Finance your startup

Loan guarantees

• Local investment fund 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Loans and loan guarantees to start or expand a business, or purchase at least 25% of an existing business, in Quebec.

• Project Financing 

  Investissement Québec
  Loans, loan guarantees or capital investments of $50,000 and up for projects involving expansion, exporting, modernization, innovation, buildings and equipment, marketing and more.

• Société d’Investissement Jeunesse Loan Program (in French only)

  société d'investissement jeunesse
  ​Are you aged 18 to 40 and the owner of an innovative technology business? You could receive a loan of up to $150,000.

Equity investments

• Anges Québec Capital Fund 

  Anges Québec
  Investments of up to $4 million for innovative companies with high growth potential and a competitive advantage.

• BDC Capital — Venture Capital 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get financing and advice from venture capital investors to help you build and grow your business in Canada and internationally.

• Business succession 

  ​Fonds de solidarité FTQ
  ​Get coaching and financing to help you buy or sell a business.

• Development Capital — Equity financing 

  Investissement Québec
  Developmental capital of $5 million or more (20% to 30% of shares) to acquire a company in Quebec or abroad, for growth and productivity enhancements, and more.

• Impulsion PME 

  ​Investissement Québec
  Investment for start-up of young innovative businesses with growth potential located in Quebec region.

• Industrial, Clean and Energy Technology (ICE) Venture Fund 

  ​Business Development Bank of Canada
  ​Benefit from this funding if your business is in industrial, clean and energy technology sector and has a strong potential for productivity growth.

• National Bank SME Growth Fund 

  ​National Bank
  ​Receive up to $15 million for the growth, transfer or purchase of your company.

• Real estate fund 

  ​Fonds de solidarité FTQ
  Get an investment for your start-up business with an environmentally responsible construction, renovation or building revitalization project.

• Scotiabank Women Initiative 

  ​Scotiabank
  Access capital, training, consulting and mentoring to develop your women-owned business.

Loans and cash advances

• Agribusiness and Agrifood Young Entrepreneurs 

  Farm Credit Canada
  If you are under 40 years old, get a loan of up to $1 million to launch a new business or to take your operations to the next level.

• Anges Québec Capital Fund 

  Anges Québec
  Investments of up to $4 million for innovative companies with high growth potential and a competitive advantage.

• Apollo13 startup support program (in French only)

  ​Apollo 13
  Do you have an entrepreneurial idea to put into action or a desire to grow your business? The Apollo13 support program may be right for you.​

• BDC - Business loans 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  ​You could get money to help you start or grow your business.

• BDC Business Transition Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get a repayable loan with terms tailored to your business if you are thinking of buying a company, making a merger or acquiring a competitor in order to expand your operations.

• BDC Buying a Business Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get an asset-based loan to acquire an existing business or the business of a competitor or supplier.

• BDC Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Purchase assets, start exporting, pay start-up or franchise fees and replenish working capital with a $350,000 loan if you have an existing businesses or $250,000 if you are a start-up.

• BDC Newcomer Entrepreneur 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  If you are an immigrant who arrived in Canada within the past 3 years, you can get up to $50,000, along with expert advice, to start your own business.

• BDC Small Business Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Apply online for a business loan of up to $100,000 with flexible repayment terms. Use this financing to supplement cash flow, improve operations, or cover expenses for your small business.

• BDC Start-up Financing 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get up to $250,000 to help get your business off the ground, finance operations and replenish working capital spent on start-up costs, if you've been in business for at least a year.

• Black Entrepreneur Startup Program 

  ​Futurpreneur
  ​Are you a black entrepreneur under the age of 40? Receive a loan, mentorship, and resources to launch your business.

• Business succession 

  ​Fonds de solidarité FTQ
  ​Get coaching and financing to help you buy or sell a business.

• Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program 

  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  Get a loan of up to $500,000 to establish, improve and develop your farm—or up to $3 million for your co-operative to process, distribute and market agricultural goods.

• Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust 

  Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust
  Get a trust loan between $50,000 and $1.5 million, with no principal repayment requirement for 15 years, to finance costs directly related to the acquisition, construction, or renovation of real estate assets such as land, a building, a warehouse, etc.

• Community Futures Program 

  Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  Get funding for starting or growing a business in a rural or disadvantaged area of the province of Quebec.

• Créavenir 

  ​Desjardins​
  If you are under 35 years of age and starting a business or developing a business that is less than 3 years old, obtain financial assistance in the form of a line of credit of up to $15,000 at a preferential rate of 0.5% and a grant of up to $5000.

• Development Capital — Equity financing 

  Investissement Québec
  Developmental capital of $5 million or more (20% to 30% of shares) to acquire a company in Quebec or abroad, for growth and productivity enhancements, and more.

• Development Capital —Debt financing 

  Investissement Québec
  Debt financing up to $100 million to acquire a company in Quebec or abroad, for growth and productivity enhancements, and more.

• Evol — Conventional start-up loan 

  ​Evol
  Get a loan ranging from $20,000 to $75,000 for your new business start-up projects (0 to 2 years).

• FIJE Fund 

  Centre d'Aide aux Entreprises Haute-Yamaska et région
  If you are a woman, a young person under 39 years of age or an immigrant, you may be eligible for a business loan of up to $50,000 at a rate of prime +3%.

• Farm Credit Canada — Loans and lending options 

  Farm Credit Canada
  You could access flexible financing options for your farming, agri-food or agribusiness operation.

• Farm Transfer Transition Loans 

  Farm Credit Canada
  Access loans to help the transition of a farm from seller to buyer, including for intergenerational farm transfers.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - Beauce (in French only)

  ​Conseil économique de Beauce
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - Côte-de-Beaupré (in French only)

  ​Développement Côte-de-Beaupré
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC Les Moulins (in French only)

  MRC Les Moulins
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC Papineau (in French only)

  ​MRC Papineau
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC d'Abitibi-Ouest [PDF](in French only)

  MRC d'Abitibi-Ouest
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC d'Arthabaska (in French only)

  MRC d'Arthabaska
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de Bellechasse (in French only)

  ​MRC de Bellechasse
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de Maskinongé (in French only)

  ​MRC de Maskinongé
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de Témiscouata (in French only)

  ​MRC de Témiscouata
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de l'île d'Orléans (in French only)

  MRC de l'Île d'Orléans
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de la Jacques-Cartier (in French only)

  ​MRC de la Jacques-Cartier
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds Mosaïque (in French only)

  Filaction
  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.

• Fonds de développement des entreprises touristiques (in French only)

  ​Filaction
  Obtain a loan ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 for the realization of innovative projects that will improve the tourism offer in Quebec.

• Fonds de microcrédit agricole (in French only)

  ​MRC de la Vallée-du-Richelieu
  Get an interest-free loan to help you develop your farm business.

• Forestry Financing 

  La Financière agricole
  Get low interest rate loans and assistance resources for forestry projects.

• Futurpreneur Canada Indigenous Program 

  Futurpreneur Canada
  Get a collateral-free loan of up to $60,000, along with 2 years of expert business mentoring and resources to get your startup off the ground if you're an Indigenous person 18–39 years old.

• Futurpreneur Canada Newcomer Program 

  Futurpreneur Canada
  Get a loan of up to $25,000 to start a business in Canada, without having an established credit history.

• Futurpreneur Canada Side Hustle 

  Futurpreneur Canada
  If you're a young professional (18 to 39 years old) with a full-time job, you can get up to $15,000 and mentoring to launch or grow a side business.

• Futurpreneur Canada Start-Up Program 

  Futurpreneur Canada
  Get a collateral-free loan of up to $60,000, along with 2 years of expert business mentoring to get your startup off the ground if you're 18–39 years old.

• Impulsion PME 

  ​Investissement Québec
  Investment for start-up of young innovative businesses with growth potential located in Quebec region.

• Investment fund for young farmers (in French only)

  Fonds d'investissement pour la relève agricole
  ​Are you an agricultural entrepreneur 39 years old or younger? You may be eligible for assistance to acquire or lease agricultural land with option to purchase.

