With the SMB Financial program, you can obtain a loan or loan guarantee .

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligible Businesses

Your business is eligible if it is involved in one or both of the following:

• Commercial development within a new market outside Quebec.
• Increasing exports in an existing market to develop the sale of goods and services outside Quebec.

Eligible Projects

• Market development: participation in trade shows, translation and production of advertising literature, production of samples, business development visits, hiring of a representative, travel and representation fees, packaging costs, purchasing of a warehouse;
• Acquisition of a business or distribution network;
• Creation of a group of companies (consortium) for the purpose of selling goods or services outside Quebec;
• Establishing a presence in foreign markets: participation in establishing public or industrial infrastructures (construction, development, transfer) outside Quebec.

Special Requirements

Your business must have a sound financial structure, adequate management, qualified staff and a solid organization in terms of production and marketing.

FINANCING DETAILS

We can provide a loan or loan guarantee. Our loan guarantee is a repayment guarantee on the net loss of a loan granted by a financial institution.

Terms and conditions

• The minimum amount of the loan or loan guarantee provided by Investissement Québec is $50,000.
• The maximum duration of financial assistance is 10 years.
• The loan guarantee can cover up to 90% of the net loss.
• The maximum loan amount provided by the financial institution may cover up to 100% of all project-related expenditures.
• For loans directly granted by Investissement Québec, the amount provided may cover 75% of the total project costs.
• The interest rate is set by the financial institution.
• Interest is payable to the financial institution starting from the first loan disbursement.
• It is possible to defer repayment of the capital amount until after project completion.
• The usual securities are required based on the financing granted.

Working Capital for Export Businesses

Exporting businesses can receive working capital financing equal to 85% of the refundable tax credits. Click here for more information about the program.

Fees

Commitment and guarantee fees depend on the nature of the project. To find out more about the cost of financing your project, talk to an Investissement Québec advisor.

PROCEDURE

Step 1

Contact an Investissement Québec advisor, who will answer your questions and recommend the product that best suits your needs.

Step 2

The advisor will help you draw up a list of the information you must provide: business plan, nature of the project, financing sought, planned expenses, marketing plan, guarantees, etc.

Step 3

For loan guarantees, submit your application to the financial institution of your choice. The institution will consult us to review your file; we will then contact you. For direct loans, submit your application to an Investissement Québec advisor.

April 2009