Small Businesses

A Select Offer for Small Businesses in All Regions

Ensuring that small businesses have access to the financing required for their growth has always been one of the Caisse’s priorities. These companies are an important component of economic activity and reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that exists throughout Québec.

Since 2003, the Caisse has relied on its partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to enhance its financing offer for small businesses. Not only do these companies benefit from a larger pool of capital, but they also profit from the two institutions’ complementary expertise and have easier access to specialists who are in a position to advise them, given BDC’s network of 24 branches in Québec and 70 elsewhere in Canada.

AVERAGE $1 MILLION LOANS
The partnership with BDC led to the creation of AlterInvest, a Canada-wide fund which invests in SMEs mainly in the form of subordinated loans. Each company can benefit from financing from $250,000 to $10 million, with the average being $1 million. It only takes 20 to 30 days to process an application. Businesses from virtually all sectors are eligible, with the exception of real estate and financial services.

STRATEGIC SUPPORT FOR OVER 300 BUSINESSES
To date, the partnership with BDC has resulted in investments in over 300 companies, which represents a total of more than $250 million.