BDC Small Business Loan
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Online loan of up to $350,000 for established Canadian small businesses. No collateral required — only a personal guarantee. Designed for businesses generating revenue for 24+ months with good credit. Streamlined digital application with faster approval for amounts under $100,000. Flexible repayment terms including principal payment holidays and seasonal schedules.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be registered and operating in Canada
- Generating revenue for at least 24 consecutive months
- Business must be profitable (or have a clear path to profitability)
- Good personal and business credit history
- Business must have an account with a Canadian financial institution
Quick Assessment
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
Everything you need to secure BDC Small Business Loan
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipBDC lends alongside the chartered banks rather than in place of them, and it explicitly supports underserved sectors — so it is worth approaching for working capital or equipment even where a conventional lender was cautious. The online portal for under $100K is genuinely fast and low-friction (approval in under 10 days). Use BDC for working capital or equipment while pursuing grants for innovation — the two are explicitly stackable and BDC itself is named as a co-funder in many programs (including Fierce Founders Uplift). Interest rates are variable and typically slightly above prime — check the simulator at bdc.ca/en/financing/small-business-loan/simulator, but note the simulator page omits the 24-month revenue and profitability requirements that the product page states, so plan against the product page. Client Contact Centre: 1-877-232-2269.
Success Profile
A Canadian small business with 2+ years of operations, consistent revenue, and a specific capital need (equipment purchase, working capital buffer, inventory, or facilities improvement). Business is profitable or close to breakeven. Owner has reasonable personal credit history. Business is in any sector — BDC lends to all industries.
Evaluation Criteria
BDC evaluates creditworthiness rather than competitive merit. Key factors: 24+ months of revenue-generating operations, profitability (or clear path to profitability), good personal and business credit history, viable business model, and clear plan for use of funds. No collateral required — only a personal guarantee. BDC's mandate is complementary lending, serving businesses that chartered banks may underserve.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 8
- Inventory purchasing and restocking
- New product or service development and launch
- Energy efficiency improvements and upgrades
- Marketing campaigns and advertising
- Workforce hiring and training
- Industry certifications and compliance costs
- Market expansion (domestic and international)
- General working capital and operational expenses
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Real estate purchases (separate BDC product exists)
- Business acquisitions (separate BDC product exists)
- Speculative investments unrelated to business operations
- Personal expenses of the business owner
- Debt consolidation of non-BDC obligations
Deadline Notes
Ongoing — BDC accepts applications year-round with no intake deadlines. Online application can be completed in under an hour. Approval for amounts under $100,000 is typically faster (days to weeks vs. weeks for larger amounts).
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses operating less than 24 months
- Pre-revenue or pre-profit businesses (directed to BDC Start-up Financing)
- Businesses not registered or operating in Canada
- Companies where all shareholders holding 25%+ of shares reside outside Canada (though alternative processes may apply)
Applying for BDC Small Business Loan? Most founders end up needing more than one template — grab the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27 vs separate) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow BDC Small Business Loan Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDC Small Business Loan | Up to $350,000 | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Up to $1.15 million | Easy | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| BDC Start-up Financing | Up to $150,000 | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BDC Small Business Loan