| Administered by | Business Development Bank of Canada, a federal Crown corporation |
|---|---|
| Funding amount | Online small business loans up to $350,000 and start-up financing up to $150,000, with larger amounts assessed case by case through other loan products |
| Who qualifies | A registered Canadian business generating revenue, with a business bank account, acceptable personal and business credit, and at least $100,000 in annual revenue for the online small business loan |
| Deadline or intake | Continuous intake; applications are assessed as they are received |
| Region | Canada |
| Status | Open |
| Official page | www.bdc.ca/en/financing |
Who qualifies
BDC is a federal Crown corporation lending exclusively to Canadian businesses. Its published requirements are straightforward: the business must be registered in Canada, generating revenue, banking through a business account, and showing acceptable personal and business credit. For the online small business loan, BDC states a minimum of $100,000 in annual revenue.
Beyond those tests, each product applies its own view of risk. Equipment and commercial real estate lending is secured against the asset. Working capital and purchase order financing look to cash-flow coverage. Technology and growth lending for scale-up companies is assessed on recurring revenue and retention rather than tangible security.
What it funds
BDC’s published range covers a small business loan of up to $350,000 for expenses, suppliers and inventory; equipment and technology equipment loans; commercial real estate lending, including renovation costs with interest-only options; working capital for inventory, market expansion and hiring; purchase order financing paid directly to suppliers; business purchase and transfer loans for acquisitions and succession; certified green building loans; and start-up financing of up to $150,000.
What it does not do is replace grant funding. Research salaries, training, export market entry and capital cost-sharing are better matched to the programs described in our small business grants hub.
Deadlines and intake
There is no intake window. Applications are assessed continuously, and smaller online products are designed for a short decision cycle. The practical constraint is document readiness rather than a calendar date: current financial statements, a cash-flow forecast, an ageing of receivables and payables, and a specific use of funds.
How CFP helps
Canadian Funding Partners positions BDC lending inside a wider capital plan. We test whether the requirement is genuinely debt or whether part of it can be met with non-dilutive contributions or tax credits, size the ask so that repayment fits the cash-flow forecast, and assemble the supporting package a lender expects. Where the file requires reviewed or audited statements, valuation work or security opinions, we coordinate independent partner accounting and legal firms; CFP does not provide accounting, engineering or legal services itself.
Related routes worth comparing before borrowing: the government-guaranteed Canada Small Business Financing Program, commercial business loans, equipment financing, working capital facilities, and equity options including angel investors and venture capital.
Talk to Canadian Funding Partners
Book a confidential conversation. We review your project, map it against the programs that fit, and coordinate the partner accounting, engineering and legal firms needed to complete a defensible file.
Frequently asked questions
Is a BDC loan a grant?
No. BDC lends money that must be repaid with interest. It is complementary to grant funding rather than a substitute, and a well-built plan often pairs repayable capital for equipment or working capital with non-repayable support for the research or training portion of the same project.
How much can a business borrow?
BDC publishes an online small business loan of up to $350,000 and start-up financing of up to $150,000. Equipment, commercial real estate, business purchase and technology loans are sized to the transaction and assessed individually.
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
BDC states that the business must be registered in Canada, generating revenue, hold a business bank account, and show acceptable personal and business credit. The online small business loan additionally requires at least $100,000 in annual revenue.
Does BDC lend to pre-revenue start-ups?
BDC offers dedicated start-up financing, but its general requirement is that the business is generating revenue. Pre-revenue companies more often combine founder capital, non-dilutive innovation contributions and angel or venture investment.
How does a BDC loan interact with grants?
Borrowed funds are not a government contribution, so they do not usually trigger stacking limits. However, where a grant reimburses a cost that a loan also financed, only the unreimbursed portion should be treated as the applicant’s own contribution.
What does a lender want to see in the file?
Current financial statements, an up-to-date cash-flow forecast, a clear use of funds, security available, and a credible explanation of how the borrowing converts into revenue or cost savings within the repayment period.
Official sources
- BDC — Financing products — loan product range, published amounts and stated eligibility requirements
- Government of Canada — Business grants and financing — federal overview of business financing sources including Crown lenders
Verified against official sources on .
Canadian Funding Partners Inc. is an independent advisory firm and does not administer this program. Rates, ceilings and eligibility are set by the administering authority and change. Confirm current terms with the official source before relying on them.