Join our Member Call In at 1 pm EST on June 18th: Dial in toll free for our conference call: 877-440-0873 or join online at: www.uberconference.com/womenbiznetwork
RSVP here (we encourage you to RSVP so that we can collect your questions)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/member-challenge-event-grow-your-biz-by-10-tickets-17322302473
There are many avenues to look for financial support for your business, grants, loans, crowd funding, boot strapping and more. Here are resources for Canadian Women in Business related to Government Financing:
1. Government financing
The government provides financing to help entrepreneurs like you start a business. Some of this financing is targeted at specific demographic groups and industry sectors, and some of it is available to a wider audience. The financing includes grants and contributions (which generally do not have to be repaid), loans, and loan guarantees (which generally do have to be repaid).
- BDC Small Business Loan — for existing business
Get a loan of up to $50,000 within 2 to 5 business days. There are no fees or hassles and the entire process is online.
- Fonds de diversification économique — MRC des Sources
Are you looking to start or expand your business development project in the Regional County Municipality of Des Sources? You could get financial assistance.
- Fonds de diversification économique du Centre-du-Québec et de la Mauricie
Are you looking to start or expand your business development project in the Centre-du-Québec and Mauricie regions? You could get financial support.
- Prêt à entreprendre
Are you starting a business or thinking of buying an existing one in Quebec? If so, you could get a loan on trust and support services.
- APEX Investment Fund
If your business is in one of three key industry sectors, you may be able to attract an equity investment of up to $5 million from this private fund.
- ATB Financial
If you are looking for money to help you start or operate your small business in Alberta, you may be eligible for financing opportunities.
- AVAC Ltd.
If you operate a new Alberta agricultural business, you can apply for money for R&D and to help you market your product or service.
- Aboriginal Business Development Fund (Ulnooweg Loan)
Find funding for Aboriginal people in Atlantic Canada to start, buy, grow or refinance a business.
- Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurship Development
Apply for financing to start or grow your Aboriginal business.
- Aboriginal Economic Development Fund — Business and Community Fund
You may be eligible to apply for a loan for your aboriginal business in designated regions of Ontario.
- Aboriginal Initiatives Fund II
Your aboriginal organization could benefit from a range of financial assistance for projects that support community development.
- Aerospace Tax Holiday
Your PEI aerospace business may be eligible for a tax rebate.
- Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Lending
Access loans and services to start or grow farm, agribusiness or other small business.
- Alberta BoostR
This crowdfunding platform can help your Alberta business raise money through a community of supporters, in exchange for a reward.
- Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grants
Learn about grants and resources for artists in Alberta.
- Alberta Indian Investment Corporation
If you are an Aboriginal entrepreneur seeking financing and business support, learn about loans, equity investments and services available to you.
- Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
As a woman in Alberta, you can take advantage of this network and its tools to gain business skills and help your business succeed.
- Apeetogosan (Métis) Development Inc.
Are you an established or budding entrepreneur seeking financing and business support services? If so, learn about direct business financing, equity investments, and business services.
- Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations
If you live in a rural region of Atlantic Canada, you can access business counselling, financing and training to help start or grow your business.
- Atuqtuarvik Corporation — Financing
If you are Inuit and live in Nunavut, you can apply for a loan to start or expand your business.
- BDC Buying a business
Find out how you may get financing to buy an existing business.
- BDC Capital
Access a wide range of specialized financing to match the various stages of your business’ growth.
- BDC Financing for starting a business
Learn how you could get money to start or buy a business or to buy property or equipment to set up your business.
- BDC financing
You could get money to help you start or grow your business.
- BDC growth capital for aboriginal business
Find out how you could get money to help start or grow your Aboriginal business.
- Black Business Initiative — Financial support
As an African Nova Scotian entrepreneur, you could access a loan of up to $25,000 to start or expand your business.
- Business Development Centres of Nunavut
If you are a Canadian living in Nunavut, you can apply for help to start or grow a business in your community.
- Business Development Program
Access funds to start, expand or improve your business in Atlantic Canada.
- Business Start Program
Are you ready to begin your business journey? Access this three-day business workshop and loan guarantee program to start things off on the right foot.
- Canada Small Business Financing Program
Access funds for your small business with the help of this loan guarantee program.
- Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program
Find out how this loan guarantee could help you secure credit for your farming business.
- City of Regina Property Tax Exemption Program
Your business may be eligible for a property tax exemption from the City of Regina.
- City of Saskatoon Business Development Incentives Program
Your business may be eligible for a tax abatement from the City of Saskatoon.
- Clarence Campeau Development Fund
If you are Métis, you could get money to help you start a business or grow the one you have.
- Commerical/Agriculture Loans
Your Aboriginal agriculture business can access loans for capital expenditures, including farm equipment, livestock and land acquisition.
- Community Business Development Corporations — Loans for Atlantic entrepreneurs
You could borrow up to $150,000 to start, grow, or modernize a business in a rural area of Atlantic Canada.
- Community Business Development Corporations — Social Enterprise Loan
You could get a loan of up to $150,000 to start-up, renovate or grow your social enterprise in rural Atlantic Canada.
- Community Futures Alberta — Small Business Loans
You could get a loan to start or grow a business if you live in rural Alberta.
- Community Futures British Columbia — Financing programs for entrepreneurs
You could get a loan to start or grow a business if you live in a rural area of British Columbia.
- Community Futures Manitoba
Find out about loans to start or grow a business if you live in rural and northern Manitoba.
- Community Futures Program
Get funding for starting or growing a business in a rural or disadvantaged area of the province of Quebec.
- Community Futures Program (Ontario)
You could receive funding to start or grow your business in rural Ontario.
- Community Futures Saskatchewan — Loan products for small businesses
You could get a loan to start or grow a business if you live in rural or northern Saskatchewan.
- Community Futures Self Employment Programs
If you live in BC and are underemployed, unemployed or have made an EI claim in recent years, you could get help to start or buy a business.
- Community Futures Treaty Seven — Business development
Are you an Aboriginal entrepreneur wishing to start or grow your business? You may be eligible for a business loan.
- Direct Equity Tax Credit Program
Invest in a new or expanding small business in Newfoundland and Labrador and receive a provincial income tax credit.
- ESSOR Program — Funding support for investment projects
You could get funding to start your business, upgrade your processes or facilities and contribute to creating or maintaining jobs.
- Eastern Ontario Development Program
If you are located in a rural area of Eastern Ontario, you could get financing to start or grow your business.
- Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities: Financing
If you are a Francophone living in Manitoba, you may be able to get financing to start or grow a business.
- Economic Development Initiative (Southern Ontario)
Funding may be available for your business if you provide programs or services in French to a Francophone community in southern Ontario.
- Emerging Music Business Program
You could be eligible for funding for your emerging music business in Nova Scotia.
- Entrepreneur Loan Program
You may be eligible to receive up to $100,000 directly from authorized lenders backed by a government guarantee for your new or expanding business.
- Entrepreneur Support (SEED)
You may be eligible to receive a grant to start a new business or improve the capacity of your business.
- Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
If you are an entrepreneur with a disability and you live in Western Canada, you could get help to start or grow a business.
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development Fund
If you are Aboriginal and live in the territories, you could get financing to start or grow a business.
- FACTOR funding for the recording industry
If you have a recording business or if you are a song-writer, composer or musician and record in English, you could get money for certain activities.
- FONDS MOSAÏQUE
If you are a member of one of Quebec’s cultural communities, you may be eligible for funding to start a business or run a business that has been in operation for less than five years.
- Farm Credit Canada – Loans and Lending Options
You could access capital for your farming or agri-business operation.
- Femmessor — Réussir en affaires
You could obtain funding, training or mentoring for the acquisition, start-up, expansion or consolidation of your company.
- Fiducie du Chantier de l’économie sociale
Do you need funding to start a business or develop new social economics projects?
- Financial programs
Are you looking to obtain financing for your business? This program offers term loans, equity, contributions and letters of credit.
- First Citizens’ Fund: Business Loan Program
If you are an Aboriginal resident of B.C. you can get support to start or grow your business.
- First Nation Youth Livestock Program
If you are an Aboriginal youth interested in a livestock operation, this 4-year program can help you build equity by providing financing, training and support.
- Fishing Licence Loan Program
Apply for a loan to buy a New Entrant or New Species fishing licence.
