Updated March 2026 · Verified against FedEx Canada guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Lump Sum Est. 2021
Award Private Active

FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada)

FedEx Canada
Maximum Funding
Grand prize $25,000 + 10 × $10,000 + 5...
Annual
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Lump Sum
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
100%
FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada) provides up to Grand prize $25,000 + 10 × $10,000 + 5 × $5,000 = $150,000 total. Annual contest awarding a grand prize of $25,000, ten prizes of $10,000, and five prizes of $5,000 to Canadian small businesses, totaling $150,000. Annual. (As of March 2026, verified against FedEx Canada program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Annual contest awarding a grand prize of $25,000, ten prizes of $10,000, and five prizes of $5,000 to Canadian small businesses, totaling $150,000. One of the most accessible business contests — entry requires only a FedEx shipment during the contest period and an online application.

Eligibility Requirements

  • For-profit Canadian business
  • 6+ months in operation
  • Maximum 99 employees
  • Must be a FedEx customer (at least one shipment during contest period)
  • Legally registered in Canada
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
High
Est. Hours
1h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Grand prize $25,000 + 10 × $10,000 + 5 × $5,000 = $150,000 total
Type
Award
Level
Private
Co-Funding
Up to 100% of eligible costs
Deadline
Annual

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
High
Effort
~1 hours
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
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Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada) — $19

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

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
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Applying for Canada? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

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

Premium
Insider Tip

Entry just requires a FedEx shipment during the contest period — making this one of the most accessible business contests in Canada. If you already ship with FedEx, you are automatically eligible. The public voting phase is critical, so mobilize your customer base, social media followers, and community early. Businesses with compelling founder stories and clear community impact consistently win over purely profit-driven narratives.

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

Success Profile

Product-based businesses that ship regularly — e-commerce brands, food producers, manufacturers, artisan goods companies. Winners typically have strong online presences, loyal customer communities, and compelling founder stories. Businesses that can mobilize votes through social media and email lists perform best.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Winners selected entirely by random draw — not by judges or merit criteria. Entry requires a qualifying FedEx shipment (or mail-in entry with 500-word essay). No voting, no judging panel, no business narrative required for the standard entry path.

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t waste 1 hours on a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
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Application Playbook

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

Premium 5 steps 5 docs

Application Steps

1 Confirm eligibility For-profit Canadian business, 6+ months in operation, maximum 99 employees, valid FedEx account number in good standing. Non-profits and primarily donation-based businesses are excluded.
2 Register and ship (primary entry) During the contest period (historically March 1 – April 30), register using your FedEx account number at the contest page and make at least one qualifying shipment. This is all that is required for the standard entry.
3 Alternative: mail-in entry If entering by mail, hand-print your full name, business name, address, and FedEx account number on a 3" x 5" piece of paper. Include a typed minimum 500-word essay about your business and mail to: FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest, 251 Consumers Road, Unit 1229, Toronto, ON M2J 4R3. Must be postmarked by contest close.
4 Random draw On or about May 31, 16 winners are selected by random draw from all eligible entries. Selection is purely random — shipping frequency does not improve odds beyond one qualifying entry.
5 Prize verification and payment Winners must pass eligibility verification. Once confirmed, lump-sum prize paid by cheque or transfer. Grand prize winner ($25,000) typically featured in FedEx Canada promotional content.

Required Documents 5

✓ Online contest entry form
✓ Business description and story
✓ Proof of FedEx shipment during contest period
✓ Business registration confirmation
✓ Employee count verification

Intake Periods

Annual. 2025 contest: March 1 – April 30, 2025. 2026 dates not yet announced — monitor fedex.com/en-ca/small-business/backing-small.html from February 2026.

Deadline Notes

Annual contest — typically runs in spring/summer. Entry requires a FedEx shipment during the contest period. Check FedEx Canada website for current year dates and rules.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Businesses less than 6 months old
  • Businesses with 100+ employees
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Businesses whose primary use of profits is donation-based
  • Businesses without a valid FedEx shipping account
  • Businesses not domiciled in Canada
  • Subsidiaries where parent company is not Canadian-owned
Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 4 partners

Compatible Programs

Government Small Business Grants Canada Post Solutions for Growing Business BDC Financing Provincial Export Programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

None Risk

None. Prize is non-repayable. If eligibility is misrepresented, prize may be voided.

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 4 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
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How FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada) Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada)

Free
Can sole proprietors apply?
Yes, sole proprietors qualify if registered in Canada, operating 6+ months, and shipping via FedEx during contest period. No incorporation required.
What's the typical award amount?
Most winners receive $5,000-$10,000; only 11 businesses get $10,000+ (1 grand prize + 10 tiered prizes).
Do I need to ship before applying?
Yes — must have made at least one FedEx shipment during the contest period to be eligible. Entry requires proof of shipment.
Why do most applications fail?
Most fail due to no FedEx shipment during contest period, business less than 6 months old, or not being a Canadian-registered for-profit.
Can I combine this with other grants?
Yes — no restrictions on stacking with government grants, BDC financing, or provincial programs like Canada Post Solutions.

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