Microcrédit Montréal

3D Printing in Montréal: The Journey of Ethienne Racine, Founder of UCrea

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:16:41 +0000

Based in Montréal, UCrea is a company specializing in 3D printing that, through unique technology developed in-house, makes this innovation accessible to both businesses and individuals. Here is a look at the journey of its founder, Ethienne Racine, and the development of his company, supported by microcredit.

Ethienne Racine | UCrea

3D Printing in Montréal: The Journey of Ethienne Racine, Founder of UCrea

When Technology Serves Creation

It all started at age 18, on the eve of his entry into a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Ethienne built his first 3D printer from an open-source design he found online. This initiative quickly led him to sell replicas to people in his circle, and later to offer design training for 3D printing. This first leap into entrepreneurship says a lot about his nature, someone who doesn’t wait to have the resources to get started but creates them instead.

Entrepreneurship came into his life naturally, long before he gave it an official name. It was in his final year of university that he founded UCrea, in 2018, with the ambition of making 3D printing accessible to both businesses and individuals.

“I love people, I love helping people create. I love making things,” he explains.

3D Printing in Montréal, One Piece at a Time

What sets UCrea apart from its competitors lies at the very heart of its machines. By designing and building his own 3D printers, Ethienne frees himself from any dependence on external suppliers. No supply delays, no waiting on parts; he controls the entire process. “I don’t have to wait for components because I’m the one who designed them and I’m the one who makes the parts,” he adds.

This technological autonomy translates directly into lower production costs and competitive pricing for his clients, an advantage that benefits all of his customers, whether an engineering firm in need of additional manufacturing capacity or an artist looking to give shape to a bold artwork. Among his most notable projects is a large structure created for Anahita Norouzi, an Iranian-Québécois artist, which was exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada.

Financing a Transition with the Support of Microcredit

As with many entrepreneurs, UCrea’s growth involved relocating. When Ethienne had to leave his shared space and move into a space entirely his own, with walls to build, a ventilation system to install, and a client entrance to set up, costs quickly added up. That’s when he turned to Microcredit Montréal for financial support.

Thanks to this funding, Ethienne was able to set up his space in a short time, create a reception area separate from his production workshop, and even customize the corridor leading to his unit with signage entirely 3D printed. A first impression that reflects exactly what UCrea does: transforming raw materials into something precise and intentional. “It allowed me to transition quickly and have the space set up within a month and a half.”

The support from Microcredit Montréal didn’t stop at financing. A connection with a mentor entrepreneur was also arranged, opening the door to valuable exchanges about the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Toward Limitless Production

Today, UCrea’s clientele is diversifying. Ethienne sees this as an opportunity to develop the business-to-business side, while continuing to serve the individuals who rely on his expertise. He is also working to automate his printing farm so that it runs at all times without manual intervention. Since he designed his own machines, this automation is entirely within his reach. The person who built his first printer at 18 has never stopped innovating. And clearly, he has no plans to stop anytime soon!

Microcredit Montréal supports entrepreneurs who are excluded from traditional financing through loans and personalized guidance. As in the case of UCrea, this support makes it possible to bring projects to life, structure growth, and strengthen local economic impact.

Do you have a business project and are looking for financing?

Discover our microcredit solutions and personalised support.

UCrea

ucrea.ca

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Corentin, founder of Néosport

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:09:28 +0000

A sports educator by training and an entrepreneur at heart, Corentin Gendry founded Néosport in France in 2016 with the mission of bringing together innovative and emerging sports to make them accessible to everyone. Since November 2023, he has been developing Néosport Canada in Montréal, while also championing a project that is particularly close to his heart, Volcage, a sport he invented himself.