- Fonds afro-entrepreneurs — Loans to Afro-Québécois businesspeople
Are you a member of one of Quebec’s black communities? You could receive a loan or loan guarantee for your business’ needs.
- Funding programs for Nunavut filmmakers
If you are a filmmaker, producer or owner of a production company based in Nunavut, you may get money to create films, television shows and digital media.
- Futurpreneur Canada Newcomer Program
If you are between the ages of 18 and 39 and have lived in Canada for less than 60 months you can apply for financing to start a business.
- Futurpreneur Canada Start-Up Program
Are you between 18 and 39 years old? If you are a Canadian resident with a good business idea, you could get $15,000 or more to start or run a business full-time.
- General business loans
As a member of the Six Nations or New Credit aboriginal communities, you could qualify for a business loan of up to $300,000.
- Grant — Fondation Montréal Inc
If you are a young Montreal entrepreneur, you could receive a grant of between $5,000 and $30,000 to start up your business as well as advice or training.
- Grants for registered family child care homes
Thinking of starting a registered family child care home in Newfoundland and Labrador? You may be eligible for start-up grants and yearly supplements.
- IMPLIQ Financing
This financing could help you start or expand your co-operative or non-profit organization.
- Immigrant Small Business Loan Program
As a recent immigrant to Nova Scotia, you can apply for a loan to start, buy or expand your business.
- Indian Business Corporation services
If you are a First Nations person looking for financing for a new or existing business, learn about loans and business services available to you.
- Industry-Academic Collaboration Programs
Learn about financing and support that may help you develop and commercialize innovative techniques, products and services in Ontario.
- JEDI Aboriginal Development Fund
If you are Aboriginal and live in New Brunswick, you can apply for up to $2,500 to start or grow a business.
- Junior Exploration Assistance
You could receive a grant to conduct advanced mineral exploration and prospection.
- Livestock Loan Guarantee Program
Find out about alternative financing solutions to purchase livestock or construct feedlot facilities.
- Local Poverty Reduction Fund
Your registered charity, not-for-profit or Aboriginal organization may be eligible for a grant for sustainable projects that aim to reduce poverty.
- Local investment fund
Apply for financing to start or expand a business in Quebec.
- Métis Youth Program
Are you between the ages of 18 and 35 and a Saskatchewan resident of Métis ancestry? You could get advice and financing to start your own business.
- Marketing Support Program
You could obtain financial assistance for marketing costs from start-up through to international exporting.
- Microlending for Women in Ontario Program
As a woman entrepreneur, you may be eligible for business support training and microloans to help you start your business.
- Music PEI Funding Program
If you are a musical artist from PEI, you may apply for a grant to assist you in developing your craft.
- New Entrant Farmer Loan Program
You could get up to $750,000 in loans to help you buy a farm.
- Northern Business Opportunity Program (Northern Ontario)
Your Northern Ontario business could be eligible for grants or loans ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
- Nova Scotia farm loans
Apply for a loan to help fund your agricultural business.
- Nunavut Business Credit Corporation
You could get up to $1 million to start or grow a business in Nunavut.
- Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Enterprises
You may be eligible for a loan of $5,000 to $25,000 for your innovative Ontario-based social enterprise.
- Ontario Disability Support Program: Employment Supports
If you are an entrepreneur with a disability, you can get help starting a business.
- Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities
If you are a person with disabilities who wants to start a business or if you are an employer who would like to hire someone with a disability, you could qualify for funds.
- Prospectors Assistance
You could receive funding for mineral exploration activities and prospector training.
- Quebec Economic Development Program
Find out about financial and other resources that can help you develop your Quebec business.
- Réseau des SADC et CAE (Network of CFDCs and CBDCs)
If you live in a rural region of Quebec, you could access business counseling, financing and training to start or grow your business.
- Réseau québécois du crédit communautaire
You could obtain microfinancing from this network to start a business in Quebec.
- Rise Asset Development
If you are an entrepreneur facing mental health or addiction challenges you could get $300 to $10,000 to help start, grow or promote your business.
- SaskMetis Economic Development Corporation – Loans program
If you are Metis, you may be able to get up to $500,000 to help you start, buy or grow a business, or to use for working capital.
- Seed Capital Initiative
If you live in one of 5 major Atlantic cities, you could obtain a loan and training to start, grow or improve a small business.
