Business loans
How much you can borrow, who qualifies, and how fast it is. Plus BDC’s tariff loan with 0% interest for the first year.
Business loans
How much you can borrow, who qualifies, and how fast it is. Plus BDC’s tariff loan with 0% interest for the first year.
The short answer
BDC is the Business Development Bank of Canada. It is owned by the Government of Canada. Unlike a regular bank, it only lends to businesses.
| Up to $100,000 | $100,000 to $350,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to pay back | 5 years | Up to 8 years |
| Interest-only payments at the start | Up to 6 months | Up to 12 months |
| Yearly sales needed | $100,000 or more | $250,000 or more |
| Time to approve | Under 10 days | Under 30 days |
After approval, BDC says the money could arrive in less than a week.
Want to know where your score stands? Read this first.
In August 2026, BDC grew its Pivot to Grow loan for businesses hit by the newest U.S. tariffs:
Hit by tariffs? You may also qualify for a grant you don’t pay back. See every tariff program.
BDC is a great option for many businesses. But it’s not the only one. Banks, credit unions and the CSBFP may offer a better fit, a bigger amount or a lower rate for your situation.
The smart move is to compare. Tell us what you need and we’ll bring you offers from our lending partners, side by side.
Yes, but a special one. It is owned by the Government of Canada and only lends to businesses.
For its Small Business Loan, BDC asks for a personal credit score of 600 or higher.
BDC’s Small Business Loan asks for at least 24 months in business. Businesses running 12 to 24 months may still apply, but it can take longer. Very new businesses may look at Futurpreneur or the CSBFP.
BDC says loans up to $100,000 are approved in under 10 days, and larger ones in under 30 days. Money could arrive within a week after approval.
Keep reading
3 min readHow to get a business loan in Canada in 6 simple steps: what lenders check, the documents you need, which loan fits, and how to get a faster yes.
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3 min readHow to get a startup business loan in Canada: what lenders want from new businesses, the best options like CSBFP and Futurpreneur, and simple steps to apply.
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4 min readFree business loan calculator for Canadian owners. Enter the amount, rate and years to see your monthly payment, total interest and total cost in seconds.
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