Starting a business in Canada? Find the money before you spend yours.
Startup money in Canada comes from federal, provincial, regional and city programs. Bank loans up to $1,150,000 backed by the federal government. Provincial grants of up to $200,000. City money for the storefront itself. Tell us what you are starting and we'll show you where the money is, free, in about 2 minutes, checked weekly across 100 verified startup programs.
What could the funding help pay for?
Equipment, renovations and leasehold improvements, first-year marketing, professional advice, technology and other eligible start-up costs. Each program has its own list, so check which ones match what you are starting.
Province by province
Find startup grants and loans in your province
Each guide uses the same program details as our program pages, and every program page shows the date we last checked it.
Ontario
Starter Company Plus pays up to $5,000 + training; city fit-out grants up to $50,000
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British Columbia
Loans up to $1 million through Community Futures; Vancouver storefront money year-round
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Alberta
Up to $150,000 through Community Futures; the same for women founders through AWE
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Saskatchewan
WESK lends women up to $150,000; Saskatoon pays for storefronts
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Manitoba
Targeted grants reach $250,000; WeMB lends $5,000 to $150,000
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Quebec
30 open programs; SADC network lends $5,000 to $300,000
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Nova Scotia
Financing up to $500,000 backed by the province, plus interest-free ACOA contributions
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New Brunswick
ACOA covers up to 50% of capital costs, interest-free and unsecured
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Prince Edward Island
Micro-loans up to $15,000, loans up to $100,000, and a 50% grant
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Newfoundland & Labrador
A 50% grant normally up to $200,000; term loans at Bank of Canada rate + 0.5%
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Yukon, NWT & Nunavut
SEED grants to $25,000 a year; Nunavut contributions to $250,000
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Before you apply
Three funding mistakes that can cost you the money
Buying before approval
Start the work early and most cost-share programs will not pay you a dollar. Get approved first, every time.
Forgetting you pay first
Most grants reimburse after the work is done and inspected. Plan the cash to carry the project, or the reimbursement never comes.
Applying without quotes
Many programs require written quotes before approval, so collect them before you apply.
Frequently asked
Startup grants and loans in Canada: answers before you apply
How do I get a startup loan in Canada?
Three options are open everywhere in Canada: the Canada Small Business Financing Program backs loans up to $1,150,000 through your own bank or credit union, Futurpreneur lends up to $25,000 to owners aged 18 to 39 keeping a job (up to $75,000 through its Core program with BDC), and Community Futures offices lend in rural and smaller communities. Then check your own province: several run their own start-up lending, from PEI's $100,000 Entrepreneur Loan Program to Newfoundland and Labrador's term loans at the Bank of Canada rate plus 0.5%. Every loan is subject to the lender's approval of your plan.
Are there government grants to start a small business?
Yes, but they are specific rather than universal: Ontario's Starter Company Plus pays up to $5,000 with training, Newfoundland and Labrador's Business Growth Program normally covers 50% of costs up to $200,000, and dozens of cities pay for storefront and fit-out work. Grants are competitive, usually cost-share (you pay first, claim back after), require approval before you start the work, and are generally taxable income. The larger, more widely available start-up money is lending.
Can I get a loan for an e-commerce or online business?
The general start-up lenders fund online businesses like any other: the Canada Small Business Financing Program's term loans and line of credit, Futurpreneur's programs for founders 18 to 39, and provincial lenders such as WeBC or WESK for women-owned businesses. Some grant programs also pay for the digital side itself: websites, online stores and ordering systems are on several programs' eligible-cost lists.
What is the right order to apply in?
Register or incorporate first, because many programs test legal status before anything else. Check your city and province before anything national, because that is where the grants concentrate and the applicant pools are smallest. Get approval before you buy anything, because starting early disqualifies you from most cost-share programs. And arrange the lending in parallel, because it takes longer to approve than a grant application takes to write.