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Finding Available Capital To Start Your Small Business

3 min read

Available Capital for Small Businesses in Canada

Finding available capital to start your small business in Canada isn’t too difficult, but timing does have to be right in order to take advantage of it and successfully be able to start your business.

There are many ways to get capital for your small business in Canada and some of these ways include:

  • Personal Financing Options
  • Family and Friends
  • The Banks
  • Private Investors
  • The Canadian Government

If you are looking for the most available capital with as little risk as possible to you, the Canadian government funding options would be something to consider. The Canadian government provides financial assistance through various funding programs and offers government grants, government loans (low interest, no interest, guaranteed loans), as well as tax breaks and credits.

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As a small business looking to start up, you are in luck as the Canadian government loves entrepreneurship, and funding options may be a perfect way for you to take advantage of the available capital and apply it to your business funding needs.

What Do You Need Capital For?

If you’re in need of capital to help you start your business, to hire and train staff, to pay for tools and equipment, to buy supplies, or to pay for advertising, government funding options are definitely something to consider.

While government funding is available for Canadian entrepreneurs to take advantage of, it is something that isn’t right for everyone.

The government offers programs that are only for specific provinces, for specific industries, and that cover specific needs. Each funding program (there are nearly 1,000) has a different set of rules, qualifications, and criteria that must be met in order to receive funding.

Certain things are also needed before you can get the capital, such as:

  • You need to have a business plan
  • You must meet the funding criteria
  • You have to apply to the right programs
  • Be sure to apply on time (before the deadlines)

While it may seem simple, searching for available capital through Canadian government funding programs is actually difficult at first. The search for funding programs is time-consuming, as not all programs come directly from the Government of Canada, but also from various levels of government and funding agencies.

If government funding is something you want to consider when looking for available capital to help you start your small business, consider using the Funding Database to get a head start on your funding search.

Prior to starting your funding search, be sure to have your business plan developed and have a clear understanding of what you need funding for, whether you actually need it or just want it, and how the funds will be used. Setting guidelines for yourself before starting your funding search will help protect you from over-borrowing or under-borrowing.