Corentin Gendry | Néosport

Corentin, Founder of Néosport: From Paris to Montréal, building a sports company that brings people together

It all began in the suburbs of Paris, where Corentin worked as a sports educator in schools while developing Néosport on the side. The idea was simple but powerful: bringing together lesser-known sports under one roof, like kin-ball, spikeball, and Pétéca, disciplines that put everyone on an equal footing since nobody knows them at the start. The company quickly grew and established itself in about ten Parisian schools, supported by a team of five.

After nine years in Paris, a desire for change and a strong belief in the potential of the Montréal market led Corentin to cross the Atlantic.

“Montréalers are much more eager to discover new sports. I sensed a real potential for the company here.”

Arriving in November 2023, he started from scratch, but with the experience and structure of Néosport France to draw on.

Volcage, a sport designed to be played anywhere and by everyone

Alongside Néosport, Corentin is driving an even more personal project. During the pandemic, he embarked on an unprecedented adventure and decided to create an entirely new sport. An overturned stool, a ring, a few friends in a field, and Volcage was born. Since that original version, the sport has gone through no fewer than seven iterations, resulting today in lightweight, portable equipment distributed throughout Europe and Canada.

Corentin sees Volcage as far more than a spin-off of Néosport. Ultimately, he hopes to make it an independent entity and dreams of dedicating himself fully to developing the sport in Canada, even envisioning the creation of a league and a Canadian championship.

Financing a business launch in Montréal through microcredit

Upon arriving in Montréal, Corentin wanted Néosport Canada to be financially self-sufficient, without depending on the French subsidiary. But like many immigrant entrepreneurs, he quickly ran into a wall. His temporary resident status closed the door to many conventional loans. That is how he discovered Microcredit Montréal, which offers financing tailored to start-up entrepreneurs, including those whose immigration status limits their access to traditional financial institutions.

The loan he received allowed him to purchase the equipment needed to launch his activities here, both for Néosport and for promoting Volcage in schools and at events. “It allowed me to buy equipment and get started here without being 100% dependent on France.” Beyond the financing, Microcredit Montréal also connected him with specialized volunteer coaches who supported him in developing Volcage, particularly around distribution, pricing, and marketing strategy.

Corentin also benefited from additional support by joining the Mont X incubator, located in Mont-Tremblant, dedicated entirely to businesses in sport, outdoor recreation, and wellness. Together, these two resources gave him the tools and connections needed to build a solid foundation and support the growth of his business in Montréal and beyond.

Entrepreneurial projects that cross borders

Today, Néosport Canada is developing partnerships with schools and businesses, including Montréal International, and is working with the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) to integrate its sports into after-school programming.

His vision for the future is clear and structured in two stages. First, consolidate Néosport Canada with a small team, modelled after the one he built in France. Then, launch Volcage as an independent entity with its own structure.

For Corentin, Montréal is not just a new city to start over in. It is the ideal ground for growing two complementary projects that share the same conviction: that sport, when it is innovative and accessible, has the power to bring people together.

Microcredit Montréal supports entrepreneurs who are excluded from traditional financing through loans and personalized guidance. As in the case of Néosport Canada, this support makes it possible to bring projects to life, structure growth, and strengthen local economic impact.

Do you have a business project and are looking for financing?

Discover our microcredit solutions and personalised support.

Néosport

neosport.org | contact@neosport.org | Facebook | Instagram

Volcage

volcage.com | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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Marilyn, Founder of Atelier Champagne

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:41:51 +0000

Marilyn Champagne is the founder of Atelier Champagne, a company specializing in handcrafted tiles, installations, and original ceramic pieces. With a background in graphic design, visual arts, and photography, she has built a unique business offering high-quality, handmade pieces from her studio in the Rosemont neighbourhood of Montréal.

Marilyn Champagne | Atelier Champagne

Marilyn Champagne, Founder of Atelier Champagne: Artisan Ceramics and Entrepreneurship

Marilyn’s path to ceramics was anything but straightforward. A graphic designer by training with a major in photography from Concordia University, she had no particular plan to become a professional ceramicist. It was during her recovery from cancer surgery that she signed up for a pottery class, simply to start moving again. While the first session didn’t particularly excite her, the second changed everything.

