Are you searching for a long-term financial solution for your business? Depending on your location, there are many options with respect to equity investors to bank on your potential. These solutions are either funded or sponsored by the government and many are regionally specific.
Specific to Alberta is private funding to support R&D to grow a new agricultural business. Also, Aboriginal entrepreneurs are eligible for loans or equity investments.
Manitoba provides personal income tax credits of 45% to Manitobans who invest in your small business. Further, if you own a small business venture in Manitoba and already have one or more investors, you could get $200,000 to $500,000 in matching funds from the province.
If your Newfoundland and Labrador business is part of the province’s strategic sector, you could get funding to expand into external markets or to become more productive and competitive. Also, you could get funding if you establish your company in Newfoundland and Labrador.
If you are unable to get financing through traditional sources, the Government of the Northwest Territories may be able to help you through a variety of credit products including term loans, venture investments, stand-by letters of credit, and contributions for a variety of projects including project start-ups, research projects and occasional short-term projects that create jobs.
In Nova Scotia, if your business is in clean technology, information technology, ocean and agri-food technology or life sciences, you can apply for capital investment, incubation and acceleration services, and mentoring support to get your idea to market. Additionally, regardless of business sector, if you have a local independent television project, you may qualify for an equity investment.
If you are a Canadian living in Nunavut, or you run a not-for-profit corporation or society, you can apply for help to start or grow a business, or to help build Nunavut’s economy.
You could receive funding to start or grow your business in rural Ontario and if your business is active in the clean technology, life sciences and advanced health technologies, or digital media and information communications technology sectors you may be eligible for capital investment funding.
Quebec offers a variety of equity investment opportunities. There is funding support to start, expand or upgrade your processes or facilities for business in Quebec. Your aquaculture business could be eligible for a government investment. If you plan to sell or purchase a financially viable business, there are potential funds available to help. Also, your cooperative or non-profit organization could receive a loan for your acquisition, growth, reorganization, or consolidation projects. Your cultural business may be eligible for funds to help you carry out a development or rehabilitation project. You could receive financial assistance if you carry out studies or projects promoting economic and tourism development in the town of Lac-Mégantic. If your business creates, produces and distributes cultural content, and offers technical/technological support to content businesses you might also benefit from government funding support. If you are you looking to start or expand your business development project in the Regional County Municipality of Des Sources, or the Centre-du- Québec and Mauricie regions, or a rural region of Quebec, you could get financial assistance.
In Saskatchewan, if your business is in manufacturing, oil and gas, value-added agriculture, bio-based business, renewable energy, mining, or you are involved in a management buyout, there could be funding available to you. If you are of Métis ancestry and own a business or want to start or buy one, you could obtain business assistance and financing.
Regardless of where you are located in Canada, there are equity investment opportunities available. The Business Development Bank of Canada provides a wide range of specialized financing. The Department Of Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods provides funds to commercialize aquaculture products from hatcheries or marine sites. Canada Media Fund provides funding for software development and other creative media companies.
Obviously, these funds each have specific criteria that determine eligibility. The Government of Canada has a detailed listing of every program at http://canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/3681/sgc-60/#sgcselect .
Before you meet with any representatives from any of the above funding sources, make sure that you are organized, clear about your objectives and have a business plan in place to support your requirements.