Updated June 2026 · Verified against Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) guidelines
▲ Growing ✓ First-Timer Friendly Advance Payment Est. 2021
Loan Federal Active

BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Loan Range
Up to $350,000
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Advance Payment
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Financing share
100%
BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan provides Up to $350,000. Up to $350,000 with preferred terms for businesses 51%+ owned by women, Indigenous, or Black entrepreneurs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility check

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Up to $350,000 with preferred terms for businesses 51%+ owned by women, Indigenous, or Black entrepreneurs. No application fees, up to 24 months principal deferral, interest rate reduction for completing free BDC Entrepreneurship Fundamentals course. Part of BDC's $250M inclusive entrepreneurship commitment.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Business based and registered in Canada
  • 51%+ owned and operated by women, Indigenous, or Black entrepreneurs
  • Annual revenue below $3,000,000
  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Reasonable credit history (~670+)
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $350,000
Type
Loan
Level
Federal
Financing share
Up to 100% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to secure BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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How to qualify

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Complete the free BDC Entrepreneurship Fundamentals course for an interest rate reduction.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Common rejection pitfalls, what approved applicants look like, and exactly what lenders look for
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Visit bdc.ca/en/financing/inclusive-entrepreneurship-loan and verify eligibility criteria

Required Documents 6

✓ BDC loan application
✓ Personal financial statements

Eligible Expenses 8

Ineligible Expenses 4

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (ISED/BDC) Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund Futurpreneur Canada Community Futures (CF)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan Up to $350,000 Easy Advance Payment Ongoing
FACE — Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund up to $100,000 Moderate Loan Ongoing
Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program Up to $75,000 Moderate Loan Ongoing
Community Futures Program — Ontario (... Up to $150,000 Easy Loan Ongoing (year-round...

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Free
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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan

Free
Can I apply if my business is 50% owned by an eligible demographic?
No, you must be 51%+ owned and operated by women, Indigenous, or Black entrepreneurs. 50% ownership does not qualify for this program.
What's the realistic loan amount for a new business?
$50,000-$250,000 is typical for new businesses. The maximum is $350,000 but rarely awarded to startups.
Do I need to complete the BDC course to get the interest rate reduction?
Yes, completing the free BDC Entrepreneurship Fundamentals course is required to qualify for the interest rate reduction.
Can I combine this with the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund?
Yes, the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (BELF) provides $25K–$250K specifically for Black entrepreneurs and can be stacked with this loan.
How long is the principal deferral period?
Up to 24 months of principal deferral is available, meaning you pay only interest for the first two years.

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