Home › US expansion guides › Canadian companies
🇨🇦 Country guide · Canada
US market entry for Canadian companies: the 2026 guide
Canada is the closest market to the US in language, time zones and logistics — and in 2026 it has the tightest public funding for US expansion. Canadian companies that win south of the border treat the US as a distinct market, not an extension of home.
Canada and the US, in numbers
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Canadian investment in the US by ultimate owner, end 2025 | $820 billion — second after Japan (BEA, UBO basis) |
| New Canadian direct investment in the US, 2025 | $23.5 billion — third after Japan and Germany (BEA) |
| US employees at newly acquired or established Canadian-owned businesses, 2025 | 29,500 (BEA) |
| CanExport SMEs 2026-27 budget for US-targeted projects | About $3.1 million of ~$31 million; US applications closed once it was allocated (Trade Commissioner Service) |
Visa and entity basics for Canadian founders
- E-2 treaty investor visa: Canada has an E-2 treaty with the US, so Canadian nationals can qualify by investing substantially in a US business they direct. It follows citizenship, not residence.
- L-1: move a manager or specialist who has worked for your Canadian company for at least one year in the last three to a US affiliate.
- Entity: most Canadian parents use a Delaware C-corporation. A US LLC owned by your Canadian company must file Form 5472 every year ($25,000 penalty if missed).
- Beneficial ownership: a US-formed subsidiary is exempt from FinCEN BOI reporting under the August 2026 final rule; a Canadian entity registered directly in a US state is not.
Where Canadian companies find help
| Organisation | What it does |
|---|---|
| Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) | Canadian trade offices across the US, market intelligence and introductions. |
| CanExport SMEs | Cost-shares international business development (up to $50,000 per project); the 2026-27 intake prioritises non-US markets. |
| SelectUSA | US Department of Commerce programme connecting foreign investors with US states. |
| Gershon Consulting | Outbound LinkedIn pipeline and commercial representation from New York. |
Sectors where Canadian companies win US accounts
SaaS and AI, clean tech, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing and media. Finance Montréal and Altavia Americas are among the Canadian organisations we have worked with.
CanExport in 2026-27: check before you plan
For 2026-27 the programme earmarked about $3.1 million of roughly $31 million for US-targeted projects, applicants had to choose between US and non-US markets, and the US envelope was fully allocated during the intake. Plan your US budget assuming no grant, and treat any funding as upside.
How we run a US pipeline for Canadian companies
- US market map and ICP brief before launch, from ICP.gershon.ai plus our analysis.
- Promote: content written for US buyers and published on your behalf on LinkedIn.
- Network: personalised outreach to mapped US decision-makers, run from New York.
- Engage: replies turned into meetings, with talking points and weekly reports.
We work with one company per sector. See the full US market entry guide or our Promote · Network · Engage method.
Frequently asked questions
Can Canadian citizens get an E-2 visa?
Yes. Canada is an E-2 treaty country, and Canadians are among the top users of the E-2 category. Citizenship, not residence, decides eligibility.
Is CanExport funding available for US expansion in 2026?
For 2026-27, about $3.1 million was reserved for US-targeted projects and the US envelope was fully allocated, so new US applications were closed. Check the Trade Commissioner Service for the next intake.
What is different about selling to US buyers versus Canadian buyers?
Scale and competition. US buyers see more vendors, move faster and expect US references, so a narrow segment and consistent outreach matter more than in Canada.
Want US buyers in your pipeline this quarter?
Free 30-minute call with Olivier Attia, founder of Gershon Consulting. We map who buys what you sell in the US and how a Promote · Network · Engage campaign would reach them.
Book your free US growth call