Loan
Federal
Active
BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan
BDC
Loan Range
No fixed loan amount is published; financing is sized to the...
Open continuously — loans are reviewed once the buyer has a negotiated agreem...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Loan
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Financing share
Varies
BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan provides up to No fixed loan amount is published; financing is sized to the buyer's negotiated purchase agreement (agreed purchase price, letter of offer, and closing date) and can also cover legal fees and other one-time transfer costs. BDC provides financing for buyers who have a negotiated agreement to purchase an existing business, including support for legal fees and other one-time transfer costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
BDC provides financing for buyers who have a negotiated agreement to purchase an existing business, including support for legal fees and other one-time transfer costs. Loans are reviewed once the buyer has an agreed purchase price, letter of offer, and closing date.
Eligibility Requirements
- BDC can only review a loan request once the buyer has a negotiated agreement to purchase another company.
- Required supporting documents include an agreed purchase price, a letter of offer, and a closing date.
- Financing can cover one-time costs such as legal fees and moving expenses.
- Specific eligibility requirements (e.g., Canadian-based revenue-generating business, buyer citizenship or permanent-resident status, track record) are not stated on the program page.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- No fixed loan amount is published; financing is sized to the buyer's negotiated purchase agreement (agreed purchase price, letter of offer, and closing date) and can also cover legal fees and other one-time transfer costs.
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Open continuously — loans are reviewed once the buyer has a negotiated agreement to purchase a business
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipPrepare the negotiated purchase agreement and closing timeline before applying; the page is an overview, so contact BDC directly to confirm full eligibility and terms.
Rejection Pitfalls 3
- No negotiated purchase agreement yet in place
+2 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 3 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to secure BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 3 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 3-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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3 steps
6 docs
Application Steps
1
Negotiate a purchase agreement Reach a negotiated agreement to buy another company, including an agreed purchase price, a letter of offer, and a closing date.
Required Documents 6
✓ Negotiated purchase agreement for the target business
✓ Agreed purchase price documentation
Eligible Expenses 5
Deadline Notes
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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Stacking partner data not yet available.
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Not-applicable Risk
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See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan | No fixed loan amount is published | Hard | Loan | Open continuously —... |
| Black Entrepreneurship Program | Up to $250,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Up to $1.15 million | Easy | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program | Up to $75,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| Futurpreneur Black Entrepreneur Start... | Up to $75,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan
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I'm thinking of buying a business soon. Can I pre-qualify for a loan?
BDC can only review your request for a loan once you have a negotiated agreement to buy another company and the relevant documents to support it, such as an agreed purchase price, a letter of offer, and closing date.
Does BDC help entrepreneurs find businesses to buy or sell to?
BDC's experts can help you navigate the business transition process, either as a seller or new owner, but do not have information on what businesses are available on the market.
What support does BDC offer for buying or selling a business?
Financing options, resources like guides and toolkits, and personalized advice to help clients navigate business transfers, acquisitions, and succession planning for both buyers and sellers.
Why is now a significant time for business transfers in Canada?
Over 140,000 Canadian businesses are expected to be up for sale by 2030 as thousands of owners retire, creating an opportunity for entrepreneurs to take over existing businesses.
What are the advantages of acquiring an established business?
Stable revenue, proven systems, a loyal client base, and opportunities to scale and innovate without starting from scratch.
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Full Playbook: BDC Business Purchase or Transfer Loan
3 steps · 6 docs · reviewer insights