Business financing in Ottawa

What’s available to Ottawa businesses, what each option needs, and where to get free help. Then apply once and we’ll match you with one financing partner.

Updated October 2026Sources linked

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Short answer

Ottawa businesses usually borrow from a bank or credit union, through the government-backed Canada Small Business Financing Program (up to $1.15 million), from BDC (online loans up to $350,000), or from equipment lessors, factoring companies and alternative lenders. For free advice, Invest Ottawa helps local owners plan, apply for Ontario’s Starter Company Plus grants and get ready to borrow.

Ottawa at a glance

Canada Small Business Financing Program: up to $1.15 million for businesses with revenue of $10 million or less, through your own bank. ISED
BDC: online small business loans up to $350,000 for businesses with 24 months of history and a credit score of 600 or more. BDC
Free local help: Invest Ottawa. Visit
Ontario’s small business tax rate fell to 2.2% on July 1, 2026, so the combined rate on the first $500,000 of active business income is 11.2%. CRA
One verified application to NorthMerit, one matched financing partner, no cost to apply.

What business financing is available in Ottawa?

These are the main sources Ottawa businesses use, from cheapest and strictest to fastest and most flexible.

Option	How much	What you need	Good for
Bank or credit union loan	Varies with revenue and security	Usually 2+ years of statements, good credit, often a personal guarantee and collateral	Established, profitable businesses
Canada Small Business Financing Program	Up to $1.15M: $1M in term loans (up to $500K for equipment and leaseholds) plus a $150K line of credit	Revenue of $10M or less; arranged through your bank or credit union; 2% registration fee	Start-ups and businesses short on collateral
BDC small business loan	Up to $350K, applied for online	24 months in business, profitable, credit score of 600+, revenue of $100K+ ($250K+ above $100K)	Working capital, growth, refinancing
BDC start-up financing	Up to $150K	At least 12 months in business and earning revenue	Young businesses past the idea stage
Equipment financing or leasing	Up to the full cost of the equipment	The equipment secures the loan; a quote or invoice	Machinery, vehicles, technology
Invoice factoring	A share of your outstanding invoices	Creditworthy business customers who pay on terms	Businesses waiting 30 to 90 days to be paid
Commercial mortgage	Often 65% to 75% of the property’s value	A down payment, appraisal and environmental review	Buying or refinancing the building you work from
Alternative and online lenders	Smaller amounts, fast decisions	Bank statements and revenue history; higher cost	Short-term needs when a bank says no
FedDev Ontario repayable contribution	Larger projects; often interest-free and repayable	Established firms with a scale-up or productivity project	Expansion, new equipment, new markets

Amounts and criteria as published by each program in October 2026. Banks, lessors and alternative lenders set their own terms.

Free business help in Ottawa

Invest Ottawa: free advisory services from experienced business advisors, and the Starter Company Plus program for new owners. Visit
Starter Company Plus: Ontario grants of up to $5,000, plus training and mentoring, for people 18 and older starting or buying a business, delivered through local small business centres. You contribute at least 25% of the grant amount. Ontario
Summer Company: up to $3,000 and mentoring for students aged 15 to 29 who run a business over the summer.
FedDev Ontario: the federal development agency for southern Ontario, which mainly offers repayable contributions for scale-up and productivity projects. FedDev Ontario

How NorthMerit can help

Apply once and we’ll connect you with one financing partner who works with businesses like yours. It’s free, and there’s no obligation.

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Doing business in Ottawa

Ottawa is Canada’s capital, with a steady economy built on the federal government, a large technology sector and professional services, and suburbs that keep growing in every direction.

What lenders focus on depends on your sector. Tech companies often have few physical assets, so lenders look at recurring revenue and contracts, and lines of credit fund hiring. Professional firms have few hard assets, so lenders focus on recurring revenue, receivables and the owners’ track record. Government contractors can wait 30 days or more to be paid, so receivables financing and lines of credit are common, backed by signed contracts.

What lenders will ask for

Having these ready speeds up any application, including ours.

Two years of financial statements, or tax returns if you’re a sole proprietor
Recent business bank statements, often the last 6 months
Your articles of incorporation or Ontario business registration
A breakdown of what the money is for: quotes, invoices or a short plan
For factoring, your receivables aging report; for equipment, the supplier quote

How we verify your business

When you apply, we look up your business in the Ontario Business Registry, or with Corporations Canada if you’re federally incorporated. We confirm it’s active, that you can borrow for it, and your contact details, so the partner starts with verified facts.

Sources

We checked these figures against official sources in October 2026. Rules and rates change, so confirm the details with your mortgage professional, lawyer or the source before you rely on them.

Common questions

What small business loans are available in Ottawa?

Bank and credit union loans, Canada Small Business Financing Program loans of up to $1.15 million, BDC loans of up to $350,000 online, equipment financing, invoice factoring, commercial mortgages and alternative lenders. Which fits depends on your time in business, revenue and what the money is for.

Is there free help for small businesses in Ottawa?

Yes. Invest Ottawa offers free advisory services from experienced business advisors, and the Starter Company Plus program for new owners.

Can a start-up in Ottawa get a business loan?

Often, yes. The Canada Small Business Financing Program is open to start-ups through participating banks, BDC’s start-up financing lends up to $150,000 once you’ve had revenue for 12 months, and Starter Company Plus offers grants of up to $5,000 with mentoring.

How much can I borrow under the Canada Small Business Financing Program?

Up to $1.15 million in total: up to $1 million in term loans (with up to $500,000 for equipment and leasehold improvements) and up to $150,000 as a line of credit. Your business needs revenue of $10 million or less, and there’s a 2% registration fee.

Are there small business grants in Ottawa?

Grants are limited. Ontario’s Starter Company Plus (up to $5,000) and Summer Company (up to $3,000 for students) are delivered locally. FedDev Ontario funds larger projects, mostly as repayable contributions rather than grants.

What is the small business tax rate in Ontario?

Since July 1, 2026, Ontario charges 2.2% on the first $500,000 of active business income of a Canadian-controlled private corporation, on top of the federal 9%, for a combined 11.2%.

Financing in Ottawa

Term loans in OttawaA lump sum repaid over a set term.Lines of credit in OttawaRevolving capital you draw as needed.Equipment financing in OttawaLoans and leases for the assets you run on.Invoice factoring in OttawaCash now for invoices your customers owe.Commercial real estate in OttawaMortgages and bridge loans for business property.Business acquisition in OttawaFinancing to buy a business or a partner’s share.

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