Updated June 2026 · Verified against Laval Économique / Ville de Laval guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Unknown Est. 2023
Grant Municipal Active

Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise (Business Launch Fund)

Laval Économique / Ville de Laval
Maximum Funding
Up to $25,000
Ongoing (until funds exhausted)
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Unknown
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise (Business Launch Fund) provides up to $25,000. The Fonds créateur d'entreprise (Business Launch Fund) is a non-repayable grant of up to $25,000 offered by Laval Économique to support entrepreneurs creating or acquiring businesses within the city of Laval, Québec. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

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Program Description

The Fonds créateur d'entreprise (Business Launch Fund) is a non-repayable grant of up to $25,000 offered by Laval Économique to support entrepreneurs creating or acquiring businesses within the city of Laval, Québec. Designed for enterprises in their first two years of operation, the program aims to create or maintain local employment. Funds are available on a rolling basis until exhausted, making early application advisable in each fiscal cycle. The program is distinct from Laval Économique's manufacturing subsidy (which targets established businesses for automation) and serves early-stage and acquisition-stage businesses across sectors.

Eligibility Requirements

  • The business's head office and the project's principal activities must be, or be planned to be, in Laval
  • Either a business created within the last two years, or the acquisition of ALL the shares of a business that was itself started less than two years ago — and in an acquisition the buyer must not already be a shareholder of the target (arm's-length rule)
  • Business must be in operation for fewer than 2 years at time of application
  • The business must create, or commit to create, the equivalent of two full-time jobs within 12 months of signing the funding agreement (for an acquisition, it must also maintain or create jobs over the following two years)
  • Must be a private for-profit business, registered or incorporated at the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (social-economy enterprises are served by Laval économique's separate Fonds entrepreneuriat collectif)
  • The business and the project must also qualify for a repayable Fonds locaux d'investissement (FLI) loan equal to the grant amount — the project's financing must include both the grant and the FLI loan, so a business that cannot take on debt cannot access this grant
  • Excluded sectors and project types (funder's own table): bars, nightclubs, mobile discos, ice-cream bars and restaurants; retail and food service except where offering a proximity service; travel agencies; business centres; insurance brokers, real-estate brokers and property management; franchises; artistic management, authors, composers, performers, musicians, impresarios and screenwriters; automotive specialities including car washes, mechanics and bodywork; construction and renovation; goods-and-services brokers and agencies; private financial-sector businesses and financial co-operatives; controversial, speculative, sexual or religious projects; projects where an ex-employer/employee relationship is maintained; liberal professions (accountant, lawyer, notary, engineer, architect); seasonal projects; manufacturers' agents; transport services (road, taxi, adapted); personal care including hairdressing, aesthetics and specialised make-up; service stations; childcare services; gaming houses and billiard halls; import-export; and the self-employed / sole-proprietor individual enterprise
  • One grant per business, ever — and the business must not have received any non-repayable Ville de Laval contribution in the two years before applying
Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
High
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $25,000
Type
Grant
Level
Municipal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing (until funds exhausted)

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
High
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
4/5

High competition — many applicants

Difficulty
2/5

Easy — minimal documentation

Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

Book the advisory session with Laval économique first — it is not optional.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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How Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Written answers9no length limits stated
Judged on9 criteria
Can reject you36 rules
To attach4 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents on lavaleconomique.com, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-04.

6 of the sources

What Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise favours

Complete business plan with two-year financial forecasts◦

“Le projet d'entreprise doit s'appuyer sur un plan d'affaires complet incluant des états financiers prévisionnels sur un minimum de deux (2) ans”

2 more, in their words

The form2 prompts shown

Contact form2 sections
  1. 1Besoin de plus d'informations?short answer
  2. 2Besoin de plus d'informations?written answer

    En quelques mots, décrivez votre projet ou votre besoin

Before you apply1 section
  1. 3.1Demande d'aide financièreshort answer
Eligible projects9 sections
  1. 4Projets admissibleswritten answer