• Le Fonds YUL / 375 idées (in French only)

  ​Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal
  ​Are you a Montreal entrepreneur between the ages of 18 and 40? If so, you can receive a loan to start or grow your business.

• Local investment fund 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Loans and loan guarantees to start or expand a business, or purchase at least 25% of an existing business, in Quebec.

• MicroEntreprendre 

  MicroEntreprendre
  Quebec entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain financing in conventional financing networks can obtain loans of $2 000 to $20,000 and support.

• Nicolet-Yamaska Agri-Food Investment Fund (in French only)

  Service de développement économique de la MRC de Nicolet-Yamaska​
  You could receive financial assistance of up to $10,000 to start or expand your non-conventional-sized agri-food business.

• PME MTL – New Community Businesses 

  PME MTL
  Your new community-based venture may be eligible to receive $23,000 in loans and subsidies.

• PME MTL – PME MTL Fund 

  PME MTL
  Get a low-interest-rate loan of up to $300,000 to start or grow your business.

• PME MTL – Solidarity Fund 

  PME MTL
  Get a low interest rate loan of up to $100,000 to start or grow your business.

• ProMontreal entrepreneurs (PME) Fund 

  Agence Ometz
  You are a young entrepreneur and a member of the Jewish community? You could get $50,000 to start or run your business in Montreal.

• Project Financing 

  Investissement Québec
  Loans, loan guarantees or capital investments of $50,000 and up for projects involving expansion, exporting, modernization, innovation, buildings and equipment, marketing and more.

• Quebec Business Transfer Fund 

  Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Québec
  Get specific business transfer funding to promote entrepreneurial growth and succession of existing businesses.

• Rise – Small Business Lending 

  Rise
  Get a loan of up to $10,000 to launch or grow a business at the prime rate + 2.5%, with an average term of 3 years, or a specific loan for youth entrepreneurs or for event planning.

• SOCCA — Term loan for Indigenous businesses 

  Native Commercial Credit Corporation
  If your First Nations business is looking to start-up, expand, acquire a new business, you can get a competitive term loan to help cover up to 70% of the costs, so long as you can contribute at least 10% of the costs yourself.

• Société d’Investissement Jeunesse Loan Program (in French only)

  société d'investissement jeunesse
  ​Are you aged 18 to 40 and the owner of an innovative technology business? You could receive a loan of up to $150,000.

• Women Entrepreneur Program 

  Farm Credit Canada
  Get access to financing, as well as resources designed specifically to help you develop your skills as you start or grow your business.

• Young Farmers 

  Farm Credit Canada
  Loans for agricultural producers under age 40 to start a farm or take it to the next level.

Grants, contributions and financial assistance

• AI for Supply Chains 

  ​CEIM
  Get coaching and the opportunity to access up to $35,000 in financial assistance to accelerate the planning, implementation or commercialization of your innovative artificial intelligence project. 

• Aboriginal Business Financing Program - Private Project 

  Native Commercial Credit Corporation
  Get a non-refundable contribution of up to $99,999 for business start-up or expansion, marketing, project management, professional advisory services, and development of a business plan, marketing plan or feasibility studies.

• Aboriginal Business Financing Program — Community project 

  Native Commercial Credit Corporation
  Get a non-refundable contribution of up to $1 million for businesses owned by a First Nation, the Native Alliance of Quebec, or by one of their members. Funds can be used for business start-up or expansion, marketing, project management, professional advisory services, and development of a business plan, marketing plan or feasibility studies.

• Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program — Access to Capital 

  National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association (NACCA)
  Get a non-repayable contribution of up to $99,999 for business planning, acquisitions, expansion, domestic or export marketing, new product or process development, introducing new technologies and more.

• Aboriginal Initiatives Fund III (in French only)

  Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones
  Your for-profit or non-profit Indigenous organization could be eligible for a grant for its economic development project.

