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Sample business plans and templates

Sample business plans and templates can help you develop a professional document that will serve as an in-depth marketing tool to convince others of your venture's potential for success. However, creating your own plan can be a complex process, and you may need the assistance of a professional (like an accountant) depending on the type of business you have (or want to run), and what you are seeking in terms of investment.

Business development organizations and Canadian banks have free templates, writing guides, sample plans, and even interactive tools available online. These resources allow you to walk through a plan line by line. You will get a sense of the information you might be asked to provide when you are looking for financing, for example.

While many of these online tools are free, you may choose to purchase software that will help you prepare your plans and forecasts.

Business development organizations

These organizations may provide tools to help their clients prepare professional business plans through their regional offices or via the Web.

• SBC Ontario - What is a Business Plan? Take a free online small business course about various types of business plans and how these might fit your business and intended audience.
• CBDC - Business Plan You can use this fillable business planning tool to prepare your business plan.
• BDC -  Business plan template You can create your own professional business plan with the help of the  BDC  sample plan and business plan template.
• Futurpreneur Canada - Business Plan Writer Are you ready to start your business? You can use this online tool to develop, write, and download your business plan.
• Planning for success: your guide to preparing a business and marketing plan Learn about 9 essential sections of a business plan and what to include in each one.

Canadian banks and lenders

If you approach a bank for help with financing, the bankers will want your business plan to include the specific information they need to make their decision. These requirements may vary from one bank to another, and from one type of business to another. Therefore, if you know which institution(s) you would like to speak with, it's a good idea to see what key sections they would like included.

• Bank of Montreal - Tools and tips for small business owners Find planning resources that can help you start, grow and improve your business.
• RBC Royal Bank - Starting a Business Learn about key sections of a business plan.
• Scotiabank - Business Plan Writer Access an interactive tool to help you create an effective business plan.
• National Bank - My Business Model If you are starting or growing a business, use this business model tool to help with your planning process.
• Farm Credit Canada - Business Plan Tools for Producers Get business plan information specific to farm operations and agriculture businesses.

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Business Plan Template

BDC’s free business plan template is part of a kit put together to help you define who you are, describe your business, and document how you will be profitable.

Your business plan is not only a necessity when seeking financing for your project, it is a recognized management tool that outlines exactly what your company will do and how it plans to succeed.

Related Resources

Register your business.

From the Government of BC On this page, you’ll find information on how to apply for a business name, and how to regist...

Action Strategies to Support Women’s Enterprise Development

Report by The Canadian Taskforce for Women’s Business Growth, October 2011 The Taskforce is a national, non-partisan c...

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Building a business without the burnout.

A business owner’s to-do list is never done. As your business builds momentum, it’s not an option to simply do more ...

Business Development Canada (BDC) - Business Plan Template

Business Development Canada (BDC) - Business Plan Template This is one of the best downloadable business plan templates. The business plan contains 2 sections, with a glossary and user guide.

What are BDC Small Business Loans and How Do They Work?

With a variety of specialized and purpose-driven loan options for small businesses , as well as advisory and consulting services for businesses in all stages of growth, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a popular resource for Canadian businesses.

Between BDC loans, other traditional loans like bank loans and Canada Small Business Financing Program loans, and alternative lending options like merchant cash advances , small business owners in Canada have a variety of funding options at their disposal. But when you’re busy managing your business and making sure day-to-day operations are going smoothly, it can be hard to carve out the time to determine which funding option is best for your business—not to mention the time it will take to collect the required documentation and put your application together.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at BDC loans to help you determine whether these loans are right for your small business, including:

What is the Business Development Bank of Canada?

• Types of BDC business loans
• What are BDC small business loans?
• BDC loan requirements
• BDC loan rates and fees
• How to apply for a BDC business loan

If you’re curious about other small business loan options, you can compare Canada Small Business Financing Loans to alternative lenders .

Let’s get started.

Founded in 1944, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a crown corporation that functions similarly to a traditional bank. Unlike traditional banks, however, the BDC’s principal shareholder is the Government of Canada. With less focus on generating profit for public shareholders, the BDC can concentrate more on providing financial and consulting services to businesses. Today, there are over 118 BDC business centres across Canada helping to connect small- and medium-sized business owners in all industries and at all stages of growth with capital, consulting and advisory services, and more.

The BDC is also a certified B Corporation, which are “recognized as a force for good, meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency”. With a focus on championing companies that are dedicated to creating local prosperity, strong communities, and a sustainable environment, the BDC is the first financial institution in Canada to achieve this certification, and is the B Corp movement’s National Partner in Canada.

Types of BDC Business Loans

The BDC offers several types of financing to small businesses, including small business loans, start-up financing, and more. Each type of BDC business loan works differently, with different qualification requirements, terms, and ideal uses.

We will elaborate more on BDC small business loans later in this post, but before we dig in, here is a quick overview of some of the BDC’s other popular funding options:

• Start-up Financing: For businesses with a history of at least 12 months of revenue. Can be used to buy assets, pay start-up fees, buy a franchise, create a website, hire an advisor, or as working capital. Businesses in operation for less than 12 months may be able to access funding through other BDC partners .
• Commercial Real Estate Financing: Up to 100% financing with terms up to 25 years and principal payments postponed for up to 36 months. Can be used to buy land or buildings, pay for construction of a new facility, expand or renovate existing premises, or replenish working capital depleted by real estate costs.
• Purchase Order Financing: Up to 90% financing with terms up to 18 months. Purchase order financing allows you to fulfill large orders and take on new business opportunities by accepting larger contracts and purchasing required inventory, expanding to new markets, or paying suppliers up front.
• Equipment Purchase Funding: Up to 125% financing to cover purchase costs and related expenses, with terms up to 12 years and principal payments postponed up to 24 months. Equipment purchase financing allows businesses to increase capacity by investing in new machinery or equipment, improve efficiency by using updated equipment to modernize operations, or complement line of credit funds if working capital is depleted by equipment costs.
• Business Purchase or Transfer Financing: Secure funding for a business acquisition, management buyout, family succession, or vendor take-back. You can also use this funding to acquire the land or assets of another business.
• Working Capital Funding: With terms up to 6 years and principal payments postponed up to 12 months. Use working capital funding to make investments without risking cash flow stability, complement a line of credit, launch new growth projects, or improve profitability.
• Supply Chain Support Loans: Businesses that are negatively impacted by supply chain delays and disruptions may be eligible for up to $500,000 in financing with principal payments postponed up to 12 months.
• Technology Financing: Up to 100% financing with terms up to 4 years and principal payments postponed up to 6 months. Technology financing is available to all companies, not just technology-based businesses, and can be used to purchase hardware or software, invest in new digital marketing strategies, or hire an expert to help with IT planning or online sales.
• Financing for Technology Businesses: Designed for earlier-stage scale-up or established tech businesses, this form of BDC funding can be used to develop new products, hire staff, invest in marketing, acquire another business, or expand to new markets.

The BDC also offers special financing programs for women entrepreneurs, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and Black entrepreneurs.

Now that we’ve covered the different types of BDC loans that are available to small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada, let’s take a closer look at BDC small business loans in particular.

What are BDC Small Business Loans?

BDC small business loans are traditional term loans with a maximum loan amount of $100,000.

GREENBOX TIP: If you need more than $100,000 in small business funding, one of the BDC’s other financing options may be more suitable for your business. You may also consider Canada Small Business Financing Loans or other traditional bank loans for larger loan amounts.

BDC small business loans are repaid over 60 months. Principal payments are postponed for the first six months, which means you’ll only pay interest for this period of time. Starting on the 7th month, the principal of the loan will be repaid in 60 monthly payments. Unlike some traditional bank loans, there are no penalties for early or lump-sum payments on BDC loans.

A personal guarantee is required, but personal assets are not accepted as collateral for BDC small business loans.

BDC Loan Requirements

To be eligible for BDC business loan, your business must:

• Be a Canadian business
• Be in operation and generating revenue for at least 24 months (if you’re business is in operation for less than 24 months, look at the BDC’s start-up financing options)
• Demonstrate a good credit history

Business owners must also be over the age of majority in the province or territory where they live.

You’ll need the following information about your business in order to apply:

• Complete, up-to-date business information as listed in your business registry
• Names, email addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers for your company’s president, board of directors, and shareholders. The company president, as well as all members of the board of directors and all shareholders, will have to create a Client Space account in order for the BDC to review and process your application
• Business cheque specimen

You’ll also be required to provide one piece of personal identification.

