100%Business loans that accept rolling applications
Canadian Government Loans & Financing Directory: 74 Programs (70 Active)
Loans and forgivable financing are how Canadian businesses reach the largest amounts — the catch is repayment. Standard business loans run a median realistic size of $150,000 and are unusually accessible: every one accepts rolling applications, 82% welcome first-time applicants, and 80% are low-competition, with the Business Development Bank of Canada and Futurpreneur leading the field. Forgivable loans go far bigger — a median realistic $2,000,000 — and a share converts to a grant if you hit agreed milestones, but they are the most demanding form of funding here, just 24% low-competition and a median of 55 hours to prepare. The rule of the category is simple: the more the money can become free, the harder it is to win.
Source: GrantCompass Funding Census, June 2026
49
Programs in catalog
$150K
Median award
80%
Low-competition
Last verified June 2026. Program details sourced from official government and organization websites.
What the loans & financing landscape shows
Coloured by industry, the financing map splits visibly by purpose: standard loans cluster in agriculture and the trades, while forgivable loans concentrate in manufacturing and technology — a reminder that these are two different instruments wearing one label. Practical sequencing: choose the instrument before the program. Standard loans (median $150,000) are the accessible workhorse — every one is rolling, 82% welcome first-time applicants, and 80% are low-competition — so a business needing working capital should start with BDC or Futurpreneur and apply when ready. Forgivable loans are the opposite: a median $2,000,000 and a share that converts to a grant, but just 24% low-competition and 55 hours to prepare. Pursue the forgivable financing only for a major, milestone-backed project worth the effort.
Source: GrantCompass Funding Census, June 2026Largest Active Programs by Typical Award
Sorted by the realistic maximum a single applicant receives.
| Program | Organization | Typical Award |
|---|---|---|
| BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries Support Program | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $10M |
| Protect Ontario Financing Program | Government of Ontario | $5M |
| Investissement Québec ESSOR — Volet 2 : Chantier Productivité | Investissement Québec (MEIE program — Cadre normatif ESSOR 2025-2027, Décret 324-2025) | $5M |
| ESSOR Volet 3 — Green Technology and Environmental Footprint Reduction | Investissement Québec (mandatary of Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec) | $5M |
| Invest Ontario Fund (IOF) | Invest Ontario | $4M |
All Programs (74)
| Program | Organization | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Payments Program | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) | $50K–$500K | Loan |
| BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $50K–$250K | Loan |
| BDC LIFT — Lead with Innovation and Focus on Technology | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $100K–$1M | Loan |
| BDC Newcomer Entrepreneur Loan | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $25K–$40K | Loan |
| BDC Pivot to Grow | Business Development Bank of Canada | $200K–$800K | Loan |
| BDC Small Business Loan | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $25K–$150K | Loan |
| BDC Start-up Financing | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $50K–$150K | Loan |
| BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries Support Program | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) | $2M–$10M | Loan |
| Black Entrepreneurship Program | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| Build Canada Homes — Prefab/Modular Partnership Financing | Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada — Build Canada Homes | $5M–$50M | Loan |
| Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Financing | Business Development Bank of Canada | $50K–$200K | Loan |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ACOA | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) | $50K–$500K | Forgivable Loan |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | $50K–$500K | Loan |
| Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | $50K–$500K | Loan |
| Canadian Defence Industry Resilience (CDIR) Program | Department of National Defence (DND) / Government of Canada | $25M–$150M | Forgivable Loan |
| CanNor IDEANorth (Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North) | Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) | $50K–$250K | Forgivable Loan |
| CBDC First-Time Entrepreneur Loan (Rural Atlantic Canada) | Atlantic Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC Network) / ACOA | $20K–$100K | Loan |
| CBDC General Business Loan (Rural Atlantic Canada) | Atlantic Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC Network) / ACOA | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| CED Quebec — Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP) | Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions | $75K–$300K | Forgivable Loan |
| CED Quebec — REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity | Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions | $150K–$500K | Forgivable Loan |
| CED RDII — Regional Defence Investment Initiative (Quebec) | Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) | $100K–$2M | Forgivable Loan |
| CMHC Affordable Housing Fund — New Construction (Community Housing Sub-Stream)Between Intakes | Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) | $1M–$25M | Forgivable Loan |
| CMHC Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) | Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) | $5M–$50M | Loan |
| Commodity Loan Guarantee Program (CLGP) | Government of Ontario | $50K–$500K | Loan |
| Community Forward Fund | Community Forward Fund Assistance Corporation | $50K–$400K | Loan |
