Government insurance (available for low premiums or even no premiums) provides this option to small businesses. For example, the Canadian Small Business Finance Program (CSBFP) can help you get a loan of up to $500,000 to buy or improve real property or equipment, or to make leasehold improvements. Your loan will finance up to 90 percent of these costs.

Interest rates on CSBF loans are either floating or fixed, but the floating rate can't be more than three percent higher than the lender's prime rate, and fixed rates can't be more than three percent higher than the lender's residential mortgage rate. You will pay a fee of two percent of the total amount of the loan, but this, too, can be financed and added to the total – as long as it doesn't exceed the maximum of $500,000.

CSBF loans of various amounts help small businesses across the country. When cash flow got tight due to the seasonal nature of his outfitter business, Gary Jaeb of True North Safaris in the Northwest Territories received $24,000 to maintain and modernize his fleet of small fishing boats.

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