One starting point. Want to start a business in Quebec? The government lists financial support for businesses, self-employed workers, co-ops and non-profit organizations in a single official search tool (available in French only). It lists over 240 aids — 244 as of mid-August 2026 — from start-up funding to sector programs. Use this gateway first, before looking anywhere else.
How to filter. The tool sorts by type of support: grants or contributions (207 results), wage subsidies or trainee subsidies (18), loans or loan guarantees (10), scholarships (5), allowances (6), advice and mentoring (13). You can also filter by business sector (for example "community support": 46 results) and by administrative region. One category concerns you directly: "start-up support", which groups 11 programs for creating your business. Each entry lists the responsible agency, the conditions and the steps to follow.
Grant or loan? That's the first question to settle. A grant is money you don't repay, but it almost always comes with specific conditions (creating jobs, investing in a region, training staff). A loan or loan guarantee must be repaid — but it can unlock financing no bank would give you alone. A scholarship funds training or a specific project. The tool shows all of this side by side: compare before you apply.
Free guidance first. You don't have to navigate 244 entries alone. The Government of Quebec provides the Réseau accès PME (French only): an advisor in your region points you to the organizations, programs and tools suited to your project — at no cost. Start with one call: it will save you weeks.
If you come from immigration. Specialized support exists for groups under-represented in entrepreneurship, per the Government of Quebec (page in French only). The organization Entreprendre ici guides and connects business people from immigrant backgrounds with Quebec's entrepreneurial ecosystem. For those with little or no access to conventional financing, the MicroEntreprendre network offers entrepreneurial microcredit. Both services are free.
What to prepare. Most programs require a solid business project: a business plan, financial forecasts, and often a registered structure — an entry in the Quebec enterprise register (with its enterprise number, the NEQ). Prepare these documents before applying; the exact conditions are on each entry of the directory.
Good to know for newcomers. The financial aids and the guidance are free: be wary of paid intermediaries promising "guaranteed" grants — no program guarantees a result. Programs change and the tool is updated continuously: the figures above are from mid-August 2026, so always check the directory when you apply. For the first administrative steps, our guide to being self-employed in Quebec walks through registration step by step.
