Small Business Financing

[SeeGeeWhy]

I was wondering if anyone close to financing small businesses (owners/accountants/advisors/etc) have had any experience with government loans.

AFSC is the only semi-government body I've borrowed from before. And of course there is BDC, which I am working on again, but has anyone dealt with any other initiatives including the Western Economic Development fund? I'm curious about what else is out there.

Outside of some accelerated amortization schedules on certain equipment, were there any other funds established in the last Federal/Provincial budgets that targets assisting small businesses?

Cheers

[Sliver]

Not sure, OP. I own a small business as well - hopefully somebody will chime in with a way for us to get a whole bunch of free money through grants, etc.

[red sky]

Have you tried the Dragons?

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by red sky

Have you tried the Dragons?

They buy equity (shares in the business), which is usually much more expensive than mezzanine (subordinated) debt. I am looking to raise some debt, so the Dragons would be out for me.

Government loans are usually more competitive from the standpoint that they are less restrictive in their loan coventants and will charge a bit less than what a private investor would require.