Good on you noticing this Modica J. Canadian banks brag about their conservatism and extraordinary profit margins but they are notoriously tight with their money. This isn't necessarily good for the economy. I'm in the top quintile for income but I can't afford to part, even temporarily, with the $5K or so that my teen daughter would need to start her business. Too bad. She has a great idea and I more than half expect that it is viable and will be profitable. While the US tax system is comparatively porous (I've lived there -- a large percentage of their economy is "cash" based and is thriving), this leaves a lot of cash for small scale entrepreneurism and some of this does get big.