“In that second session, I really loved the feeling of being surrounded by the material,” she recalls.

She decided to set aside her photography degree to explore ceramics, following an intuition that proved to be right.

From a First Entrepreneurial Experience to a Well-Rooted Project

Marilyn’s first entrepreneurial venture, Champagne Céramique, started with her alone at the helm, selling functional ceramic objects in shops. The pandemic unexpectedly accelerated its growth, generating demand well beyond her expectations. That formative experience familiarized her with the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and paved the way for a second venture with even stronger foundations.

Atelier Champagne was born in January 2023, driven by a clear vision and solid preparation. Marilyn stepped away from functional pieces to focus on decorative wall installations, handmade tiles, and artisan lettering. She enrolled in the Soutien au travail autonome (STA) program, which provided her with a salary allowance that allowed her to devote herself fully to her business. “Without that, I don’t think it would have been possible,” she says.

Today, she runs her studio full-time in a commercial space shared with another professional ceramicist. She also has one or two employees, a far cry from the solo operation she launched a few years earlier.

Microcredit as a Lever for Young Businesses

When looking for financing for Atelier Champagne, Marilyn found herself in a situation many entrepreneurs face, being ineligible for traditional bank loans. Referred to PME MTL, she didn’t qualify there either, as her business was too young. That’s how she discovered Microcredit Montréal.

Microcredit Montréal supported her twice with financing tailored to key needs for ensuring the sustainability of her business. At the same time, her advisor worked closely with her to help her understand her financial statements and projections. This support provided her with concrete guidelines to better manage her business and move forward with greater clarity in its development.

“They don’t just offer financing. There is genuine support, mentorship, and a sincere commitment to your success that you simply don’t find at a bank. Their approach is deeply human,” she explains.

Atelier Champagne Today: Stability, Growth, and New Creative Horizons

In 2026, the momentum is very much alive. Sales are up, the team is running smoothly, and Marilyn anticipates demand with an ease that reflects the maturity of her business. With operations well under control, she has more room than ever to create. She is currently working on a new line of handmade creations she hopes to unveil over the coming year.

For Marilyn, entrepreneurship has always been a continuous learning journey, one she embraces with the same curiosity that led her to a pottery class during a difficult moment in her life. With the support of Microcredit Montréal, she is building something lasting, a business as intentional and distinctive as the pieces she creates.

Microcredit Montréal supports entrepreneurs excluded from traditional financing through loans and personalized guidance. As in the case of Atelier Champagne, this support helps bring projects to life, structure growth, and strengthen local economic impact.

Do you have a business project and are looking for financing?

Discover our microcredit solutions and personalised support.

Atelier Champagne

atelierchampagne.ca

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Christopher Kelly, owner of Cernunnos Farms

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:02:47 +0000

Christopher Kelly is the founder of Cernunnos Farms, a beeswax candle company dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable practices. Each candle is made from 100% natural, locally sourced beeswax, and the company offers a wide range of unique designs.

Christopher Kelly | Cernunnos Farms

Christopher Kelly, owner of Cernunnos Farms: Pushing the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship

After more than thirty years working at the intersection of creativity and technical ingenuity in the entertainment industry, Chris chose to venture into entrepreneurship. He channelled all of that experience toward a pursuit that was both unexpected and deeply rooted in his background, the artisanal crafting of beeswax candles. Today, Cernunnos Farms ships its handcrafted creations across Canada and internationally, and Chris credits part of that success to the support of Microcredit Montréal.

His entrepreneurial journey didn’t begin with candles. While pursuing an agritourism project, a lavender farm outside Ottawa where beeswax candles would serve as a complementary product alongside lavender and honey, Chris discovered something unexpected. The candles were taking on a life of their own, and their growing popularity made the path forward clear. He pivoted to make them the heart of his business.

