L'ABC de l'écosystème entrepreneurial québécois
Quebec Ecosystem
Quebec varies greatly from one region to another. Before getting started, take the time to understand Quebec’s business landscape and identify the right support organizations for your needs..
Quebec’s Socio-Economic Context
Quebec currently has 17 administrative regions. These regions can be grouped into three broad categories, each distinguished by its economic structure and development conditions.
Resource Regions
They include Bas-Saint-Laurent, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec, and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine. These regions are home to 6.9% of Quebec’s population and account for 7.6% of the province’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, they cover 80.2% of Quebec’s territory, resulting in a low population density. Their economies rely heavily on hydroelectric power and natural resource extraction, with most of their production shipped outside Quebec.
Manufacturing Regions
They include Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie, Estrie, Chaudière-Appalaches, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec. These regions are home to 50.2% of Quebec’s population and account for 39.7% of the province’s GDP. Given their proximity to urban regions, they sometimes serve as an essential source of labour for these areas. The manufacturing sector generally plays a significant role in their economies.
Urban Regions
They include Capitale-Nationale, Montréal, Outaouais, and Laval. These regions are home to 42.9% of Quebec’s population but account for more than 50% of the province’s economy.
Stages of Business Development
Organizations within Quebec’s entrepreneurial support ecosystem provide specialized services tailored to the following stages of a business project’s development.
1
Pre-Start-Up
Business ideation stage (choosing a business idea) and introduction to entrepreneurship.
2
Start-Up
Validation and business structuring stage, including launching the business to market and generating its first sales.
3
Growth
Business acceleration, expansion, and innovation stage.
Types of support for your success
We have identified more than 650 organizations that offer various types of support, depending on the entrepreneur’s needs and the stage of development of their business project.
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the type of support you need. You can use our directory of organizations or seek assistance from one of our advisors by phone, at one of our service locations, or through the virtual advisor on our website.
Training
A wide range of training programs are available to help entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone in a management role or responsible for managing projects strengthen their skills. These programs are generally offered in a group setting, allowing you to benefit from shared experiences while expanding your professional network. If you believe training could help you achieve your goals as an entrepreneur, it is well worth investing the time.
The Starting a Business training program is designed for entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who want to develop their business project and prepare a comprehensive business plan, an essential step in successfully launching a business. Upon completion of the program, you will receive an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) issued by Quebec’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
This training program includes practical courses covering various aspects of running a business, including mission and value proposition, market research and marketing, operations management, financial forecasting, and more. It also features hands-on exercises, case studies based on participating entrepreneurs’ businesses, specialized workshops on topics such as business law, taxation, and financing, as well as practical lab work and individual coaching.
In Quebec, more than 90 organizations offer this program across all 17 regions and through more than 50 school service centres.
Coaching
Several organizations specialize in providing coaching to entrepreneurs as they bring their business projects to market. Their goal is to help entrepreneurs strengthen their business plans, making it easier to secure financing. They also provide guidance to help make business projects more realistic and viable. Coaching may be offered in small groups or on an individual basis.
There are several sources of financing, including loans and grants, available to help you start your business. Each loan or grant has its own eligibility requirements and is designed for specific types of entrepreneurs or businesses. In all cases, you will need a business plan. Based on your business plan and financial projections, you may be eligible to receive funding in the form of a loan or grant to help bring your business project to life.
Several organizations are dedicated to helping you expand your business network and providing relevant information to help you better understand Quebec’s business culture and market. Useful information resources include the Entreprises Québec website, as well as the websites of regional chambers of commerce and a network of more than 40 chambers of commerce representing various cultural communities.
Visit the Entreprises Québec Website
Support Organization Search Tool
Our search tool allows you to filter organizations based on your needs, so you can quickly find and contact the right specialists.
Browse the Directory
Directory of Entrepreneur Support Organizations
Get informed and maximize your chances of success. We connect you with more than 600 organizations that support entrepreneurs across Quebec.