Yukon's loan guarantee can help your bank approve your loan, so start with it.
Yukon Venture Loan Guarantee Program: 65% of your loan backed
The Yukon Venture Loan Guarantee Program does not give you cash. It gives your lender security. The Government of Yukon stands behind 65% of the loan principal, with a minimum guarantee of $10,000 and a maximum guarantee of $100,000. The loan itself is issued by a participating financial institution, you repay the full amount plus interest, and you pay a one-time fee of 1.5% of the guarantee amount when it is issued.
It is open to new business start-ups in Yukon and to existing Yukon businesses under $5 million in revenue that are expanding. If your plan is solid and the only obstacle is that a lender wants more security than a young business can offer, this is the first program to ask your bank about. The bank still decides whether to lend, so bring your numbers.
The Economic Development Fund: up to 75% of the project
The Economic Development Fund runs in tiers. Tier 1 covers projects up to $30,000. Tier 2 covers projects between $30,001 and $100,000. Both reimburse up to 75% of eligible project costs and up to 50% of capital expenses.
Eligible costs include:
- Business plans and market research
- Marketing plans and promotional material for new markets
- Organizational capacity development, training plans and professional workshops
- Participation in trade and investment events
- Capital assets and leasehold improvements, excluding personal-use equipment
This is a cost-share, not a cheque up front. You get approval, you pay, then you claim it back with invoices. If you start spending before you are approved, you cannot claim those costs.
Funds for Yukon tourism businesses
Yukon has two funds for tourism, and the first is open only to tourism businesses.
The Tourism Cooperative Marketing Fund is a non-repayable grant for Yukon tourism businesses, covering traditional advertising placements, online advertising including social ads, SEO, SEM and email marketing, hosting media and trade familiarization tours, approved trade and consumer shows, destination sales missions and bid presentations. It is competitive and the intake deadline is October 1, 2026. The official page does not list the maximum amount. Ask the program office before you apply.
The Community Tourism Destination Development Fund is a cost-share covering up to 75% of total project costs and 50% of eligible capital expenditures, to a maximum of $375,000. Tier 1 takes project budgets up to $100,000, Tier 2 takes $100,001 to $500,000, and the final amount depends on what other government funding you receive. The portal was set to reopen on September 1, 2026. Check the official page to confirm it is open.
Indigenous entrepreneurs: NIEOP
The Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program, restricted to Indigenous entrepreneurs in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, provides project-based contributions for business establishment, business growth and operational improvements. You apply through a CanNor-approved service delivery partner rather than to CanNor directly, and in Yukon that includes däna Näye Ventures. Amounts are project-based, so confirm the caps and rates on the official page.
National loans open to Yukon businesses
National programs usually offer larger amounts.
The Canada Small Business Financing Program backs up to $1.15 million per borrower, and you apply at your own bank or credit union, not to a government office. The split matters: up to $1,000,000 in term loans, of which no more than $500,000 can go to leasehold improvements and new or used equipment, and no more than $150,000 to intangible assets and working capital, plus up to $150,000 in lines of credit. It funds commercial land and buildings, equipment including commercial vehicles and restaurant equipment, renovations to a leased space, and franchise purchase costs.
BDC lends across the country and has loans for most stages of a business. The BDC Small Business Loan goes up to $350,000 for profitable businesses operating at least 24 months. BDC Start-up financing goes up to $150,000, with interest-only payments available for up to the first 12 months. The Equipment Purchase Loan finances up to 125% of the purchase price of new or used equipment for businesses with 12 months of revenue history, amortized up to 12 years. The Technology Equipment Loan covers servers, cloud services, websites and ecommerce, and cybersecurity work, with interest-only payments for the first 24 months and amortization up to 8 years.
Community Futures runs 267 non-profit offices across the country lending locally for starting, growing or buying a business. Loan amounts vary by local office and project, so there is no single national figure. Ask your local office.
Food and beverage operators can also approach Farm Credit Canada, which finances equipment, inventory, facility construction, real property and start-up costs for food and beverage ventures.
Three things to know before you spend
- Approval comes before purchase. Cost-share programs will not reimburse spending you started early.
- Cost-share means reimbursement. You pay first and claim it back with invoices, so plan the cash.
- A loan guarantee is not a grant. Backed loans are still repayable in full with interest. Grants are generally taxable income and borrowed money is not, so ask your accountant before you spend.
Cost-share programs usually want written quotes for the work before anything is approved.
Starting a business elsewhere in the North? See start-up funding in all three territories, or browse all Yukon funding programs.