With your business plan in hand, and your business set up legally, you can start looking for financing. These links can help you get started:

• Read BDC's Start-up financing sources article, or check out this article on Demystifying your banker for an idea of what bankers look for and how to increase your chances of getting a loan.
• Look into BDC's financing package designed especially for new businesses.
• For an all-in-one site on financing your business, try Canada Business' Grants and finances.

The most common sources include:

• Financial Institutions - loans from your current bank or other institution. You don't have to restrict yourself to only one source - in fact, it can be to your advantage to diversify.
• Personal investment - cash or assets that you invest yourself (normally a condition to obtaining a loan).
• "Love money"- loans from family or friends, to be paid back when your business is profitable.
• Investors - most investors look for knowledge-based businesses with high growth and profit potential; investors include venture capitalists such as BDC and angels. Read a venture capital success story.
• Government grants/subsidies - look into these, although be aware that most have very specific eligibility requirements.

Tips:

• It pays to compare what different banks offer, but be sure to look at the whole package (collateral required, conditions, repayment schedules), not just the interest rate.
• Want to know how banks make their decisions? Check out BDC's article Demystify your banker.
• You may want to check out your personal credit situation according to Equifax or Dun & Bradstreet.