We track 20 open programs for British Columbia businesses. Most of the large amounts are loans. The money you do not repay is usually from your city or tied to a specific purpose. Some programs are made for specific groups of owners, such as women or Indigenous entrepreneurs. Start with the programs that fit you most closely, then look at the general ones.
The BC money most owners start with
Community Futures BC has community offices that lend up to $1 million to start-ups and existing businesses, with micro-loans up to $10,000 for smaller needs. They also lend to people that banks turn away. Each office sets its own terms, so ask your local office what it can offer.
Money for women and Indigenous founders
- Women founders: WeBC lends up to $150,000, and for loans of $50,000 or less its Equal Access to Capital stream does not demand specific security. For a first business with few assets, this can matter more than the loan size.
- Indigenous entrepreneurs: TACC offers several programs: business grants up to $99,999 for individuals and up to $250,000 for community-owned businesses, loans through the First Citizens Fund up to a lifetime maximum of $75,000 (the $76,125 figure TACC quotes includes its 1.5% borrower fee), conventional loans up to $3,000,000, and an equity-match grant up to $7,500 with a TACC loan.
If you belong to one of these groups, check these programs first. Only owners in these groups can apply.
City storefront programs in 7 BC cities
We track open storefront and facade programs in Vancouver, Prince George, Nanaimo, Chilliwack, Vernon, Campbell River and Mission. For example, Vancouver's Heritage Facade Rehabilitation Program pays up to $50,000 for exterior work on heritage buildings, and it is open year-round. Each city's program is open only to businesses in that city. City programs are cost-share, they demand approval before work starts, and they want written quotes with the application.
National programs open in every province
Four national programs are open wherever you are in Canada. The Canada Small Business Financing Program backs loans up to $1,150,000 through your own bank, with a 2% registration fee and term-loan interest capped at prime plus 3%. Futurpreneur Canada Side Hustle lends up to $25,000 to owners aged 18 to 39 who keep a full-time income for the first year, and the Futurpreneur Canada Core Start-Up Program combines up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur with up to $50,000 from BDC for up to $75,000 total, with two years of mentorship. BDC's start-up financing lends up to $150,000 once you have 12 months of operating history, so plan for it in your second year.
The three rules that decide whether you keep the money
- Approval comes before purchase. If you start the work before approval, most cost-share programs will not pay for any of it.
- Cost-share means reimbursement: you pay first and claim it back with invoices, so plan the cash.
- Grants are generally taxable income; borrowed money is not. Ask your accountant before you spend.
Most applications also want written quotes for the work before anything is approved.
Want the whole country on one page? See the startup funding map, province by province.