• Accompagnement en technologies de la santé (in French only)

  ​PME  MTL et MEDTEQ+
  Get coaching and start-up financing to develop your business in the health technology field.

• AgriDiversity Program 

  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  Not-for-profit organizations can get up to $1 million in funding over 5 years for projects that help under-represented groups (youth, women, Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities) to pursue entrepreneurship, leadership and careers in agriculture and agri-food.

• Community Futures Network of Canada 

  ​Community Futures
  If your business is located in a rural community, you may be eligible for financing and business support services through your local Community Futures organization.

• Créavenir 

  ​Desjardins​
  If you are under 35 years of age and starting a business or developing a business that is less than 3 years old, obtain financial assistance in the form of a line of credit of up to $15,000 at a preferential rate of 0.5% and a grant of up to $5000.

• Farm Credit Canada — Loans and lending options 

  Farm Credit Canada
  You could access flexible financing options for your farming, agri-food or agribusiness operation.

• Financial support for aspiring farmers 

  La Financière agricole
  Get up to $50,000 to work an existing farm or start a new business.

• Fonds Entrepreneuriat commercial 

  PME MTL
  Receive up to $25,000 in financial assistance to develop your business in the retail sector.

• Fonds Jeunes Promoteurs (JP) - MRC de Minganie (in French only)

  ​MRC de Minganie
  Get a grant of up to $4,000 to help you buy or start your first business.

• Fonds d’appui à l’entrepreneuriat collectif (FAEC)  (in French only)

  ​MRC de la Vallée-du-Richelieu
  Obtain technical support or a grant of up to $10,000 for an innovative project involving a social economy enterprise.

• Group Recovery Support Program (in French only)

  Centre de transfert d'entreprise du Québec
  ​Do you want to transfer or buy a business? If so, you can receive funding to help you.

• INNOGEC Fund (in French only)

  ​Filaction
  ​Get up to $15,000 to cover a portion of the service fees of management and governance consultants employed by your group company.

• Initiative en Créativité entrepreneuriale jeunesse en Francophonie (in French only)

  ​Les Offices jeunesse internationaux du Québec
  Obtain coaching and financial support for the realization of entrepreneurial projects involving mobility in one of the territories of the member states and governments of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

• Jeunes volontaires (in French only)

  ​Gouvernement du Québec
  ​If you are between 16 and 29 years old, you could get financial and technical support to help you create your business or become self-employed.

• PME MTL – New Community Businesses 

  PME MTL
  Your new community-based venture may be eligible to receive $23,000 in loans and subsidies.

• PME MTL – Social Initiatives 

  PME MTL
  Get up to $50,000 in subsidy and resources to start a social initiative.

• PME MTL – Subsidies to support social economy initiatives 

  ​PME MTL
  Get a non repayable contribution of up to $50,000 to cover up to 80% of the costs of undertaking an innovative social economy project from planning stage to growth.

• PME MTL – Young Business 

  PME MTL
  Get up to $15,000 to help with your start-up and growth.

• Quebec Economic Development Program 

  Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  ​Find out about financial and other resources that can help you develop your Quebec business.

• Recognition for artists 

  ​Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
  Get financial assistance to support your artistic career if you are part of an Aboriginal community. 

• Soutien aux initiatives de développement économique dans l'arrondissement d'Ahuntsic-Cartierville (in French only)

  ​Ville de Montréal
  Get financial assistance to propel your collective economic development initiatives.

• Support for the purchase of a first commercial fishing business (in French only)

  MAPAQ
  Are you thinking of acquiring your first fishing business? If so, you may be eligible for financial support to do so.

• TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good 

  ​Telus
  Get funding for your innovative projects in health, education, agriculture and the environment.

Tax refunds and credits

• Jeunes volontaires (in French only)

  ​Gouvernement du Québec
  ​If you are between 16 and 29 years old, you could get financial and technical support to help you create your business or become self-employed.

• Tax holiday for a new business created to commercialize intellectual property 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  If you create a new business by commercializing intellectual property stemming from a university or public research centre, you could be eligible for a tax holiday for up to 10 years.