Documentation requirements for BDC business loans are more extensive than alternative lenders, but less exhaustive than Canada Small Business Financing Loans and bank loans. Before you apply, be prepared with the following documentation:

• A comprehensive business plan to show that your project is well-researched and low risk, using statistics and data to support your plan. Follow the BDC’s business plan template for the best results.
• Financial projections for the next two years, including cash flow and outlays, total income, and balance sheets.
• Investment and collateral to show that you’re making a financial contribution to the project, demonstrate your commitment, reduce the bank’s risk, and prove that you have the capacity to reinvest in the future if necessary.
• Credit history to demonstrate how you’ve handled past debt. Treatment of past debt is a clear indication of how you’ll handle future debt, and showing the BDC that you have an understanding of your past debt obligations will strengthen your application.
• Clear objectives and a firm idea of what funding you want and what you’re willing to accept, including the loan amount, expected rates, proposed repayment schedule, and when you need the funds.
• Other offers —consider all your funding options before applying.

BDC Loan Rates and Fees

BDC loan rates vary by client, but always use the following formula:

Current floating base rate + variance based on your personal and business information = BDC loan interest rate

BDC loan rates are based on prime interest rates, which are set by individual financial institutions based on the rate set by the Bank of Canada. Because BDC loan rates are based on the prime rate, businesses with BDC business loans may see their interest rates change during the course of their repayment if the Bank of Canada increases or decreases the prime rate. However, the additional variance added by the BDC, referred to as “spread-to-prime”, typically does not change over the term of the loan unless there is a change in risk for the business.

Before issuing a loan and determining your interest rate, the BDC will review your business’s history of profitability, how much profit you’re currently generating, whether your profits are trending higher or lower, and your existing debt. More profitable businesses will present less risk to the BDC, which means they will receive lower rates. Offering collateral to secure the loan may also reduce your BDC loan rates.

There are no fees to apply for a BDC small business loan, but if your application is approved and you accept the loan offer, standard BDC administration fees and an annual loan management fee of $150 will apply. If amendments are required, a $150 fee per amendment will also apply.

How To Apply for a BDC Small Business Loan

Business owners can apply for a BDC small business loan online through Client Space, the BDC’s online platform for processing loan applications, tracking application progress, and managing issued loans.

GREENBOX TIP: If you apply for a BDC small business loan, all business directors and shareholders will need to create a Client Space account in order to consent to the loan request. It’s recommended that you notify all parties before starting your application to avoid any surprises and ensure that required documentation is uploaded as quickly as possible.

Is a BDC Small Business Loan Right for Your Business?

BDC loans may be easier to acquire than other traditional funding options in Canada, such as Canada Small Business Financing Loans and bank loans. Many specialized BDC business loans are available depending on your business’s age and your goals.

If you need fast funding, alternative lenders like Greenbox Capital® offer a streamlined online application and can deposit funding in as little as 24 hours. Multiple types of funding are available depending on your business’s goals and needs, including merchant cash advances , invoice factoring , alternative business loans , lines of credit, and more. No collateral is required, making alternative lenders an ideal option for businesses that need smaller loan amounts, can’t offer collateral, have lower credit scores, or need fast funding.

Author: Jordan Fein

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The Secrets to Running a Successful Business

Fast-track your business success by watching this informative webinar hosted by Jordan Fein, CEO of Greenbox Capital.

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• Step 1: Make Sure Running a Small Business is Right for You
• Step 2: Understand Business Structures

Step 3: Develop a Business Plan

• Step 4: Secure Your Financing
• Step 5: Choose a Business Name and Have it Approved
• Step 6: Register Your Business
• Step 7: Secure Your Online Presence
• Step 8: Register for Provincial Sales Tax (PST)
• Step 9: Register for Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• Step 10: Complete Other Registrations
• Step 11: Investigate Additional Business Registrations and Requirements
• Step 12: Identify Permit and Licensing Requirements
• Step 13: Get Support
• Step 14: Check Out Other Useful Resources

You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Many entrepreneurs write a business plan only when they need to secure start-up financing. However, your plan is far more than a document for banks and investors to read; it’s an invaluable roadmap for launching and growing your business. With a plan, not only can you spot potential weaknesses, opportunities and threats, your plan can help you make informed decisions about your venture before you commit yourself legally or financially.

If you’re unfamiliar with business planning, start by reviewing Small Business BC’s “ how to ” guide on business planning.

To h av e someone r eview y our business plan, make an appoi n tme n t with a Business A dvisor a t Small Business BC. T hey of f er business plan r eview se r vi c es if y o u ’ r e see k ing financin g , submitting a business p r oposal or just loo k ing f or a p r o f essional assessme nt . Small Business BC also of f ers  services to review sections of your plan, such as the executive summary or the marketing plan. All information submitted to Small Business BC will be kept in total confidence and will not be distributed or communicated without first obtaining your express written consent.

