Coast to coast to coast

Start a business anywhere in Canada.

Proudly Canadian, with our studio in North Vancouver, BC. We help founders plan, fund and launch businesses across the country and in select parts of the U.S., with the same person guiding you from start to finish.

Proudly Canadian

One guide, wherever you are.

Shaped JT began in 2017 and was incorporated in 2018. From our studio in North Vancouver, we help founders start businesses across Canada and in select parts of the U.S.

Planning, funding prep and mentorship happen wherever you are. We’ll talk through the hands-on parts, like your space and your training, on your planning call.

  • Planning calls and a business plan built around your goals
  • Realistic projections and loan application prep for your bank or credit union
  • Registration or incorporation, with the paperwork handled
  • Tax education and bookkeeping basics
  • Mentorship that continues after you open

13 provinces & territories

From the Pacific to the Atlantic to the Arctic.

Wherever you call home, the engine is the same: plan it, fund it, build it and open your doors.

  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut

Regional guide

Starting a business in your part of Canada.

Every region has a federal regional development agency, alongside national programs. We help you explore what’s available where you live, and prepare the plan and paperwork to go with it.

British Columbia

Home of our studio

Vancouver, Kelowna, Kamloops and every community in between. BC is home to our North Vancouver studio and to owner stories like Okanagan Shaped and Bliss Body in Kamloops.

PacifiCan

Pacific Economic Development Canada

The Prairies

Alberta · Saskatchewan · Manitoba

Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and the towns across the Prairies.

PrairiesCan

Prairies Economic Development Canada

Ontario

Southern & northern Ontario

Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Sudbury and communities across the province.

FedDev Ontario FedNor

Two agencies: FedDev Ontario serves southern Ontario, and FedNor serves northern Ontario.

Quebec

Services in English

Montréal, Québec City and communities across the province. Our website and services are in English, so we’ll plan your business together in English.

CED

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Atlantic Canada

New Brunswick · Nova Scotia · Prince Edward Island · Newfoundland and Labrador

Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown, St. John’s and the coastal communities in between.

ACOA

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

The North

Yukon · Northwest Territories · Nunavut

Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit and communities across the territories.

CanNor

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

Funding programs

National programs we help you explore.

Funding depends on your plan, your lender and the program, so we never promise approval. What we do is help you explore your options and prepare: realistic projections, a strong business plan and a loan application you can stand behind.

CSBFP loans

The Canada Small Business Financing Program works through your bank or credit union. We explain how it works and help you prepare your application.

BDC

The Business Development Bank of Canada is another avenue to explore. We’ll help you compare your options and choose the loan that fits.

Futurpreneur

For entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39. If that’s you, we’ll help you explore whether it suits your plans.

Women Entrepreneurship Strategy

A federal strategy for women in business. We’ll help you see where it might fit into your journey.

Program details change over time, so we’ll look at what’s current together.

Explore financial advisory

A cozy pink velvet chair, sculptural lamp and faux-fur rug
A treatment table beside a bright window

Home-based businesses

Your business can start right at home.

In a city condo or a small-town house, a spare room can become a warm, professional studio. No commute, more time with your family, and the potential tax benefits of a home-based business, which we teach alongside your bookkeeping basics.

Our own studio opened in a compact two-bedroom condo in North Vancouver and became a six-figure income stream.

Your business can start right at home.

Coast to coast

Good questions

Starting a business in Canada, answered.

Do you work outside British Columbia?

Yes. Our studio is in North Vancouver, BC, and we help founders start businesses across Canada, plus select parts of the U.S. Planning, funding prep and mentorship happen wherever you are, and the same person guides you from start to finish.

Can you help me get a small business loan in Ontario?

We can’t promise approval from any lender or program, but we can help you prepare: realistic financial projections, a strong business plan and loan application prep. We’ll help you explore options like Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) loans through your bank or credit union, BDC, and regional agencies such as FedDev Ontario in southern Ontario and FedNor in northern Ontario.

Do you work in Quebec?

Yes, we welcome founders from Quebec. Our website and services are in English, so you’ll want to be comfortable planning your business in English. We can help you explore national programs alongside CED, the federal regional development agency for Quebec.

Can I start a business in Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut?

Yes. We work with founders anywhere in Canada, including the territories, and we’ll help you explore national programs alongside CanNor, the federal regional development agency for the North.

Which funding programs can you help me explore?

Depending on your plan and where you live, we can help you explore Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) loans through your bank or credit union, BDC, Futurpreneur for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39, the federal Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and your federal regional development agency. We help you explore and prepare; we never promise approval. Explore financial advisory.

Can I start a home-based business in Canada with your help?

Yes. Many owners start in a spare room or basement, and we teach the tax basics that come with a home-based business. Our own studio began in a compact two-bedroom condo in North Vancouver.

Your next chapter

Where do I start?

Choose your door and tell us about your dream. There are no pushy sales calls here: when you’re ready, we’ll schedule a planning call to listen to your goals and map out a business that fits your life.