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Find BC start-up programs you may qualify for
A few quick questions. Free. No sign-up. Your answers stay on your phone.
Your answers stay on your phone. We don’t save them.
Your list
You may qualify for 0 programs.
Each program decides for itself. This list is where to start asking.
This is a guide, not advice. Each program sets its own rules and makes its own choice. Prontco is not part of any government program. Rules change, so check the program's site.
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How BC start-up programs actually work
Most people hope for free money to start. For a new trade business in Metro Vancouver, it almost never exists. What does exist comes in three kinds.
Almost every program asks for the same thing first: a short business plan with a cash-flow forecast. Each one decides who gets in. Nobody else can decide for them, us included.
The programs at a glance
| Program | Kind | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| WorkBC Self-Employment Services | Free training | Not selling yet, under 20 hours of work a week, with an EI link or a disability that affects work |
| YMCA Self-Employment for Newcomers | Free training | In Canada under 10 years, 19 or older |
| Futurpreneur (with BDC) | Loan | Ages 18 to 39, citizen or PR, new business |
| Futurpreneur Newcomer | Loan | Ages 18 to 39, in Canada under 5 years |
| WeBC Loans for Women | Loan | Woman-owned businesses, 51% or more |
| WEOC National Loan Fund | Loan | Woman-owned businesses, through WeBC |
| Vancity start-up loans | Loan | Metro Vancouver, often after a program above |
| Vancity Indigenous Entrepreneur | Loan | Indigenous-owned, Metro Vancouver |
| TACC (First Citizens Fund) | Loan | Indigenous people in BC |
| Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund | Loan | Black-owned businesses. Check it is open first. |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Loan | Most registered small businesses. The bank decides. |
| Small Business BC | Advice | Everyone in BC |
Checked on each program’s own site on 3 October 2026. Rules change, so read the official page before you apply.
Questions people ask
Is there free money to start a trade business in BC?
Almost never for a new trade business. What exists is free training, loans for certain groups, and free advice. Be careful of any site that says otherwise.
I am on EI. Can I start a business and keep it?
Maybe, through WorkBC Self-Employment Services. But WorkBC has to say yes first. If you advertise, take jobs or earn before that, you can lose your place. Talk to a WorkBC centre before you do anything public.
What do these programs ask for?
Most want a short business plan and a cash-flow forecast. Loans also check your credit. Small Business BC and WeBC can help you write the plan for free.
Do you save my answers?
No. The check runs on your phone. If you ask us to email the list, we keep your name, your email, your trade and city, and the names of the programs on it. Nothing else.
Does Prontco decide who gets in?
No. Prontco is not part of any government program. Each program sets its own rules and makes its own choice.
Who is this check for?
People starting, or just started, a local service business in BC: cleaning, painting, landscaping, handyman, HVAC and other trades. Most programs here are open across BC; a few are for Metro Vancouver only.
What Prontco does
Prontco builds local service businesses. We register the business, get the city licence, build the brand and website, and set up online booking and payments. It is about 10 business days of build work. BC Registries and city approval times are set by them, not by us.
Launch Free is $0 to build, then $397/mo with a 6-month minimum. Cancel before six months and the $997 build fee applies.
+ applicable government registration & licensing fees, billed at cost — we quote your exact figure before filing.
On EI and looking at WorkBC? Wait for their yes before you launch anything public. Book a call and we can talk through what is safe to do now.