Financing Resources - Information Sources on the Web
Following are existing resources available on the Internet to assist in sourcing business financing information. These resources are offered for ease of access to information and are only provided to assist with research efforts.
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Agriculture Financial Services Corporation [AFSC]
AFSC is a provincial crown corporation with a private sector Board of Directors that provides farmers, agribusinesses and other small businesses with loans, crop insurance and farm income disaster assistance.
Alberta Opportunity Company [AOC] was established in 1972 to provide financing for viable Alberta small businesses, which are unable to find the financing they need through conventional financial institutions.
In 2001, the Alberta Government merged AFSC and AOC to build on the business strengths of both corporations. The major focus of the merger was to combine AFSC's commercial lending division and AOC's small business lending into a single division of AFSC. Now the organizations are able to enhance delivery of made-in-Alberta financial solutions to a broader spectrum of small businesses.
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Alberta Venture produces a number of publications, including "The Money Book," a unique and comprehensive guide to sources of financing for the Alberta businessperson.
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Alberta Women Entrepreneurs [AWE]
AWE provides a variety of resources including, business advice, financing and networking to aid and support Alberta's women entrepreneurs.
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Business Development Bank of Canada [BDC]
BDC is a federal Crown corporation providing a range of financial services for small and mid-sized businesses across Canada [i.e. debt, subordinated debt and equity].
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Canadian Bankers Association [CBA]
Established in 1891, CBA is the main representative body for banks in Canada and the country's oldest industry association. All chartered banks are eligible for membership and currently all domestic and virtually all foreign banks doing business in Canada are members.
CBA has a series of free publications on a variety of financial topics.
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Canada Business Service Centre [CBSC]
The CBSC network is a collaborative arrangement among 43 Government of Canada departments, provincial, territorial governments, and in some cases, not-for-profit organizations that assists Canadian entrepreneurs in obtaining the correct information, advice and support they need to start their own businesses.
The Interactive Business Planner is a free, on-line service provided by the Canada Business Service Centres. The IBP uses the capabilities of the Internet to assist entrepreneurs in the preparation of a 3-year business plan for their new or existing business.
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Canadian Tourism Commission [CTC]
The Canadian Tourism Commission has produced a number of publications containing useful information regarding the financial aspects surrounding your tourism business.
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Publications - Industry Relations:
Finding Funding - Ten Steps to Meet Your Financial Needs [2003]
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Choose > Guidelines Reports, for:
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ABCs of Financial Performance Measures and Benchmarks for Canada's Tourism Sector [2003]
Choose > Research Reports, for:
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Towards Financial Performance Measures and Benchmarks for the Canadian Tourism Sector [2002]
Choose > Technical Reports, for:
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Building Tools For Better Business Decision Making [2004]
Beta Test Results of the Financial Analysis for Tourism Operators Website
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CharityVillage.com - Sources of Funding
This non-profit sector website contains links to online databases and directories of funding agencies and foundations of interest to Canadian individuals and organizations.
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Community Futures Development Corporations
This federal government program provides loans up to $150, 000 to new and existing businesses.
Visit the Community Futures Network Society of Alberta for more information and to access the listing of regional offices in the province.
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Export Development Canada [EDC]
EDC is a federal Crown corporation that operates as a Canadian financial institution. It provides financing services to support Canadian exporters and investors, and offers a range of services including Accounts Receivable Insurance for tourism operators, so that they can grow their in-bound business and increase their access to working capital.
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Learn more about the different types of financiers and methods of financing available through Industry Canada's "Strategis" website. The site includes a database of financing contacts across Canada.
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Canadian Small Business Financing Program [CBSF]
The CBSF program seeks to increase the availability of loans and capital leases for establishing, expanding, modernizing and improving small businesses. It does this by encouraging financial institutions and leasing companies to make their financing available to small businesses.
Under the program, a small business must apply for a loan or lease at a financial institution [bank, credit union or caisse populaire] or a participating leasing company of its choice. If the financial institution or the leasing company grants the loan or lease, the federal government will reimburse 85 percent of the lender or lessor's losses in the event of default.
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Performance Plus is an on-line performance benchmarking tool. It uses Small Business Profiles created from a sample of Revenue Canada tax returns for both incorporated and unincorporated businesses operating in Canada.
Performance Plus gives instant access to benchmark financial data that can help small businesses construct a business plan. This tool also helps new and established firms find out where they stand as compared to a relevant industry average. Performance Plus assists small businesses in making the best operational decisions - quickly, simply and effectively.
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Overview of the federal government services, programs and contacts available for small and medium sized businesses [SMEs] in Canada. Includes a listing of:
- legislation
- government organizations
- human resources
- management skills
- markets, tax requirements
- programs and services related to financing
- science, technology
- the information highway
For further information:
Further assistance is available through the consultative services of Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture's Tourism Business Development and Investment Unit, contact:
