In this section you will find links to information on funding for your business. No business can function without money to pay for overhead expenses and production or product costs. It is also unusual for a business founder to have the capital to fully fund their business. The sources in this section will help you consider the best source of funding for your business.
Suggestions for Obtaining Capital
With proper planning and a few resources to guide you on your way, identifying and securing capital to start and grow your business becomes a much smoother and gentler process.
There are several ways to secure the capital needed to fund your business:
- Government Funding: This is money that the government gives you to fund your business, based on your application to the funding grant. There are other types of government assistance you might wish to explore here: Business Grants and Financing.
- Personal Savings: This involves saving your money from your current employment to invest in your business.
- Personal Loans: This option means using your personal credit to secure a loan or using your personal credit card for business expenses.
- Crowdfunding/Micro-Lending: Crowdfunding and micro-lending are both alternative ways of raising capital that involve having large groups of people pre-buy your product before it is launched or loan you small amounts that you can then use to finance your business.
- Private Financing/Equity Financing: This types of financing come in the form of loans from banks or individuals. It is obtained through your business’ credit availability or through providing equity in your business in exchange for money. This financing involves going into debt or giving up some control of your business.
Need More?
Check out this page in the Learn Business Basics section of our site to review a growing list of different ways to raise capital for Canadian businesses. It has many funding resources to explore that fall into the categories above, and well as sections with opportunities specifically for Indigenous, women, and youth entrepreneurs, as well as regional funding opportunities.
Below, we have some resources that can help you find funding options for your business:
Funding Opportunities and Programs
General
Funding Opportunities for British Columbian Producers, Processors, Innovators and Industry Developers, 2018 | A resource by Agriculture and Agri-food Canada that contains a list of funding opportunities at the federal and provincial level, as well as ones offered through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Agriculture & Seafood Programs | A list of funding opportunities and programs compiled by Government of BC. The list is organized by the following sections: Business, Innovation & Market Developments, Insurance & Income Protection, Food Safety & Traceability, Environmental Sustainability, and Recognition.
Beef
BC Breeder and Feeder Association | Programs available for BC Producers including the Feeder Associations Loan Guarantee Program, Bred Heifer Associations Loan Guarantee Program, Interest Relief Program, and Advance Payments Program.
British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association | Programs to improve operations and develop better management, health and safety practices.
Cattle Industry Development Fund | The Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund for projects that benefit the beef industry.
Other Finance Tools and Programs
AgPal Program | Search for programs and resources to help with business management, farming, innovation and community support.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Loan Programs | Financing options for agriculture, agribusiness, and agri-food.
Advance Payments Program (APP) | A federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-interest cash advances.
Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) | Leaders in administering government funding to help you build your agribusiness ideas.
AgriInvest | One of the Business Risk Management programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector.
Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program | A loan guarantee program designed to increase the availability of loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives.
Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program | Information about the Government of Ontario’s farm property tax rate.
Market Access Initiative | A targeted intake to support the agri-food and agri-products sectors impacted by trade restrictions.
Price Pooling Program (PPP) | Provides a price guarantee that protects marketing agencies and producers against unanticipated declines in the market price of their products.