    Les administrateurs doivent posséder une expérience ou une formation pertinente

  2. 5Projets admissibleswritten answer
  3. 6Projets admissiblestable
  4. 7Projets admissiblesshort answer
  5. 8Projets admissiblesshort answer
  6. 9Projets admissibleswritten answer
  7. 10Projets admissibleswritten answer
  8. 11Projets admissibleswritten answer
  9. 12Projets admissibleswritten answer
Creation project1 section
  1. 4.2Création d'une entrepriselist
Acquisition project4 sections
  1. 14Acquisition d'une entreprisewritten answer
  2. 15Acquisition d'une entreprisewritten answer
  3. 16Acquisition d'une entrepriselist
  4. 17Acquisition d'une entreprisespreadsheet
After the convention1 section
  1. 6.1Engagements de l'entrepriselist

Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise states no length limits for these answers.

16 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against4 questions · 9 criteria

  1. 1

    Can this business win customers and stand out?

    Show them Name your direct and indirect competitors in Laval and greater Montréal, and state what the business does differently or better.◦

    In the funder’s words · 4
    • Concurrence directe et indirecte
    • Valeur ajoutée
    • Innovation
    • Potentiel d'exportation
  2. 2

    Will it be viable and does it need our money?

    What to show them in Premium

  3. 3

    Does the project create jobs and enrich Laval?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    Who decides, and on what terms?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

2 questions the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.

Where applicants failin Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise’s words

“Dépenses affectées à la réalisation d'un projet, mais effectuées avant la date de la réception de la demande d'aide officielle par Laval économique”
“Honoraires et frais de service de consultants d'une entreprise dans laquelle un des promoteurs possède une participation”

2 more, in the funder’s words

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30 more rules that can reject you · 5 more criteria · 16 more prompts

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Do you pass?36 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

Your business

  • Created or acquired under 2 years

    Une demande au Fonds Créateur d'entreprises peut être soumise au cours des deux (2) premières années de création d'une entreprise à but lucratif légalement constituée.

  • For-profit private business

    Être une entreprise privée à but lucratif

  • Not import-export

    Import-Export

The project

  • Grant is 50% or less of project

    L'aide financière doit correspondre à 50 % ou moins du coût du projet

  • All public money under 50%

    La somme des contributions non-remboursables et remboursables des gouvernements et de Ville de Laval ne représente pas plus de 50 % des coûts du projet

  • Ask of at least $5,000

    La demande au Fonds créateur d'entreprises doit être d'un minimum de 5 000 $

30 more checks

Documents to attach4

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

Minimum askMinimum 5 000 $

La demande au Fonds créateur d'entreprises doit être d'un minimum de 5 000 $

Grant share of project50 % ou moins des coûts

L'aide financière doit correspondre à 50 % ou moins du coût du projet

All public contributionsMaximum 50 % des coûts

La somme des contributions non-remboursables et remboursables des gouvernements et de Ville de Laval ne représente pas plus de 50 % des coûts du projet

12-month aid ceiling150 000 $ sur 12 mois

ne peut pas excéder 150 000 $ à tout moment à l'intérieur d'une période de 12 mois consécutifs

Your shareContribution financière uniquement, sauf exception

Contribution du bénéficiaire: Contribution financière uniquement, sauf exception

StackingFLI s'ajoute au cumul de 70 %

Les aides financières remboursables consenties dans le cadre du programme des Fonds locaux d'investissement (FLI) du ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie peuvent s'ajouter au taux de cumul maximal de 70 % des aides financières pour les entreprises privées, ne dépassant pas un taux de cumul absolu de 100 % des dépenses admissibles.