An entrepreneurial path beyond the original vision

What began at a small farmers’ market in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, gradually grew. Customers kept coming back, requests for new points of sale multiplied, and the side project slowly became the main business.

“As is often the case, you start with a plan and end up somewhere else. Part of the beauty of entrepreneurship is recognising that you haven’t gone off course — the train is moving powerfully in a direction, and you need to be able to adapt and follow that momentum,” he explains.

Growing a Montréal business through innovative practices

Building Cernunnos Farms required an uncommon range of skills from Chris. Each candle begins as a 3D-printed prototype, which he then transforms into a mould, allowing him to explore unconventional shapes. He also developed his own natural dyeing process and built much of his production equipment himself when commercial solutions were out of reach. This combination of creativity and mechanical skill has allowed him to develop candles that truly stand out in a crowded market. He was also recently accepted as the only candle maker within the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec, a recognition that speaks to the originality of his work.

Financing a micro-enterprise with microcredit

When Chris began looking for financing, he quickly ran into a familiar obstacle for start-up entrepreneurs. Traditional small business loans were largely out of reach, as his business fell into a category that conventional financing simply doesn’t serve. That’s when he discovered Microcredit Montréal.

“I realised I wasn’t a small business — I was a micro-enterprise. And I thought, what I need is microcredit.”

He received a $5,000 three-year loan from Microcredit Montréal, which allowed him to build a solid foundation for thoughtful growth. Beyond the initial financing, his adviser also supported him through the process of becoming a recognised artisan with the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec. “That first $5,000 really gave me the momentum I needed to gain greater recognition for the business.” Chris also received financial support from the Canadian organisation Rise, whose mission is to help people facing mental health and addiction challenges become entrepreneurs.

Today, Cernunnos Farms is present at Montréal’s major artisan markets and ships its products to customers across North America, as well as to Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands, all through entirely organic growth, with no formal advertising.

When asked about it, Chris is optimistic about the future. As the business continues to grow with new products and markets on the horizon, his long-term ambitions go well beyond that. Through his company, he sees a real opportunity to introduce beeswax candles to a broader audience across the country, to the benefit of the environment and the Québec economy.

“The goal of Cernunnos Farms is to democratise the use of beeswax candles and bring them to the general public.”

Do you have a business project and are looking for financing?

Discover our microcredit solutions and personalised support.

Cernunnos Farms

cernunnosfarms.com

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Investors Report – June 2026

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:29:40 +0000

Download the Investor Report June 2026

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Thalia Nguyen, founder of Niim Beauty Academy: making her business dream a reality with Microcredit Montréal

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:38:03 +0000

Thalia Nguyen is the founder and owner of Niim Beauty Academy, a Montreal-based salon that provides professional nail services and high‑quality training for individuals aspiring to master the art of nail care.

Thalia Nguyen | Niim Beauty Academy

Thalia Nguyen, founder of Niim Beauty Academy: making her business dream a reality with Microcredit Montréal

Arriving in Canada on New Year’s Eve 2016, Thalia left Vietnam to begin a new chapter of her life. Back home, she had already started learning nail techniques, initially as a small student job to support herself during her studies. But what began as a simple side project soon became a true passion, one that would ultimately transform the course of her life.

When she first arrived, Thalia spoke very little French or English. Communicating with her clients was a daily challenge, but her determination to perfect her nail skills also drove her to improve her language abilities and gain confidence. Through working with returning clients, she built valuable relationships, found support, and gradually began to feel at home in her new country.

“Doing nails really brought me out of my shell,” she recalls.

Starting a business in Montreal to make a difference

Thalia’s journey in entrepreneurship started as co-owner of a nail salon in the West Island, where she first gained experience training others by sharing her nail techniques with her employees. It was there that she also recognized a broader need.

“Many immigrant women came to me looking for work, but they lacked the skills and training to do the job. It reminded me of my own beginnings,” she explains.

