Succession Fund (Fonds Relève)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
The Succession Fund (Fonds Relève) is the succession stream of Laval Économique's Local Investment Fund. It lends up to $250,000 to an entrepreneur or group of entrepreneurs acquiring at least 25% of the value of an existing Laval business or its assets in order to take it over. The loan can be made in the buyer's personal name depending on the situation, which means other creditors may treat it as equity and it can increase the buyer's effective down payment. Repayment spreads over a maximum of seven years, with a possible moratorium on capital and an interest-free period of up to 36 months.
Eligibility Requirements
- The project must involve acquiring at least 25% of the value of an existing business, or of its assets, with a view to taking over the business — this applies to any entrepreneur or group of entrepreneurs.
- To access the Fonds Relève, your company must conduct its business activities within the Laval area.
- The Succession Fund is part of the Local Investment Fund, so the Local Investment Fund's own eligibility criteria apply: be a for-profit SME, cooperative or non-profit (social economy enterprise); have fewer than 250 employees; and be located on Laval territory.
- Companies whose main business activities involve real estate management and development, food service, the production or distribution of controversial weapons, the operation of violent games, games of chance or gambling or combat sports, sexual exploitation, or the production, sale or services related to tobacco or drug use are excluded from the Local Investment Fund and therefore from this stream.
- While not excluded, projects in the retail, personal services and construction sectors must demonstrate added value.
- The financing is a traditional loan for investments that can be spread over a maximum period of seven years.
- Depending on the situation, the loan can be made in the buyer's personal name rather than the company's, which allows other creditors to consider it as equity.
- The Local Investment Fund's stated objective applies: to invest in Laval-based businesses with economic impact and to create, maintain and preserve jobs.
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $250,000
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Municipal
- Deadline
- At all times — continuous intake
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to secure Succession Fund (Fonds Relève)
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8-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
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipRequest the available moratorium on capital and interest-free leave; both can run up to 36 months to ease the transition.
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 3
Ineligible Expenses 3
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow Succession Fund (Fonds Relève) Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Succession Fund (Fonds Relève) | Up to $250,000 | Moderate | Loan | At all times —... |
| 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 Succession Fund (Fonds Relève)