How to Apply for Export Funding NB: Eligibility, Covered Expenses, and Reporting Requirements

Exporting costs money before it makes money. Market research, trade shows, and export marketing can strain cash flow for small businesses in New Brunswick. Export Funding NB helps offset those early costs by covering up to 65% of eligible export projects, with funding of up to $15,000 for approved activities.

This guide explains how Export Funding NB works, who qualifies, what expenses are covered, and what reporting is required after you receive funding.

What Is Export Funding NB and Who Is Eligible?

Export Funding NB is a provincial export support program for New Brunswick businesses that are exporting or actively preparing to export. The funding is provided as a repayable contribution, not a non-repayable grant.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To apply for Export Funding NB, your business must:

Be registered and operating in New Brunswick
Have a CRA business number
Be exporting or planning to export outside New Brunswick
Show growth in revenue, profit, or workforce over the past two years
Propose an activity that will improve export performance
Have total project costs greater than $5,000

Both first-time exporters and experienced exporters can apply, as long as the project clearly supports export growth.

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter export funding programs by province and business stage in seconds.

Funding Amounts and Project Size

Export Funding NB provides:

Up to $15,000 per project
Maximum of 65% of eligible project costs
Funding delivered as a repayable contribution

Your business must contribute at least 35% of the total project cost from its own resources or other non-government sources.

Minimum Project Size

Total eligible project costs must exceed $5,000
Smaller projects below this threshold are not eligible

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Export Funding NB supports short-term export strategy, planning, and marketing activities. Eligible expenses typically include:

Export market research and analysis
Development of export strategies or market entry plans
Export marketing materials (digital or print)
Participation in trade shows or export-focused marketing initiatives
Professional services related to export readiness

The activity must be clearly tied to export growth and completed within a defined project timeline.

Expenses Usually Not Covered

While the program guidelines focus on what is eligible, businesses should assume the following are not covered unless explicitly approved:

Ongoing operating expenses
Regular staff wages not directly tied to the export project
Capital purchases not linked to export planning or marketing
Projects that have already started before approval

Always confirm eligible costs before committing funds.

Application Process

The application process focuses on demonstrating export impact and business growth.

Typical Application Steps

Define your export project
Outline what you plan to do, which markets you are targeting, and how the activity supports export growth.
Build a project budget
Show total costs, the amount requested (up to 65%), and your business contribution.
Demonstrate business growth
Provide evidence of revenue, profit, or workforce growth over the last two years.
Submit your application
Applications are assessed based on eligibility, project quality, and export potential.

Approval must be received before starting the project.

Reporting and Repayment Requirements

Because Export Funding NB is a repayable contribution, reporting is a critical part of the program.

What Reporting Typically Includes

Proof of completed activities
Copies of invoices and receipts
A final project report outlining outcomes and export results

Repayment Considerations

Repayment terms are set out in your funding agreement
Repayment timelines and conditions vary by project
The contribution is not treated the same as a non-repayable grant for accounting or tax purposes

You should review repayment obligations with your accountant before applying.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting the project too early
Costs incurred before approval are usually ineligible.
Undersized project budgets
Projects under $5,000 in total costs do not qualify.
Weak export rationale
Applications must clearly explain how the activity improves export performance.
Ignoring repayment terms
This is a repayable contribution, not free funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need existing export sales to apply for Export Funding NB?
No. Businesses may already be exporting or actively planning to export. The key requirement is that the project improves export readiness or performance.

Q: Is Export Funding NB a grant or a loan?
It is a repayable contribution, not a non-repayable grant. Repayment terms are outlined in the funding agreement.

Q: What is the maximum funding amount available?
Businesses can receive up to $15,000, covering a maximum of 65% of eligible project costs.

Q: What is the minimum project size?
Total eligible project costs must be greater than $5,000 to qualify.

Q: Are marketing expenses eligible?
Yes. Short-term export marketing activities related to export growth are eligible expenses.

GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and funding programs across Canada — including provincial export programs like Export Funding NB. Checking which programs match your business profile can save hours of research.

Next Steps

Export Funding NB can reduce the financial risk of entering new markets, but eligibility, expense rules, and reporting requirements matter. Before applying, make sure your export project is clearly defined and meets the minimum cost threshold. GrantHub helps New Brunswick businesses stay on top of export funding opportunities and understand which programs align with their growth plans.

How to Apply for Export Funding NB: Eligibility, Covered Expenses, and Reporting Requirements