About Community Futures Micro Loans
Whether you are a new entrepreneur with big ideas, or an existing business wanting working capital to improve your cash flow, Community Futures can provide fast turnaround financing through our Micro-Loan Program. In two business days or less Micro-Loans of up to $10,000 can be approved with no minimum loan amount and terms of 6-48 months.
Micro-Loan approvals focus on character, business concept and your capacity to generate cash flow rather than collateral and credit rating. Micro-Loans can be used for nearly any business purpose directly related to the core business other than owner salaries or shareholder loan payments.
Use a Micro-Loan to turn your great idea into a new seasonal, part-time, or full time business venture, or use it to purchase equipment, inventory or as working capital. There are no penalties for early repayment, and if you fully repay your Micro-Loan on time or early we will even refund 20% of all interest paid over the lifetime of the loan.
As a community based lender, the goal of our Micro-Loan program is to see viable businesses that help to create a strong local economy. For more information on Community Futures business loans please contact Tamara Rotach at 364-2595 ext. 26 or email tamara@communityfutures.com
Loan Criteria
To qualify for a Micro-Loan you must:
- Be a resident of the South Kootenay catchment area that our office serves
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Be 19 years of age, or have a co-signer if under 19
The following is taken into account when applying for a Micro-Loan:
- Ability to generate adequate cash flow to repay the loan
- Applicants ability to run the business
- Viability of business concept/idea
Application Process
Applicants are asked to submit a Business Loan Application and a Micro-Loan Business Plan Details form to our Loans Manager for review and analysis. The details form will be reviewed to determine the sales potential of the product and/or service, as well as the applicant’s ability to run the business.
To complete the form, borrowers should have a complete understanding of their market, capacity and competition. The form includes sections on business operations where you are asked to describe these key business elements. Applicants with an existing business plan may submit their business plan and leave the details form blank.
Once your application has been received you will be notified on the status of your loan application within two business days.