Costs before approvalDépenses effectuées avant la demande officielle

Dépenses affectées à la réalisation d'un projet, mais effectuées avant la date de la réception de la demande d'aide officielle par Laval économique

What it pays for · 4
  • Immobilisation telle que terrain, bâtisse, équipement, machinerie, matériel roulant, frais d'incorporation et toute autre dépense de même nature
  • Acquisition de technologies (savoir-faire, licence ou accord de fabrication et brevet) de logiciels ou progiciels
  • Fonds de roulement se rapportant strictement aux activités de l'entreprise calculées la première année
  • Achats d'inventaire (matière première, produits en cours et finis)
What it does not pay for · 3
  • Dépenses affectées à la réalisation d'un projet, mais effectuées avant la date de la réception de la demande d'aide officielle par Laval économique
  • Honoraires et frais de service de consultants d'une entreprise dans laquelle un des promoteurs possède une participation
  • Remboursement de dettes encourues par l'entreprise

From application to money

  1. Meet an advisorContact advisor before official application
  2. Email the signed dossierEmail signed application to laval.ca
  3. CIC assesses and selectsCommittee selects beneficiaries and approves aid
  4. Executive committee approvesExecutive committee approves the agreement
  5. Sign the conventionSign the financial aid convention
  6. Annual financial statementsProvide annual financial statements
In the funder’s words · 6
Meet an advisor
Avant de procéder à une demande officielle, l'entreprise candidate doit s'assurer de répondre aux critères d'admissibilité. Par la suite, elle doit contacter Laval économique et remplir les documents requis afin de rencontrer un conseiller développement entrepreneurial.
Email the signed dossier
L'entreprise ou l'organisme doit faire parvenir sa demande dûment signée en version électronique (format PDF ou Word) à l'adresse courriel suivante [email protected]
CIC assesses and selects
Ce comité effectue la sélection des bénéficiaires d'aides selon les modalités et conditions prévues au programme et approuve l'aide financière.
Executive committee approves
Le comité exécutif de la Ville de Laval approuve la convention relative à l'octroi d'une aide financière entre la Ville de Laval et l'entreprise bénéficiaire.
Sign the convention
Une fois la demande d'aide financière autorisée par Ville de Laval, le signataire autorisé, en vertu d'une résolution de son conseil d'administration, devra signer la convention prévue à cet effet et se conformer aux conditions afin d'obtenir l'aide financière prévue.
Annual financial statements
Fournir les états financiers annuels de l'entreprise

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Self-assess against the criteria Before contacting Laval économique, confirm the business meets the eligibility criteria — including the mandatory paired FLI loan and the sector exclusions.

Required Documents 10

✓ Signed dossier emailed as PDF or Word to [email protected] — there is no published application form
✓ Business plan with financial projections

Eligible Expenses 4

Ineligible Expenses 3

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

Premium The full guide for this program also covers:
  • 4 more application steps
  • 8 more required documents
  • 4 eligible expenses
  • 3 ineligible expenses
  • Intake periods
  • Deadline notes
  • Ineligible organizations

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Défi Québec Ville Entrepreneuriale (proposed id 550) PME MTL financing programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

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How Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'e... Up to $25,000 Easy Unknown Ongoing (until funds...
Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) Hard Tax Credit Offset Ongoing
Investissement Québec — Project Finan... Varies Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing
Canada Economic Development for Quebe... Varies Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises Up to $25,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Laval Économique — Fonds créateur d'entreprise

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Can sole proprietors apply for this grant?
No. The funder's own list of non-admissible projects and sectors excludes the self-employed / sole-proprietor individual enterprise (travailleur autonome — entreprise individuelle). The business must be a private for-profit enterprise, registered or incorporated at the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
What's the typical award amount received?
Most applicants receive $10,000–$25,000 based on project scope and job creation potential. The $25k max is rarely reached; $15k–$20k is common for strong applications.
When are decisions made after applying?
The funder publishes no decision timeline. The file goes to a joint investment committee of external experts, and the funding agreement is then approved by the Ville de Laval's executive committee — two scheduled bodies, so plan for months rather than weeks and ask the advisor for the committee calendar.
Why do applications get rejected most often?
Most rejections are for businesses operating more than 2 years, lack of a clear job creation plan, or not being physically located in Laval (e.g., home-based businesses outside city limits).
Do I need to provide matching funds?
Yes. The grant may cover no more than 50% of the project cost, and all government and Ville de Laval money combined — repayable and non-repayable, including the paired FLI loan — may not exceed 50% of project costs. The applicant must therefore bring at least half the project from its own or private funds.

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