Business Funding in Canada: Tools to Find Grants & Loans

How Canadian Entrepreneurs Can Find the Right Business Financing; Fast

Finding business funding in Canada can feel overwhelming. Between government grants, private lenders, provincial programs, and women-focused funding, many entrepreneurs don’t know where to begin. Whether you're starting a business in BC, scaling in Alberta, or expanding in Ontario, you need reliable tools, not random Google searches.

At StartCan Business Consulting, we help entrepreneurs build strong businesses with the right funding strategy, the right documents, and the right preparation. And two of the most authentic, trusted tools we always recommend are:

• Fundica : a powerful funding search engine used across Canada

• Business Benefits Finder : the official Government of Canada tool for discovering grants, loans, tax credits, wage subsidies, and programs

Below is your complete guide to understanding how to use these tools and how they fit into your overall funding plan.

Why Business Funding Matters Today

With rising costs, competitive markets, and tighter lending criteria, small businesses across Canada are actively searching for:

• Business loans in BC

• Business funding in Canada

• Women entrepreneur grants

• Start-up funding in Alberta

• Government grants in Ontario

• Immigrant entrepreneur funding

• Non-repayable grants and wage subsidies

Knowing where to search and how to apply makes all the difference.

1. Fundica: Canada’s Most Comprehensive Business Funding Search Engine

Fundica is one of the most effective tools for finding government grants, private funding, accelerators, bank loans, tax credits, and investor opportunities based on your industry and stage of business.

Why Fundica is Good 

• Continuously updated funding database

• Filters by province, industry, business size, and purpose

• Includes bank programs, angel investors, VCs, and public grants

• Used by financial institutions and entrepreneurs across Canada

• Helps businesses in BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and all provinces find relevant funding fast

What Type of Funding You Can Find on Fundica

• Business loans BC programs

• Women-focused funding (e.g., WES, WEOC Lending Program)

• Technology & innovation grants

• Hiring and wage subsidy programs

• Green business funding

• Startup incubators and accelerators

• Export development programs

This tool saves hours of research and ensures you do not miss opportunities available in your sector.

2. Business Benefits Finder: The Official Government Funding Tool

The Business Benefits Finder (formerly part of Innovation Canada) is the most trustworthy, government-backed database of funding programs, tax credits, subsidies, and support.

What Makes Business Benefits Finder Essential

• Directly managed by the Government of Canada

• Easy questionnaire to match you with funding

• Covers every province: BC, Alberta, Ontario, Atlantic Canada, Northern Canada

• Updated regularly with new government programs

• Includes non-repayable grants, which many entrepreneurs prefer

Programs You Can Find

• Federal grants like:

  • Canada Digital Adoption Program

  • IRAP

  • Export Development funding

  • Hiring grants & wage subsidies

• Provincial programs:

  • BC Small Business grants

  • Alberta Innovates funding

  • Ontario regional development grants

• Women entrepreneur funding options

• Indigenous business programs

• Immigrant entrepreneur support

For anyone looking for business funding in Canada, this tool is a must-use resource.

Funding for Women Entrepreneurs in Canada

Women in business are one of the most supported groups when it comes to grants and loans. Searches like business funding for women Canada, women entrepreneur loans BC, and grants for women Ontario are extremely common.

Examples of Women-Focused Programs

• Women’s Enterprise Centre (BC) – loans, mentorship, training

• WES (Women Entrepreneurship Strategy) Grants

• WEOC National Loan Program – up to $50,000+

• SheEO / Coralus funding

• Regional women-focused supports across all provinces

Tools like Fundica and Business Benefits Finder help women entrepreneurs find the programs they qualify for based on their industry, province, and business stage.

How StartCan Business Consulting Helps You Get Funded

Finding funding is only the first step. The real challenge is qualifying for funding.

StartCan supports entrepreneurs with:

• Investor-ready business plans

• Loan-ready financial projections

• Grant application support

• Pitch decks for lenders and investors

• Strategic funding guidance for BC, Alberta, Ontario & beyond

• One-on-one consulting for women entrepreneurs and immigrant founders

Most lenders and government programs require well-structured documents that clearly show:

• Your business model

• Your financial plan

• Market research

• Profitability and cash flow

• Your competitive advantages

• Your management experience

This is where many entrepreneurs struggle and where StartCan steps in to help you succeed.