The Largest Small Business Association in Canada

In business for your business since 1971

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is the country’s small business champion. With over 100,000 members, we’re Canada’s largest non-profit organization devoted to creating and supporting an environment where independent businesses can flourish.

We believe that when our entrepreneurs succeed, our country thrives. Every day, we amplify small business owners’ voices, ensuring they are heard in every major policy conversation from Ottawa to their provincial capital. As a non-partisan organization, we gather our members' views and advocate with politicians and decision-makers to shape laws and policies that support small businesses.

Our commitment is to their day-to-day success. Our HRNow! team of experts is here to help them overcome daily business challenges, from human resources questions through our comprehensive templates to navigating government regulations. We work hard to provide valuable information and expert advice on key business issues.

Running a business is costly, and that’s why we leverage the power of over 100,000 members to deliver substantial discounts on essential services. By harnessing the collective power of our membership, we negotiate better deals on critical business services, helping them save money and reinvest in their business.

At CFIB, we’ll never stop working for our members. We are dedicated to increasing the odds of their business’s success and creating a stronger independent business community in Canada.

Our Mission & Vision

Your independent business is built on your ideas, plans, and aspirations. You dream of success, and our mission is to increase the chance of that happening by offering more resources, more value, and making sure your voice is heard at all levels of government.

We want to see a Canada where small businesses like yours can thrive. Everything we do is in pursuit of that vision.

Woman passing purchased goods in a bag to her customer.

Advocacy

CFIB Petitions: When you sign our petitions, we bring your voice to governments in every province and in Ottawa, making sure your priorities are the government’s priorities. Our 100,000 members speak with one voice.
Member surveys: Our advocacy is strengthened by our best-in-class research team who make sure your priorities are backed by the data policy makers need.
A stronger independent business community: Through our surveys and petitions, we’re able to collect the voices of many, allowing us to better represent Canada’s small business community., Adding your voice which helps us create a better environment for Canada’s small businesses.
You drive the policy changes that directly benefit your business!

Resources

1-on-1 consultations with our Business Advisors: Get your questions answered on topics from HR to government programs to regulations, and health and safety rules.
Exclusive CFIB webinars: Our policy experts and knowledgeable advisors bring you the topics and guest speakers that can help you stay informed and better run your business.
Business templates: Save thousands of dollars by accessing our extensive library of HR and Health and Safety Templates.
Our resources help you run your business with greater peace of mind!

Savings

Exclusive savings for your business: Enjoy exclusive member benefits and savings on key services to help you run your business.
We’ve leveraged the negotiating power of over 100,000 CFIB members to offer you significant savings from our trusted providers. From credit card processing to payroll to shipping and more, these partnerships can save you $5000 or more a year on business services and products.

Our History

It began in a bathtub. One evening in 1969, John Bulloch, a teacher at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, now Toronto Metropolitan University, was soaking in his tub and reading the new federal White Paper on taxation. He was livid. The federal government had proposed a 50% tax rate for Canadian small businesses. “The government exempted the powerful from its proposals, and proceeded to hammer small business and middle-income Canadians,” Bulloch said. After writing to the Finance Minister to denounce the White Paper and publicly sharing his letter, support poured in from across the country. The fury that followed led Bulloch and his supporters to form the Canadian Council for Fair Taxation, launch an all-out attack on the White Paper, and successfully have it withdrawn. Despite their victory, Bulloch knew the need to have a strong voice fighting for the interests of independent businesses would only grow. That realization led him to change the name and to create the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

Flag blowing in the wind in front of Parliament

Our members

CFIB represents over 100,000 member businesses across Canada. Our membership reflects a diverse group of independent businesses of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy.

Representing 100,000 members across Canada

Major Initiatives

As a leading voice for small business, CFIB is involved in many special initiatives and campaigns, all focused on supporting small business owners.

Some CFIB initiatives occur annually, like our Red Tape Awareness Week, while others are designed to encourage Canadians to shop at and support small businesses, such as Small Business Everyday and Small Business Saturday.

Many CFIB initiatives spring up from policy and legislative issues affecting small business owners. From our years-long work to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic by pushing for fairness for small business related to Covid restrictions and financial support programs like CEBA (Canada Emergency Business Account) and CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy), to the decades-long fight for lower merchant fees from Visa and MasterCard, we’re raising important issues and communicating with all levels of government to ensure fairness for Canada’s small businesses.

Our Board

CFIB is guided by an elected Board of Governors that includes an independent business owner from each of Canada’s 10 provinces as well as our CEO, Dan Kelly. The Board oversees the governance of CFIB and is focused on growing CFIB’s membership to increase the influence of small business owners.

Meet Our Board

Our members

CFIB represents over 97,000 member businesses across Canada. Our membership reflects a diverse group of successful businesses of all sizes, in a wide range of industries, and in all major sectors of the economy.