This report examines the extent to which participation in the Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) impacts areas such as growth in revenue, employment, profits, salary, labour productivity, firm viability and investment in R&D. The report also compares the performance of CSBFP borrowers to the small and medium-sized population as a whole, as well as to denied borrowers.
This issue covers venture capital (VC) investment and fundraising activity in Canada during the second quarter of 2014.
This study examine the relationship between a firm's growth and profitability for the period from 2006 to 2011. Among others, the study shows that human capital is a determining factor as it plays a positive role in a firm achieving superior performance in both growth and profitability.
This analysis highlights the changes and developments in small business credit conditions between 2009 and 2013, and aims to facilitate understanding of credit-market trends for small businesses.
The Credit Conditions Survey was conducted between January and March 2014. The questions were fact-based and focused on financing sought by small enterprises (1 to 99 employees) during the 2013 calendar year.
This issue covers venture capital (VC) investment and fundraising activity in Canada during the first quarter of 2014.
Data analysis of the results, along with the data tables of the Biannual Survey of Suppliers of Business Financing, second half 2013.
This report examines the economic forces that have affected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the review period. It assesses how the BDC has responded to the changing needs of its clients and to government priorities.
This year-end issue covers venture capital (VC) activity from January 2013 to December 2013.
This paper quantifies and assesses the relationship between the business cycle, as measured by the output gap, and chartered bank loans to small, medium-sized and large businesses using aggregate data from the Bank of Canada's Banking and Financial Statistics Database combined with National Account and financial market data covering the 1988 to 2012 period.
This issue covers venture capital (VC) investment and fundraising activity in Canada during the third quarter of 2013. It also describes recent government activity in the VC market.
Fast facts
There are 1.21 million SMEs in Canada that have employees.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
98% of businesses in Canada have fewer than 100 employees.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
Between 2015 and 2019, on average, 101,324 businesses were created every year and 90,151 disappeared.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
Private sector SMEs employ over 10 million people in Canada.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
21% of SMEs operate in goods-producing industries and 79% of SMEs operate in service industries.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
SMEs were responsible for $246 billion (43%) of Canada's total value of goods exports in 2021.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
3.4% of firms with 10 employees or more were high-growth firms in 2019.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
SMEs contributed 50% of Canada's GDP in 2019.
Source: Key Small Business Statistics
12.1% of SMEs exported goods and services in 2020.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
The likelihood of exporting increases with business size.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
The primary decision maker of 47% of SMEs is between 50 and 64 years old.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
16.8% of SMEs were majority-women owned in 2020.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
25% of SMEs are operated by individuals with a bachelor's degree, while 15% are operated by individuals with a master's degree or above.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
28% of SMEs innovated between 2018 and 2020.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
16% of SMEs held intellectual property in 2020.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
82% of SMEs requested external financing in 2020.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
92% of the amount of debt financing requested by SMEs was authorized.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
2% of SMEs imported services from outside Canada.
Source: 2020 Survey on Financing and Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises