Financing Partners
If your business has been operating for less than 24 months or doesn’t currently qualify for a BDC loan, don’t worry—plenty of financing options are still available. Our trusted partners* specialize in supporting Canadian entrepreneurs like you, whether you’re just starting out or expanding. We encourage you to reach out to them to explore how they may be able to help.
Financing Partners
- Business Benefits Finder: Entrepreneurs seeking government funding and support
- Community Futures: Entrepreneurs in rural communities
- EVOL: Social impact businesses in Quebec
- Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE): Black entrepreneurs
- Futurpreneur Canada: Aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39
- NACCA – Indigenous Growth Fund: Indigenous entrepreneurs
- WEOC National Loan Program: Women entrepreneurs
Business Benefits Finder (online tool from the Canadian Government)
Who they help: Entrepreneurs seeking government funding and support.
Loan details: Amounts vary by program and may include loans, grants, and subsidies.
Key eligibility: Varies by program, the tool directs businesses to relevant opportunities based on their needs.
Community Futures
Who they help: Entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities across Canada.
Loan details: Amount varies by office, typically up to $150,000.
Key eligibility: Located in rural Canada, business must be legally registered and meet community requirements.
Evol – Financing and Support for Startups, Growth, Acquisition, and Business Succession
Who they help: Entrepreneurs identifying as part of an underrepresented group in entrepreneurship in Quebec, whose business has or aims to have a positive impact on society.
Loan details: Financing between $20,000 and $450,000, minimum down payment of 5%, maximum amortization period of 8 years.
Key eligibility: Must hold at least 25% of shares and voting rights. Startups, growing businesses, business succession, or acquisitions located in Quebec with a structured business plan and two-year financial projections.
Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE): Black entrepreneurs
Who they help: Black entrepreneurs.
Loan details: Up to $250,000 through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund.
Key eligibility: At least 18 years old/age of majority, must identify as Black, business must be majority Black-owned (51%+) with voting rights favouring a black majority (51%+).
Futurpreneur Canada
Who they help: Aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18–39.
Loan details: Up to $75,000, collateral-free, with mentorship included.
Key eligibility: Canadian citizen or permanent resident, business operating for less than 24 months, willing to work with a mentor.
NACCA – Indigenous Growth Fund
Who they help: Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Loan details: Access to funding through Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs), with varying loan amounts.
Key eligibility: Must apply through IFIs, business must be Indigenous-owned.
WEOC National Loan Program
Who they help: Women entrepreneurs.
Loan details: Up to $50,000 for starting, scaling, or maintaining businesses.
Key eligibility: Canadian citizen or permanent resident, business must be over 50% women-owned, annual revenue up to $2 million.
*The information provided on this page is based on the details currently publicly available from our partners and may change at any time without notice. Please visit the partner websites directly for the most up-to-date information.
BDC Resources and Tools That May Be of Help
- How to improve your credit score: tips for entrepreneurs
- Be credible and prepared when speaking to a banker
- Financial fundamentals I
- How a bank looks at your business
- Business plan template
- Business loan checklist
- Quiz: Are you ready to apply for a business loan?
- In Business e-newsletter: Business tips & how-to articles, entrepreneur success stories, interactive tools & more