Financing programs for small businesses

Ranked programs

28 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

   Government of Ontario (Ministry of Energy and Mines; applied by utilities)

   Automatic percentage reduction on the electricity bills of eligible small businesses and farms.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

2. BDC Small Business Loan

   Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

   Online-assessed term loan of up to $350,000 for upcoming projects or expenses, with interest-only periods.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $350K
   55

   Top pick

3. Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (qualified small business corporation shares and farm/fishing property)

   Canada Revenue Agency / Finance Canada

   Individuals can shelter capital gains on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares and qualified farm or fishing property up to a lifetime limit.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $1.3M
   55

   Top pick

4. Small Business Deduction (reduced federal tax rate for CCPCs)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Reduced federal corporate income tax rate on active business income of Canadian-controlled private corporations, up to the business limit.

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   55

   Top pick

5. FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedDev Ontario

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for southern Ontario businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. Non-repayable for smaller amounts, repayable for large...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   54

   Top pick

6. Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)

   Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, delivered by banks and credit unions

   Government-backed loans through financial institutions to help small businesses finance equipment, leasehold improvements, intangibles and working capital. The lender...

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $1.1M
   53

   Top pick

7. FedNor - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedNor

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for Northern Ontario businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   44

   Strong

8. Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Capital (Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program)

   Indigenous Services Canada, delivered by Indigenous Financial Institutions and Metis Capital Corporations

   Non-repayable equity-type contributions and business services for Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous community businesses to start, expand or acquire a business...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $250K
   43

   Strong

9. BDC Pivot to Grow (tariff support loans)

   Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

   Liquidity, working capital and equipment financing for Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, with long interest-only periods and no prepayment penalty.

   OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $10M
   37

   Worth a look

10. EDC Export Guarantee Program (EGP)

    Export Development Canada (EDC)

    Guarantees to your lender to secure flexible working capital, optimize an operating line or secure a new loan.

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $25M
    37

    Worth a look

11. Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program

    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    A federal loan guarantee that makes it easier for farmers and agricultural co-operatives to get loans from lenders to establish, improve and develop farms.

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $500K
    36

    Worth a look

12. Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (Loan Fund, Ecosystem Fund, Knowledge Hub)

    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and regional development agencies (FedDev Ontario in southern Ontario)

    The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) funds supports for women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (loans up to $50,000 via selected delivery...

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $6M
    36

    Worth a look

13. EDC Trade Credit Insurance (Select and Portfolio)

    Export Development Canada (EDC)

    Insurance against non-payment by international buyers, improving access to financing through insured receivables.

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    35

    Worth a look

14. EDC Trade Expansion Lending Program (TELP)

    Export Development Canada (EDC), delivered by partner lenders

    EDC guarantees part of a loan or line of credit so your financial institution can offer more working capital to exporters.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    35

    Worth a look

15. NOHFC Invest North - Launch

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

    Conditional contribution for new start-ups in Northern Ontario.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $200K
    35

    Worth a look

16. BDC Loan for Tech Companies

    Business Development Bank of Canada

    Flexible loans for revenue-generating technology companies that want to scale without giving up shares.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

17. Community Futures Program (Northern Ontario)

    FedNor via Community Futures Development Corporations

    CFDCs provide community planning, business information and planning services, and access to capital for SMEs and social enterprises in Northern Ontario.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

18. Community Futures Program (southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario-funded CFDCs)

    FedDev Ontario via local Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs)

    FedDev Ontario funds Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in rural southern Ontario that provide business loans, business services and community economic...

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

19. Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

    ISED, delivered by WEOC, NACCA, Nventure and Evol

    Microloans of up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses, delivered by partner organizations.

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $50K
    32

    Worth a look

20. London Façade Improvement Loan (Community Improvement Plan)

    City of London (Planning and Development)

    Low-cost loan for exterior building improvements such as windows, doors, brick repair, painting, lighting and attached signage within London's Community Improvement...

    OngoingOntarioLoansLoans up to $50K
    29

    Worth a look

21. NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) - Financial support for technology innovation

    National Research Council Canada (NRC IRAP)

    NRC IRAP provides advice, connections and funding to help Canadian SMEs develop and commercialize technology-driven products, services and processes. Funding follows...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    29

    Worth a look

22. Starter Company Plus

    Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (via Small Business Enterprise Centres)

    Training, mentoring and a grant for people starting, expanding or buying a business.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $5K
    28

    Worth a look

23. Black Entrepreneurship Program (Loan Fund, Ecosystem Fund, Knowledge Hub)

    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) with Business Development Bank of Canada; regional development agencies

    Supports Black entrepreneurs with loans of up to $250,000 through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, and funds Black-led business organizations through the Ecosystem...

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $250K
    25

    Worth a look

24. Futurpreneur Core Startup Program (also Black and Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Programs)

    Futurpreneur Canada with BDC

    Equity-free start-up loan for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39, with up to two years of one-to-one mentorship. Black and Indigenous streams offer tailored mentorship.

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $75K
    24

    Long shot

25. Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

    ISED, administered by the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) with BDC

    Loans of up to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs across Canada. The Black Entrepreneurship Program was extended with $189 million over five years.

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $250K
    23

    Long shot

26. Indigenous Growth Fund (NACCA)

    National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) via Indigenous Financial Institutions

    The Indigenous Growth Fund is an open-ended investment fund (limited partnership) that invests in Indigenous Financial Institutions, which in turn lend to Indigenous...

    OngoingFederalLoans
    22

    Long shot

27. FedDev Ontario - Funding for businesses to innovate, grow and compete (REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity)

    Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

    Interest-free, unconditionally repayable contributions for southern Ontario businesses to innovate, scale up, adopt technology and commercialize. Covers new project...

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $10M
    19

    Long shot

28. BDC Capital - Venture Capital

    BDC Capital

    BDC Capital's Venture Capital arm makes direct equity investments in Canadian technology and innovation companies through sector and stage funds (Seed, Growth, Life...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    3

    Long shot

Questions

How many financing programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 40 financing programs for small businesses in our database, 28 are open or ongoing and 0 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

EDC Export Guarantee Program (EGP) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Loans up to $25M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which financing programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Ontario Electricity Rebate (58, Top pick), BDC Small Business Loan (55, Top pick), Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (55, Top pick). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 28 open or ongoing programs here, 6 are in our Grants category, 17 are loans and 5 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

24 of the 28 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 4 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.