Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program offers small business loans to people with disabilities who are interested in starting or growing their own business.

Loans are available to entrepreneurs with a viable business idea who have a disability or an ongoing health condition.

In house or on-line resources and training are available for supporting your goal of self-employment.

Who Can Apply

• Entrepreneurs with a disability or an ongoing health condition.   
• Live in a rural community in British Columbia.
• Have a viable business idea and suitable personal investment.

How are our loans geared to help you?

• Flexible repayment options suited to your business needs.
• Repayable Business Loans

Services We Offer

• Business Consultation.
• Free assistance with Business Plan development.
• Referral to Business Resources including training, other financing, and business contacts.

Established in 1986, the BC Community Futures Network consists of 34 Community Futures offices across the province, as well as a provincial association located in Vancouver.

Our newly expanded Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program assists individuals with disabilities to access small business loans in order to support their pursuit of self-employment.  Self employment can offer people with disabilities flexible work arrangements and the opportunity to build on their existing skills and expertise while generating additional income.

Community Futures EDP Website

 

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Youth Side Hustle Program— a free, hands-on training program for youth ages 12–18 within the Sun Country Region. Not sure if you’re within our region, check out the communities that qualify here

Whether you dream of selling art, baking, fixing bikes, offering services, or launching something totally unique — this program helps youth turn ideas into action.

 

What’s Included:

•      7 engaging online modules
•     Topics include business planning, branding, budgeting, and more
  
•     Special focus on self-awareness, mental health, and disability-informed entrepreneurship
•     1-on-1 mentorship and coaching to support every step
  
•     $150 cash incentive for each youth upon completion. A financial boost to help you grow your Side Hustle
•     Opportunity to showcase your hustle with a photo submission

 

Why It Matters:

Entrepreneurship builds confidence, flexibility, and skills that last a lifetime. For youth, especially those with visible or invisible disabilities — self-employment can offer an empowering, accessible future.

Through reflection, creativity, and community connection, participants will explore how their unique strengths can become the foundation for a business.

Completion Bonus:

Once a youth completes all modules and submits a photo of themselves working within their side hustle, they’ll receive a $150 payment to help them launch or grow their idea.

“Apply Today” 

            Simply send an email with your name and an email address that you can be contacted at, express your interest in the Youth Side Hustle program, and we will send you an application.

Space is limited so don’t wait too long!! 

 

 

 In some communities the WorkBC Self-Employment Program is delivered by Community Futures. The program offers income supports delivered over a series of weeks, with business plan development, workshops and mentoring. 

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Currently on an active Employment Insurance (EI) claim, or
• Have an EI claim that ended in the past 60 months (with no subsequent disqualifications for quitting a job), or
• Be a BCEA PWD or PPMB client, or
• Be deemed eligible by WorkBC
  • Have paid into EI 5 of the past 10 years with annual declared income over $3,000
  • Have filed their tax return for most of the recent tax year
• Be a general WorkBC client with a documented disability

Additional criteria may apply. Contact your local WorkBC office to learn more.

 

If you are starting a new business, you can use the provincial government’s BC Registry service. This service was developed by the BC government to make it easier to register a business in British Columbia.

This service can be used by:

• Sole Proprietorships
• Corporations
• Incorporated Societies
• Partnership
• Co-operatives
• Associations

You can use this service to:

• Instantly register your sole proprietorship or general partnership with the BC Corporate Registry (Note: This registration requires pre-approval of your business name. Forms can be obtained at Community Futures or the Government Agent Office)
• Register as a vendor for the provincial sales tax with the BC Consumer Taxation Branch
• Register as an employer with the Workers' Compensation Board of BC
• Apply for personal optional protection with Workers' Compensation Board of BC
• Apply for a business number account with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency for GST, payroll deductions, corporate income tax, and import/export account.
• Apply for one or more municipal business licenses with participating municipalities

Click here to get started!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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