From this insight, an idea was born: to create a training program that teaches nail techniques while also helping learners develop personally and professionally. The positive feedback from her first students confirmed she was on the right path.

Turning ambitions into action with women's entrepreneurship training

On a client’s recommendation, Thalia decided to enroll in Microcredit Montréal’s women’s entrepreneurship training.

“The program became a stepping stone, helping me better understand being an entrepreneur through hands-on content that gave me the confidence to move forward with my business idea.”

In December 2024, Thalia opened her own salon: Niim Beauty Academy. Located on the Plateau, it combines nail services with a training program for those who want to learn professional nail skills.

The challenge was significant, as Thalia had to leave a loyal clientele and start over elsewhere. Yet she looked beyond this, aiming to create a space for learning and growth where future technicians could not only master their craft but also build confidence, interpersonal skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit, all while continuing to provide high-quality nail services to a wide-ranging clientele. Throughout this process, Thalia benefited from the ongoing guidance and support of Microcredit Montréal, even after the training was complete.

A vision for growth

Today, Thalia’s business is thriving. She is working on putting solid systems in place to ensure sustainable growth and is already dreaming of expanding her offerings with online training, making her expertise accessible to even more women.

From a shy young newcomer to a successful entrepreneur and inspiring trainer, Thalia perfectly demonstrates how perseverance, generosity, and solidarity can turn a dream into reality.

Niim Beauty Academy

niimbeautyacademy.com

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Diana, owner of Plantaisie | Growing a business rooted in passion and perseverance

admin — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:29:31 +0000

Diana Saucedo is the owner and founder of Plantaisie, a welcoming plant store featuring a wide selection of greenery. Located in Verdun, the store also offers a variety of wellness and home décor products, as well as community-focused activities, including workshops and pop-up markets.

Diana Saucedo | owner of Plantaisie

Diana, owner of Plantaisie | Growing a business rooted in passion and perseverance

When Diana arrived in Canada 15 years ago, she knew she would have to reinvent herself. Speaking neither French nor English, she was starting from scratch in a new country. Her first venture into entrepreneurship began as a nail technician, renting a small space in a salon. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t her long-term path.

“I saw it as something temporary,
just until I got my permanent residency,” she recalls.

It wasn’t until the pandemic that she discovered what truly made her happy: plants.

“For the first time in my adult life, I had the time to do whatever I liked at home. That’s when I realized how much I loved caring for plants,” she says.

From Facebook Marketplace seller to store owner

And so, during the pandemic, Diana began selling plants on Facebook Marketplace while still working as a nail technician. What started as a small side business quickly grew into a true passion, and Diana began wondering how she could turn it into something more sustainable.

That question led her to enroll in Microcredit Montreal’s women’s entrepreneurship training, on the recommendation of a nail client who had completed the program herself.

“The entrepreneurship classes helped me give structure to my idea. Before that, I didn’t know how to move forward,” Diana explains.

Her client, who eventually became a close friend, also invited her to participate in local markets to sell her plants in person. Those experiences proved invaluable.

“Selling in person allowed me to see what customers liked, what worked with different types of clients, and what people were more comfortable buying online versus in person,” she says.

Using Microcredit to Finance Your First Business

Between 2021 and 2024, Diana worked tirelessly toward her goal of opening her own shop. In 2024, that dream became a reality with the launch of Plantaisie, a plant and home décor store that reflects her love for beauty, greenery, and connection.

Getting there wasn’t easy. “The biggest obstacle was financial,” she admits. The second challenge was finding the right location. “I visited many spaces with my broker. Some were too far from the metro, others didn’t have enough foot traffic. It took time to find the perfect spot.”

With the support of a loan from Microcredit Montréal, Diana was able to bring her vision to life. Beyond the financial support, the team guided her every step of the way, even visiting the chosen location and helping organize a pop-up market to attract customers after the store’s opening.

