Starting & Funding a Business in Alberta – Directory of Resources & Support
Thinking about starting a business in Alberta?
This page brings together key resources to help you explore business ideas, understand the steps to get started, and find funding support from public, non-profit, and private sector organizations.
Use this hub as your starting point for launching and growing a business in Alberta!
Business Ideas for Alberta Entrepreneurs
Explore business ideas that match Alberta’s economy, industries, and market trends. These resources can help you identify opportunities and choose a business that fits your goals and the local demand.
- Major Industries in Alberta
- Best Business to Start in Alberta
- Best Business Ideas in Calgary
- Best Business Ideas in Edmonton
Starting a Business in Alberta
Learn the key steps to starting a business in Alberta, from planning and structuring your company to handling legal and financial basics. These guides walk you through what to expect.
- Alberta Small Business Guide
- How to Start a Business in Alberta
- How to Register a Business in Alberta
- How to Start a Sole Proprietorship in Alberta
- How to Incorporate in Alberta
- How To Start A Business In Calgary
- How to Start a Food Business in Calgary
- Calgary Business License
- Calgary Business Permit
- How To Start A Business In Edmonton
- Edmonton Business License
- Edmonton Business Permit
Business Funding in Alberta
Discover the types of funding available to entrepreneurs in Alberta, including grants, loans, tax credits, and investment opportunities.
Each category below links to a guide that explains where to find support and how to apply:
Grants
Find non-repayable funding options available to startups and small businesses in Alberta in our guide to Alberta business grants.
Government Loans
Loan programs supported or delivered by the Alberta government often offer lower interest rates and/or flexible terms for small businesses. Explore our guide to Alberta government business loans.
Wage Subsidies
Reduce your hiring costs in Alberta through government-supported subsidy programs. We have a guide to wage subsidies in Canada supported by the federal and provincial governments.
Tax Credits
Tax credits can lower your tax burden based on your business activities. Check out the current federal and provincial business tax credits in Canada.
Equity Investments
Many startups and high-growth businesses can obtain equity financing from incubators, private investors, or government equity investment programs. Learn more about equity financing in Canada.
Business Funding Organizations in Alberta
Browse organizations across the public, non-profit, and private sectors that provide business funding in Alberta. These links connect you directly to their funding programs and services.
(For a complete guide to the types of funding available to entrepreneurs, read our Canada Business Funding guide.)
Public Sector Funding Organizations in Alberta
Federal Government Funding Organizations
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
Community Futures Development Corporation offices
- Community Futures Northwest Alberta, High Level
- Community Futures Peace Country, Peace River
- Community Futures Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie
- Community Futures Lesser Slave Lake Region, Slave Lake
- Community Futures Yellowhead East, Whitecourt
- Community Futures Tawatinaw Region, Westlock
- Community Futures West Yellowhead, Hinton
- Community Futures Capital Region, Stony Plain
- Community Futures East Parkland, Mirror
- Community Futures Central Alberta, Red Deer
- Community Futures Centre West, Cochrane
- Community Futures Wild Rose, Strathmore
- Community Futures Big Country, Drumheller
- Community Futures Highwood, Okotoks
- Community Futures Crowsnest Pass, Blairmore
- Community Futures Alberta Southwest, Fort Macleod
- Community Futures Lethbridge Region, Lethbridge,
- Community Futures Chinook, Taber
- Community Futures Entre-Corp, Medicine Hat
- Community Futures Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray
- Community Futures Lac La Biche, Lac La Biche
- Community Futures Lakeland, Bonnyville
- Community Futures St. Paul – Smoky Lake, St. Paul
- Community Futures Elk Island Region, Vegreville
- Community Futures Lloydminster Region, Lloydminster
- Community Futures East Central Alberta, Viking
- Community Futures Treaty Seven, Calgary
Provincial Government Funding Organizations
Provincial Government Ministries
- Ministry of Jobs, Economy, and Trade (JET)
- Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
- Ministry of Technology and Innovation
- Ministry of Indigenous Relations
- Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas
- Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women
- Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women – Heritage
- Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women – Art
- Ministry of Energy and Minerals
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Tourism and Sports
Provincial Government Crown Corporations
- Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)
- Alberta Enterprise Corporation
- Alberta Foundation for the Arts
- ATB Financial
- Travel Alberta
- Alberta Investment Management Corporation
- Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation
- Alberta Innovates
Provincial Business Development Organizations
- Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance
- Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP)
- Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED)
- Northeast Alberta Information HUB (Alberta HUB)
- Peace Region Economic Development Alliance (PREDA)
Utility Company
Municipal Government Funding Organizations
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
- 124 Street and Area Business Association
- Alberta Avenue Business Association
- Beverly Business Association
- Chinatown and Area Business Association
- Downtown Business Association of Edmonton
- Fort Road Business and Community Association
- French Quarter Business Improvement Area
- Kingsway District Association
- North Edge Business Association
- Northwest Industrial Business Association
- Old Strathcona Business Association
- Stony Plain Road and Area Business Association
- The Crossroads Business Improvement Area Association
- 17th Ave Retail & Entertainment District
- 4th Street South West BIA
- Bridgeland BIA
- Calgary Downtown Association.
