertising campaign
- Social media strategy
- Videos
- Translation
What's excluded or restricted
- Maintenance Fees
- Web hosting Fees
- Travel for consultants or applicants
- Costs associated with participating in a trade show
- Printing of brochures
- Production of trade show booth
- HST (Harmonized Sales Tax)
- Financial commitments made prior to submission (costs incurred before approval are not eligible)
- Work done by employees (except for managing online advertising campaigns where the consultant is Google/Facebook etc.)
- Activities that do not go beyond core activities or represent new initiatives (must be incremental)
How applying works
Effort: moderateYou must prepare a detailed application with consultant proposals, wait for evaluation (usually two weeks), sign a contract, execute the project within six months, and submit a claim for reimbursement.
- 01Complete the online application form demonstrating compliance with objectives and guidelines.
- 02Attach consultant proposal(s) and other supporting documents.
- 03Wait for evaluation outcome (usually within two weeks).
- 04If approved, sign a contract with LearnSphere.
- 05Select arm's length consultant(s) and execute the project within six months.
- 06Submit a claim after the project is finished to receive reimbursement.
Who to ask: Sally Marchand, Project Manager at LearnSphere (Contact page: https://learnsphere.ca/contact; Phone: 1 877 644 2267)
Documents commonly required
- Online application form
- Consultant proposal(s)
- Supporting documents demonstrating growth and export potential
- Signed contract with LearnSphere (after approval)
What to know before you count on it
- You must pay 100% of the costs upfront and wait for reimbursement after the project is finished.
- The grant portion is generally taxable income; ask your accountant how this affects your tax filing.
- Professional services firms are generally ineligible unless the project represents a unique strategic opportunity with economic benefit to New Brunswick.
- Consultants must be at arm's length to your company and charge fair market value.
What are your odds?
Approval is not automatic. Get approval before you spend, send every document LearnSphere asks for, and apply early because the budget can run out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim costs I already spent on market research?
No. Financial commitments made prior to submission are not eligible. You must get approval before spending.
Is the reimbursement tax-free?
The reimbursed grant portion is generally taxable income. Ask your accountant for specific advice.
Can I hire my own employees to do the work?
Work done by employees is generally excluded, except for managing online advertising campaigns where the consultant is Google/Facebook etc.
How long do I have to complete the project?
Projects must be completed within a six-month period after approval.
More funding by what it pays for
Funding for Websites
Grants and loans to help you build or improve your business website.
Funding for E-commerce
Grants and loans to help you launch or improve your online store.
Funding for Online Ordering and Booking
Grants and loans may help pay for online ordering, booking and reservation systems.
Funding for Retail POS
Grants and loans that may help pay for point-of-sale systems and other store technology.
What you can combine it with
Confirm on the official page if this can be stacked with other federal or provincial export grants.
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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.