Term lending from the Business Development Bank of Canada, a federal Crown corporation. Underwritten on cash flow rather than collateral, with longer amortizations and more flexible repayment than a commercial bank.
BDC is a Crown corporation with a mandate to serve businesses commercial banks find difficult, so it weighs cash flow and business plan more heavily than security. Businesses trading under a year are usually referred to a partner such as Futurpreneur rather than declined outright. Because BDC is a Crown corporation, a BDC loan funding the same expense as a federal grant may count toward combined-government funding limits, which is worth checking before stacking the two.
| Small Business Loan | Up to $350,000, applied for online, with no collateral required under $100,000. |
| Start-up Financing | Up to $150,000 for early-stage businesses, with an optional 12-month interest-only period. |
| Larger facilities | Arranged directly with a BDC account manager and running into the millions, for equipment, commercial property, expansion and technology. |
| Cost | Commercial rates above bank prime but below alternative lenders. Repayment commonly over 60 months, often with the first six months interest-only. |
| Who qualifies | Small or medium businesses registered and operating in Canada. Shareholders holding 25% or more must reside in Canada. |
| Timeline | Two to six weeks. |
| Apply through | BDC directly. |
Small Business Loan of up to $350,000, applied for online, with no collateral required under $100,000. Start-up Financing of up to $150,000 for early-stage businesses, with an optional 12-month interest-only period. Larger facilities are arranged directly and run into the millions.
Small or medium business registered and operating in Canada. Shareholders holding 25% or more must reside in Canada. A dedicated Startup Financing product exists for pre-revenue and early-stage businesses.
Figures verified August 7, 2026 against the program's official source.
| Program | Type | Maximum | Apply through | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BDC Financing | Loan, repayable | $350,000 | BDC directly | 2 to 6 weeks |
| CSBFP | Loan guarantee, repayable | $1,150,000 | Your bank or credit union | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Canadian Agricultural Loans Act Program | Loan guarantee, repayable | Loan guarantee | Your bank or credit union |
Product amounts and terms: bdc.ca
Facts on this page last checked 7 August 2026.
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