Government programs
Programs are usually the lowest-cost money available. These guides explain who each one is for and the cash-flow timing to plan around.
✓ Checking what you qualify for does not affect your credit score.
Short answer: Federal programs include NRC IRAP for innovation, SR&ED tax credits for research, CanExport for new export markets, EDC for exporters, FCC for agriculture, Canada Summer Jobs for youth wages and seven regional development agencies. Programs are usually the lowest-cost money available but often pay after you spend, so plan for the timing gap.
Key facts
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Merchant Fund Express does not administer any government program. We publish these guides because owners ask how programs and private funding fit together. The short version: pursue programs when you qualify, plan for the time between spending and reimbursement, and use a short advance only for a defined gap that your revenue can repay.
Provinces, territories and municipalities run many more programs than the federal and regional ones summarized here, from provincial loan guarantees to municipal façade-improvement grants. Your regional development agency, Community Futures office or local economic development department can usually point you to the ones that fit your project.
Start with the program that matches your project, then read the cash-flow timing section, which is where most owners run into trouble. Programs often pay after you spend, and intake windows close. Each guide links to the official source and carries its date; always confirm current details with the program before relying on them.
Apply to programs first for anything that qualifies, because the cost is lower. Then map the cash timing: most contributions are claimed after you have paid the costs, and tax credits arrive after filing. The gap between spending and reimbursement is where a short advance can help, provided the incoming payment is documented and its timing realistic.
Reviewed by the Merchant Fund Express team on October 12, 2026. Official pages checked as of that date.
No. Contact the program or a qualified advisor.
Intake periods change. Check each program's official page.
Educational information only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice.
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