- Self Employment Option
Interested in starting your own business in the NWT? If you are unemployed, you could continue to receive benefits and get help to start your business.
- Self Employment Program
Are you collecting Employment and Income Assistance? Are you ready to be your own boss? The Self Employment Program might be the next step for you.
- Self-Employ PEI
Interested in starting your own business? If you are currently unemployed, you may be eligible to receive benefits to help you do so.
- Self-Employment Assistance
If you are unemployed and want to create a job for yourself by starting your own business, you may be eligible for financial and entrepreneurial assistance.
- Self-Employment Benefit — Workforce Expansion
Do you want to start a business and be your own boss? Find out about a program that could help you get started.
- Self-Employment Program
If you are unemployed, you could get self-employment training, continue to receive benefits, and get assistance for living expenses.
- Self-Employment Program (Nova Scotia)
Get support and training to start a business to create your own job.
- Settlement Investment Corporation
As a Métis business owner, you could get support with direct business loans and services such as business plan development and training.
- Sivummut Grants to Small Businesses
If you live in the Baffin (Qikiqtaaluk) region of Nunavut, you could get up to $25,000 to start or grow a business there.
- Small Business Development Program
You could qualify for a government rebate to help vitalize your start-up or existing business.
- Small Business Loans
You could obtain a small business loan to purchase or expand a business, to consolidate debt, or undertake new construction.
- SmartStart Seed Fund
As a youth entrepreneur, you may be eligible for funding of up to $40,000 to help you through the validation stage of you innovation-based business.
- Social Enterprise Ontario
Your social enterprise with an environmental or social goal for Francophones may be eligible for grants of up to $16,000 or loans of up to $40,000.
- Starter Company
As a youth entrepreneur, you may be eligible for funding of up to $5,000 and business skills training to help you a start or expand a business.
- Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects program
As a young entrepreneur you may be eligible for funding of up to $3,000 and business skills training to help you a start a business.
- Strategic Investments Program — Nunavut Equity Investment Fund
If you live in Nunavut, you could get money to start or grow a business in mining, tourism, cultural industries or fisheries.
- Student Entrepreneurship
Are you looking for a summer job? You could get an interest-free loan of up to $3,000 to operate your own business.
- Students in Business
You could apply for an interest-free loan to start your own business if you are between 15-34 years old and planning to go to school.
- Summer Company
If you are a student between 15 and 29 years of age, you may be eligible for up to $3,000 to help you start and run a summer business.
- Support for Self-Employment
You could get financial and technical support to start a business or create your own job.
- Tax deduction for new small business
Find out how you can avoid paying Nova Scotia corporate income tax for the first three years of your new incorporated business.
- TechFutures Program
Are you a young entrepreneur with a technology-driven business idea? You could receive financial support to launch your business.
- The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur
If you are a transitioning Canadian Forces member looking to establish a small business, this program could be for you.
- Toronto Enterprise Fund
You could receive funding for starting or managing a social enterprise that provides employment or training for socially marginalized people.
- Tourism loans
If you own a tourism establishment other than a bed and breakfast, you may be able to get a loan to buy, build, renovate or expand your business or consolidate debts.
- Vessel Loan
Apply for a loan to purchase, build or modify your fishing vessel in Nova Scotia.
- Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.
If you are a woman living in Saskatchewan, you could get a loan to start, grow or buy a business.
- Women’s Enterprise Centre (British Columbia)
If you are a woman living in British Columbia, you could get a loan to start, grow or buy a business.
- Women’s Enterprise Centre (Manitoba)
Are you a woman entrepreneur looking to start, expand or purchase a business? Get help to improve your business skills and acquire financing.
- Young Entrepreneurs Program
If you are a young entrepreneur between 18-29 years old, you could receive a grant to help set up your business.
- Youth Social Innovation Capital Fund
As a young entrepreneur with a social or environmental goal you may be eligible for loans of up to $25,000 to start or grow a business.
2. Private-sector financing
You can also turn to the private sector for financing for your business. You can look to Canada’s major financial institutions, such as banks, credit unions, and cooperatives. Depending on the type of business you want to start, you might also be able to secure venture capital or financing from angel investors.
- Sources of private sector financing
Find out about the debt and equity financing available from the private sector for your business needs.