Step 4: Secure Your Financing >>>

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

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Business Development Program

The Business Development Program (BDP) helps entrepreneurs launch, modernize and grow their business in Atlantic Canada.

Surrette Battery, Springhill, N.S. 

Through the BDP, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) funds new ideas so you can get them off the ground. We also help existing companies get to the next level. If you have a non-profit organization that fuels business growth, you can also access support.

Support for entrepreneurs

If you're looking to finance your next expansion or start a new business, we can help! Our repayable funding is interest-free and unsecured. You could get up to 50% of the capital you need to grow your business or launch a new one.

We also support business growth activities. You could get an interest-free contribution to cover up to 75% of the costs for:

• staff training
• efficiency studies
• marketing/trade activities
• productivity improvements
• quality assurance
• environmental management systems

Support for non-profits

ACOA helps non-profit organizations support Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We fund projects so businesses can grow, become more competitive and increase their productivity.

Your organization could receive support to help SMEs with:

• business counselling and advice
• training and specialized services
• networking opportunities
• research and development
• technology transfer

How to apply

Contact your nearest ACOA office to discuss your project and then complete and submit the  Application for financial assistance.

Contact us today!

Ready for your next move? If so, the ACOA Business Information Services can help you. We’ll connect you to the right people and programs to help you achieve your goals. Our service is personal, bilingual and free. Call us at 1-888-576-4444 and get started today!

Or contact us by email:

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (Atlantic time)

Grants and Contributions Awarded

Are you interested in businesses and organizations that received ACOA funding? Consult the Open Government Portal and search by keyword “BDP" or ”Business Development Program”.

Business impact stories

After a lifetime of chronic skin issues caused by synthetic ingredients, The Soap Company founder and CEO Leigh McFarlane has created simple, gluten-free, nut-free products that are either unscented or scented with only essential oils.

In 2012, Nicola Mason and Adam Clawson incorporated Red Rover Craft Cider – and broke new ground in New Brunswick. Until they opened their company in Fredericton, there were no cider-makers in the province and no local cider on liquor store shelves.

For Sylvia MacVey, President and CEO of G.E. Barbour , located in Sussex, New Brunswick, there has never been a better time to be a woman entrepreneur.

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Rebates rise as carbon price increases to $80 per tonne

Starting today, a litre of gasoline will cost an extra 3.3 cents.

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The federal carbon tax and its associated rebates rise today as the national price on carbon emissions increases from $65 per tonne to $80.

While the national carbon price applies across the country, not everyone pays the federal carbon tax and receives money back.

Carbon pricing works differently in Quebec, the three territories and British Columbia — residents don't receive federal rebates. The remaining provinces are subject to the federal government's carbon tax or fuel levy, and families or residents receive rebates from Ottawa.

Canada also has a mix of federal, provincial and territorial carbon pricing systems for industrial emitters.

• Premiers Higgs, Smith call on MPs to abandon carbon pricing program
• Analysis The current carbon tax debate is important — it's just not serious
• Industrial carbon pricing has three times the impact on emissions as consumer carbon tax: report

Starting today, the federal carbon tax increase will cost drivers an extra 3.3 cents per litre at the pump. Since Ottawa's fuel levy was introduced in 2019, the carbon tax has added 17.6 cents to the cost of a litre of gasoline. The levies for other fuels can be found online .

The rebates — recently rebranded as the Canadian Carbon Rebate — also have increased along with the carbon price, says Finance Canada. To receive the rebate, you need to file an income tax return. The rebate arrives through direct deposit in your bank account or through a cheque in the mail.

The payments come every three months; the next one is scheduled to arrive as early as April 15.

Here are the amounts a single adult person can expect to receive quarterly:

• $225 in Alberta.
• $150 in Manitoba.
• $140 in Ontario.
• $188 in Saskatchewan.
• $95 in New Brunswick.
• $103 in Nova Scotia.
• $110 in Prince Edward Island.
• $149 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Here are the amounts a family of four can expect to receive quarterly:

• $450 in Alberta.
• $300 in Manitoba.
• $280 in Ontario.
• $376 in Saskatchewan.
• $190 in New Brunswick.
• $206 in Nova Scotia.
• $220 in Prince Edward Island.
• $298 in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rural residents get a 10 per cent top-up on their rebates because they tend to drive more and consume more fuel. That rural top-up will double once a bill now before Parliament becomes law.

Nova Scotia, P.E.I, and Newfoundland and Labrador, however, will see their rebates decrease after Ottawa exempted home heating oil from the carbon tax. In October,  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced  the government will pause for three years the carbon pricing scheme on home heating oil in the provinces and territories where the carbon levy applies.