| Community Futures Alberta — Business Loans (Rural Alberta) | Community Futures Network of Alberta / PrairiesCan | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| Community Futures BC — Business Loans (Rural British Columbia) | Community Futures British Columbia / PacifiCan | $50K–$500K | Loan |
| Community Futures Manitoba — Business Loans (Rural Manitoba) | Community Futures Manitoba / PrairiesCan | $15K–$100K | Loan |
| Community Futures Program — Ontario (CFDC Business Loans) | FedDev Ontario | $25K–$150K | Loan |
| Community Futures Saskatchewan — Business Loans (Rural Saskatchewan) | Community Futures Saskatchewan / PrairiesCan | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Business Stream | Government of Ontario | $200K–$1.5M | Forgivable Loan |
| EDC — Export Guarantee Program (EGP) | Export Development Canada (EDC) | $250K–$3M | Loan |
| ESSOR Volet 3 — Green Technology and Environmental Footprint Reduction | Investissement Québec (mandatary of Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation du Québec) | $300K–$5M | Forgivable Loan |
| Evol — Conventional Loan for Inclusive Entrepreneurs | Evol (formerly Femmessor) | $50K–$200K | Loan |
| FACE — Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund | Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Financing | Farm Credit Canada | $50K–$2M | Loan |
| FCC Starter Loan | Farm Credit Canada (FCC) | $75K–$150K | Loan |
| FCC Women Entrepreneur Loan | Farm Credit Canada (FCC) | $50K–$1M | Loan |
| FCC Young Farmer Loan | Farm Credit Canada (FCC) | $200K–$1.5M | Loan |
| FedDev Ontario — Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP)Between Intakes | Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario | $250K–$750K | Forgivable Loan |
| Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) — Business Projects | Government of Ontario — Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry | $300K–$1.5M | Forgivable Loan |
| Futurpreneur Black Entrepreneur Startup Program | Futurpreneur Canada | $20K–$50K | Loan |
| Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program | Futurpreneur Canada | $15K–$60K | Loan |
| Futurpreneur Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program | Futurpreneur Canada | $20K–$60K | Loan |
| Futurpreneur Newcomer Program | Futurpreneur Canada | $20K–$25K | Loan |
| Futurpreneur Side Hustle Program | Futurpreneur Canada | $5K–$20K | Loan |
| Harvester Enterprise Loan Program | Government of Newfoundland and Labrador | $100K–$450K | Loan |
| Indigenous Growth Fund | National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) | $50K–$250K | Loan |
| Invest Ontario Fund (IOF) | Invest Ontario | $500K–$4M | Forgivable Loan |
| Investissement Québec ESSOR — Volet 2 : Chantier Productivité | Investissement Québec (MEIE program — Cadre normatif ESSOR 2025-2027, Décret 324-2025) | $500K–$5M | Forgivable Loan |
| Manitoba Trade Growth Investment Financing Program (TGIF) | Government of Manitoba — Department of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation | $250K–$1.5M | Loan |
| Métis Voyageur Development Fund (MVDF) Business Financing | Métis Voyageur Development Fund Inc. | $25K–$500K | Loan |
| NACCA Indigenous Women Entrepreneur (IWE) Program | National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) | $10K–$25K | Forgivable Loan |
| Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) | Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation (provincial not-for-profit agency) | $50K–$300K | Forgivable Loan |
| Ontario Together Trade Fund | Government of Ontario | $250K–$1M | Forgivable Loan |
| PARO Women's Innovation Initiative (WIN) | PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise | $10K–$35K | Loan |
| Pillar Start-Up Fund | Pillar Nonprofit Network (VERGE Capital) | $20K–$60K | Loan |
| PrairiesCan - Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program | Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) | $10K–$75K | Loan |
| PrairiesCan Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) | Prairies Economic Development Canada | $500K–$2M | Forgivable Loan |
| Protect Ontario Financing Program | Government of Ontario | $250K–$5M | Loan |
| Quebec Fonds locaux d'investissement (FLI) — MRC Business Loans | Quebec MRCs (municipal regional counties) / Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (MEIE) | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) — ACOA | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) | $100K–$2M | Forgivable Loan |
| Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) | PrairiesCan | $500K–$2M | Forgivable Loan |
| Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII)Between Intakes | CanNor | $250K–$5M | Forgivable Loan |
| Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) — Multi-Region | Regional Development Agencies (FedDev Ontario, PacifiCan, CED-Q, ACOA, PrairiesCan, FedNor, CanNor) | $300K–$2M | Forgivable Loan |
| Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI) — British Columbia | PacifiCan | $500K–$3M | Forgivable Loan |
| SOFII — Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation | Community Futures Eastern Ontario / Community Futures Western Ontario (FedDev Ontario-funded) | $150K–$350K | Loan |
| Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) — Business Stream | Government of Ontario | $200K–$1.5M | Forgivable Loan |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Strategic Innovation Fund) | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | $10M–$50M | Forgivable Loan |
| Targeted Manufacturing Initiative for Northern Ontario — Productivity ImprovementsPaused | FedNor | $50K–$500K | Forgivable Loan |
| Tile Loan Program — Ontario Agricultural Drainage | Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) | $10K–$50K | Loan |
| WeBC Business Loans for Women | WeBC (Women's Enterprise Centre of British Columbia) | $25K–$100K | Loan |
| WEOC National Loan Program | Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) | $10K–$50K | Loan |
| Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (WELF) | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) | $10K–$50K | Loan |