Building a Resilient Business Through Income Diversification

Today, Plantaisie is thriving and expanding rapidly. Beyond offering plants and décor, Diana has created a space where people can connect and learn, hosting a variety of workshops and occasional pop-up markets. In the near term, she plans to optimize her space to accommodate even more workshops, helping others invest in their wellbeing while discovering the joy of plants and creative outlets.

“When people ask me how I did it, I tell them that first, you need an idea,” she says. “But turning that idea into reality takes structure, guidance, and support. Partnering with an organization like Microcredit Montréal gives you the tools and confidence you need to make it happen.”

Plantaisie

4752 de Verdun St.
514 765-8080

plantaisie.ca

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Investors Report – December 2025

microcredit — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 21:49:40 +0000

Download the Investor Report December 2025

L’article Investors Report – December 2025 est apparu en premier sur Microcrédit Montréal.

Elisa and Nicolas | Co-founders of CIVISION

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 19:13:23 +0000

Elisa Groslier and her partner, Nicolas Iglésias, are the co-founders of CIVISION, a Montreal-based company offering an innovative digital solution that predicts the economic and social impacts of various urban and territorial projects, through data pooling and artificial intelligence.

Elisa and Nicolas | Co-founders of CIVISION

Originally from France, Nicolas and Elisa were first colleagues at a consulting firm before becoming a couple. Long driven by the desire to live abroad and start a business, they made this shared dream a reality by moving to Canada in 2021, with the goal of quickly founding their own company.

Upon arriving in Montreal, Elisa completed a certificate in innovation and entrepreneurship management at HEC Montréal, adding to her master’s degree in international business. For his part, Nicolas began a certificate in data analysis, also at HEC Montréal, which complements his master’s degree in economic intelligence.

Just four months after their arrival, they launched their business with support from the Base entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal, a university innovation hub aimed at advancing the next generation of tech and impact-driven entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship: A Driver of Social Innovation

It was through their work as consultants in territorial strategy that Nicolas and Elisa were able to identify key challenges in their field. They observed, in particular, strong competition between cities seeking to attract businesses, each needing to highlight its unique features. Yet, when trying to convince a company to set up in a region, the arguments presented often remain general.

Nicolas also noted the deployment of certain business projects in regions affected by deindustrialization, accompanied by promises of job creation. However, due to a lack of adequate data, the companies behind these projects failed to realize that the local population did not have the necessary qualifications to fill the proposed positions.

With these issues in mind, they set out to design an analytical platform capable of simulating, planning, and optimizing urban or commercial projects using demographic, socioeconomic, and ESG data linked to specific territories.

“We said to ourselves, we need to create a solution that can determine whether a project is suited to the population it targets and whether it will benefit them. That’s one of the reasons we created CIVISION,” explains Nicolas.

Temporary residents and entrepreneurs: a success made possible

Like many entrepreneurs, one of the main challenges they faced when launching their business was securing funding. Due to their status as temporary residents, very few grants were available to them, and access to loans was even more limited. It was through HEC Montréal Entrepreneurial Base that they were connected with Microcrédit Montréal, where they were able to obtain a loan available to temporary residents.

“We were incredibly lucky that Microcredit Montréal opened its program to temporary residents,” says Nicolas. “We were among the first beneficiaries, and we’re proud of that,” adds Elisa.

Thanks to this loan, Nicolas and Elisa were able to recruit various experts to build their internal team. This financial support also opened the door to other financial partners who were convinced by Microcredit Montréal’s involvement.

“Beyond the loan, Microcredit Montréal has a vast network, and they’re always there to connect us with the best collaborators to help grow our business,” Nicolas emphasizes.

Local impact, global vision

When they first started, there were only two of them—today, the CIVISION team has grown to eight employees and covers 60% of Quebec’s territory. Their clients are primarily government and municipal organizations, including regional county municipality (MRC) economic development agencies.