While New Brunswick is not seeing a drop in rebate amounts, other Atlantic provinces are because Ottawa is collecting less money from these provinces that tend to be more reliant on furnace oil than other parts of the country. 

All the money that's directly collected by the federal carbon pricing system, the federal government said, is returned to the province or territory where it's collected. About 90 per of the federal carbon tax goes towards rebates. The remainder goes to Indigenous communities, farmers and businesses.

National carbon pricing, a core federal Liberal climate policy, faces mounting opposition. Before Monday's rise, the opposition Conservatives and at least seven premiers called on the government to halt the increase. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if he forms government he will "axe the tax," because of the financial hardship the rising carbon price places on families and businesses. 

It's unclear if a future federal Conservative government would also get rid of carbon pricing for industrial emitters. Poilievre has not detailed how his proposal to use "technology not taxes" would ensure Canada achieves its emissions reduction targets.

The federal government says eight out of 10 families receive more in rebates than they pay under the carbon tax. The total amounts also can be found online .

A fiscal analysis by the independent parliamentary budget officer backs Ottawa's claim. The budget watchdog's often-cited report found wealthy families will lose money when the carbon price reaches its highest level in 2030-31 at $170 per tonne. Lower and middle-income families will make money from the rebates, said the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).

Carbon tax crash course: How it works and what it will cost you

The PBO also concluded in a separate economic analysis that at $170 per tonne, the federal carbon tax will cut jobs and profits in the transport and oil and gas sectors. This means workers in the oilpatch could lose their jobs and Canadians who hold shares in oil companies like Suncor or Cenovus could see lower investment returns.

"When both fiscal and economic impacts of the federal fuel charge are considered, we estimate that most households will see a net loss," said the Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux. "Based on our analysis, most households will pay more in fuel charges and GST—as well as receiving slightly lower incomes—than they will receive in (rebates)."

Are emissions falling because of the carbon tax?

After several years of the national carbon price. Environment and Climate Change Canada said its modelling shows Canada's emissions would have been higher without carbon pricing.

The federal department said that in the latest year for emissions data (2021), emissions "would have been approximately 18 megatonnes higher in the absence of Canada's carbon pricing plan." That figure is almost equivalent to the annual emissions of Manitoba.

"Changing the energy system in an economy is a lot like sort of steering a cargo ship. It does take time," said Sara Hastings-Simon, an associate professor at the University of Calgary's faculty of science who studies carbon pricing and energy transitions.

• Furey asks Trudeau to halt carbon tax increase, citing few options for consumers in N.L.
• Premier David Eby mocks Pierre Poilievre's letter asking B.C. to join carbon tax fight
• Trudeau calls out 'short-term thinker' politicians as some premiers urge him to drop carbon price hike

"So we are just starting to see those, the results of those efforts and that ... if we can continue on that path, if we continue to have the suite of climate policies that we have in place, we will continue to see those emissions starting to fall from where they would have been and actually fall in an absolute sense."

The federal government has said that the price on carbon, including consumer and industrial carbon pricing, is expected to account for roughly one-third of Canada's emissions reductions.

Independent analysis from the Canadian Climate Institute, released in March, shows that the current suite of federal government climate policies is set to significantly reduce Canada's emissions.

The report found that carbon pricing — both the consumer and industrial versions — is projected to reduce emissions by as much as 50 per cent by 2030.

The report shows the pricing policy for large emitters accounts for most of the projected emissions cuts — driving three times the emissions reductions attributed to the consumer carbon price.

Parliamentary budget officer says carbon tax 'least disruptive' way to reduce emissions

The institute's report says industrial carbon pricing is projected to contribute "between 23 and 39 per cent (or 53 to 90 megatonnes) of avoided emissions from all policies implemented to date."

The report says the consumer carbon price accounts for between 8 and 9 per cent (or 19 to 22 megatonnes) of projected emissions reductions.

The Canadian Climate Institute conducts climate change policy research. It describes itself as a non-partisan and independent institute that receives financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and other private donors including the Ivey Foundation, Scotiabank and Loblaws. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior reporter, Parliamentary Correspondent

David Thurton is a senior reporter in CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. He covers daily politics in the nation’s capital and specializes in environment and energy policy. Born in Canada but raised in Trinidad and Tobago, he’s moved around more times than he can count. He’s worked for CBC in several provinces and territories, including Alberta and the Northwest Territories. He can be reached at [email protected]

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