As a small business owner in Canada you may already be aware that the Canadian government provides funding to small business owners across the country? If not, applying to government funding programs may be the next step you take for your own small business.

Follow the below guide for applying to government funding options to ensure a greater chance of success and getting your business funded via government funding monies.

While the below guidelines are tips and tricks which will help you with your funding application, keep in mind not everybody gets funding; and much of the time those who are denied funding are often denied because of simple application mistakes.

Let’s review the below points in this guide to ensure your funding success.

The Guide for Applying to Government Funding [For Business]

Government funding programs aren’t very easy to access if you’re just a small business owner poking around.

Sure the government has an excellent website, but many people are simply left confused by the wealth of information, the amount of funding sources and the time it takes to dig through the important stuff to figure out how to actually be applying to government funding programs offered.

Since each and every single funding program is different and is offered via different levels of the government by various funding agencies, the criteria and qualifications differ from program to program. This makes it extremely hard, unless you have the time in the world to do it slowly, carefully and perfectly.

Which is why many small business startups seek help applying to government funding programs via our Funding Database right here at CanadaStartups.org

Assuming you already know which funding program you must apply to, let’s take this to the next level.

💡TIP: Start applying to government funding programs EARLY

Applying to Government Funding Programs

When deciding to start applying to government funding programs, it’s important to remember one of the main rules, reading and understanding the funding program rules.

At any time you look at the funding program you want to apply to, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions:

Who does this government program fund?

While a funding program exists and may have a ton of money to share with entrepreneurs, it doesn’t mean the funds are available to everyone.

As each funding agency is created differently, the funding process and applying to to government funding programs differs as well.

A program may provide funding only to women, or only to students, or new immigrants, or new startups, or maybe just those in the tech industry, or the farming sector, or maybe they provide funding for only those within a certain city or province.

Funding depends on a number of factors and these are critical to know and understand before you begin the application process.

What is the purpose one may get the funds for?

Much like the “who does this government funding program fund” question, the various funding agencies may only provide funding for specific types of needs that business owners have.

Certain funding programs provide government funding only for hiring and training staff, while some offer support to startup and expand, or to pay for tools and equipment..etc; not all are equal and this is important to know before you send in your application hoping for the best.

Simply applying to government funding programs isn’t good enough – especially if you’re applying to the wrong place with the wrong information in mind.

Advice for when you apply for funding programs

One of the biggest mistakes when applying to government funding programs is assuming that as long as you apply you are good.

There are certain things that you must understand when applying for the funding:

• Your application will be reviewed by a person and not a computer
• The application is not guaranteed to be reviewed and acted upon
• Following direction by the funding agency you’re applying to is a must
• Applying without a business plan is a big no no
• Don’t assume the reader knows your business, your industry or your funding  needs
• Ensure you don’t send in the application and just sit around and wait (act on it)

Your Small Business Government Funding Application

When applying to government funding agencies be sure to understand that an actual person (a person working for the funding agency) will be reviewing your business funding application. While it may seem like a robot will be looking at it, chances are very slim that a robot will determine your eligibility for funds.

Knowing that a real person reviews your application is a good thing. This means that you’re able to work a bit harder in making your application more noticeable.

Remember your application is likely to land on their desk with a 100 other application just like yours. But your story is the best – this is the story of your business; be sure to sell this.

Usually government funding agencies ask that funding applications are black and white, filled in properly, all information clearly legible…bla bla bla, this makes them all look and feel the same. The only difference is your business plan being attached – this gives you a bit more room to spark and to truly show your plan and get that person who stamps approved or denied to notice you.

Tip: Nobody every said that you can’t attach a nice business card to the front of your application!

Following Direction When Applying To Government Funding

You have one job when applying to the government funding agencies – follow direction.

Fill out the forms, ensure you meet the criteria, attach your business plan (which is a must 99% of the time), ensure you specify what  you need funding for, how much you need, when you need it by and explain yourself.

The rest is all about timing and chance. Will that person pick up your application versus somebody else to get the funding.

Don’t Assume When Applying For Funding

Assuming anything in business isn’t a good strategy.

The same applies when applying to government funding programs. Don’t assume that the reader of your business plan and the funding application will know your industry, your business, your funding needs or the terms specific to your industry or business that you use.

Instead, explain, describe, show as much as you can and get the reader familiar.

Our experts here at Canada Startups, when reviewing a business plan for our members go in detail and ensure that each business plan clearly explains each and every little point. The last thing you want is the reader of the plan (the person making the decision at the funding agency), to stop, think and say I don’t get it..

Don’t just set and forget the application

When applying to government funding agencies a lot of small business owners thing that it’s just as easy as filling out the form, attaching the business plan and sending it in.

While that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do, in our experience those individuals/business owners who follow up on their application multiple times end up getting more of the funding then those who simply send in the application and wait.

It’s not a strategy or a secret, but like with anything – it’s always good to follow up.

A simple phone call to the funding agency or to the individual in charge of the applications (just to ensure they’ve received the information) is a good idea. You never know, you may get lucky this way and have the person follow up and sort though the apps to get yours to the top.

The Application Process

Depending on the application you’re completing or the funding agency you’re applying to, the application process may be different. Generally speaking, the application processes in most cases follow the same or similar patterns which include the following applications steps:

1. Complete the entire application and read all of the attachments (sometimes there may be multiple applications)\

2. You may need to call in, mail out or register online to pre-register for the funding.

3. Submit your application and appropriate (asked for) documentation (in  manner that is asked for by the agency)

4. In certain cases, you may be asked additional questions which often are more important then the application process itself

5. Follow up 7 days after application submit; 14 days and few days prior to deadline and confirm stage.

Applying to government funding programs is important for a small business owner to do right. Especially if that application and the success of the application can mean the difference between getting funding and not – or success and failure of the business.

Following this application guide will give you as the applicant some ideas of what to do and how to do it.

If you don’t know which funding programs available via the Canadian government are right for you and your small business, the Funding Database here can really help you narrow down your search.

A business plan is always a critical document needed when starting up, expanding a business or searching for funding. If you have one, our experts here at Canada Startups area available to review your business plan, be sure to ask for it. But if you don’t have one, the Business Plan Builder Tool is an amazing tool to help you develop your plan.

Lastly, when applying to government funding programs, mistakes can happen at any time (even for those who know what they’re doing), which is why our experts help review your funding applications before you send them out.  So before you move any further ahead, start your membership with Canada Startups now and get to building your business.