The future looks bright for the two co-founders, who are currently in negotiations with major public and private sector players. When asked about their outlook, they express a clear desire to grow their client base in the private sector, particularly among real estate and urban investors. In the coming months, they will focus their efforts on rolling out their solution across Canada, with the ambition of expanding internationally.

“If we can build our territory more intelligently to serve the population, we’d love for everyone to benefit. We want to contribute to sustainable projects that improve access to local services and jobs—tailored to people’s needs and aspirations,” Nicolas concludes.

CIVISION

| civision.org

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Christian De Stoop | Business Transfer Advisor for the Montréal region at Repreneuriat Québec, and a member of both the Investment Committee

admin — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 19:10:52 +0000

In a constantly evolving economic context, business succession is positioning itself as a strategic and often underestimated pathway to entrepreneurship. In Quebec, more and more entrepreneurs are choosing to take over an existing business, benefiting from an established customer base, an operational structure already in place, and tangible financial records.

Christian De Stoop | Business Transfer Advisor for the Montréal region at Repreneuriat Québec

Christian De Stoop | Business Transfer Advisor for the Montréal region at Repreneuriat Québec, and a member of both the Investment Committee and the Board of Directors of Microcrédit Montréal.

Christian De Stoop | Business Transfer Advisor for the Montréal region at Repreneuriat Québec, and a member of both the Investment Committee and the Board of Directors of Microcrédit Montréal, talks to us about this pathway to entrepreneurship in this interview.

What is business succession, and why is it an attractive option for becoming an entrepreneur?

Business succession refers to the act of taking over an existing business rather than creating a new one. This involves an individual purchasing all or part of an already active business with the goal of managing, developing, or transforming it.

While we still need emerging businesses, starting one can be challenging for many. The alternative is to purchase an existing business, which already has a customer base and a team in place, as well as a product or service refined over the years. Such a business enjoys a solid reputation and has a proven business model. All of this makes taking over a business less risky and often easier in terms of financing.

Is business succession growing in Quebec?

Since 2021, business succession has surpassed the creation of new businesses in Quebec. Although business succession has always existed, it now offers increasing opportunities, particularly due to an aging population, which results in more businesses seeking new ownership. At the same time, a significant portion of the population aged 30 to 50 possesses solid professional experience and financial means and aspires to start their own business.

The goal is to create a bridge between these two groups to make the opportunities offered by business succession known to both.

How does business succession contribute to Quebec’s economy?

Business succession plays a key role in Quebec’s economy by ensuring the sustainability of existing SMEs and promoting the retention of their ownership within the province. By facilitating the transfer of businesses to new owners—often younger and more innovative—it helps preserve jobs, local expertise, and economic assets, while injecting a new entrepreneurial drive. This process also supports regional vitality, stimulates investment, and promotes economic growth by preventing the closure of thousands of viable businesses due to a lack of succession.

How can microcredit help in acquiring a business?

Microcredit can play a crucial role in business acquisition by providing accessible financing to entrepreneurs who may not have access to traditional bank loans, often due to insufficient collateral or limited credit history.

This type of financing helps cover immediate needs related to the takeover, such as purchasing equipment, initial inventory, or legal fees, and is often accompanied by personalized support and business development advice.

If someone wants to explore business succession to develop their entrepreneurial project, what should they do?

Do your research before taking the plunge! Taking over a business cannot be improvised—it is a true learning process. It is essential to carefully reflect on your project, ask yourself the right questions, and determine if you have what it takes to be a successor. If the answer is yes, the next steps are to identify the types of businesses that suit you and clarify what you are looking for.

Don’t hesitate to discuss your plans with family, friends, or professionals with relevant experience. Guidance is the key to success. Business succession is not just a simple transfer of a company—it’s about giving a business new life by bringing your own vision to it!

Would you like to learn more about Repreneuriat Québec?

Visit repreneuriat.quebec

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