- Chinatown BIA
- Crescent Heights Village BIA
- Greenview Industrial BIA
- Inglewood BIA
- International Avenue BRZ
- Kensington BRZ
- Mainstreet Bowness BIA
- Marda Loop BIA
- Montgomery on the Bow B.I.A
- Victoria Park BIA
- Downtown Lethbridge BRZ
- Red Deer Business Association.
Municipal Economic Development Offices
- Calgary Economic Development
- City of Calgary Development and Building
- City of Edmonton Urban Planning and Economy
- Explore Edmonton
- City of Edmonton Business Support
Sector-Specific Municipal Organizations
- City of Calgary Climate and environment
- Arts and Culture in Calgary
- Calgary Arts Development
- City of Edmonton Environment and Climate Resilience
- Edmonton Arts Council
- Edmonton Community Foundation
- City of Edmonton Indigenous Relations Office
University-Affiliated Funding Organizations
Applied Research & Commercialization Hubs
Technology Access Centres
- Boreal Forest Plant & Seed Technology Access Centre (BFPS)
- Centre for Sensors and System Integration (CSSI)
- Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre (IATC)
- Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing – Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC)
- Green Building Technologies (GBT)
- National Bee Diagnostic Centre (NBDC)
- Technology Access Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability (TACOSS)
Non-Profit Funding Organizations in Alberta
Associations
Chambers of Commerce
Learn more about Chambers of Commerce in Alberta
Cooperative Non-Profits
- 1st Choice Savings & Credit Union Ltd
- ABCU Credit Union Ltd.
- Bow Valley Credit Union Ltd.
- Cooperative Flower Network
- Blue Fin Cooperative Group
- Big Sky Feeder Association Co-op
- Heart River Rural Electrification Association Limited
- North Peace Gas Co-operative Ltd.
- East Smoky Gas Co-op Ltd.
- TRL Gas Co-operative Ltd.
- Ste-Anne Natural Gas Co-operative Ltd.
- Alberta Co-operative Energy (ACE Energy)
- Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd.
- Solar Power Investment Co-operative of Edmonton
- Swan Valley Co-op
- Pembina West Co-op
- Sangudo Opportunity Development Co-op
- Cornerstone Co-op
- Alberta Community & Co-operative Association
- Wayfinders Business Cooperative
- Blooming Ladies™ Multi-Stakeholder Co-operative
- SABRE Cooperative (Renewable Energy)
- Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
Financing Non-Profits
Foundations
Incubators
Networks
- Calgary Innovation Coalition
- Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network
- Edmonton Regional Innovation Network
- East Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network
- Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network
- Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network
- APEX: Southeast Alberta Regional Innovation Network
- Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta
Private Sector Funding Organizations in Alberta
Accelerators
- Platform Calgary
- Edmonton Unlimited
- Health Cities
- NABI
- Fuse42 SDG Accelerator
- M-Tech Innovations
- Avatar Innovations
- District Ventures Capital
- The 51 Ventures
- Thin Air Labs
- Innovate Calgary
- TEC Edmonton
Angel Investor Networks
Impact Investment Firms
Asset-Backed Financing Firms
Equipment Financing and Leasing Companies
- Energetic Capital Corporation
- Enviro-Plus Business Services Corporation
- Current Financial Corp
- Westana Equipment Leasing Inc.
- Win Financial Services Corp.
- Lantern Capital
- Calidon Equipment Leasing
Venture Capital Firms