If you are thinking of starting a business in Ontario, or if you already have an existing business, there are various government grants that are available.

These funds are available from the Ontario government directly – as well, the federal government of Canada, and they range from startup funding to grants for small businesses.

Finding and using a government grant is one of the best things you can do for your small business in Ontario – no matter what stage your business is in.

Below you will find out how to get government grants and funding for startups in Ontario.

Finding Government Grants For your Ontario Small Business

As a small business in Ontario, a government grant can help your business get a much-needed boost.

A grant is simply an amount of money that is provided by the Ontario government, or the federal government in order to fund your startup or business expenses, and in most cases, the funds provided in the form of a grant, don’t have to be paid back.

A win-win situation for both your business and the government.

The available government grants in Ontario depend on a number of factors. These factors are primarily focused on the application criteria that the grant agency has set in place.

With that in mind, when applying to any government grant for your Ontario small business, it is crucial that you thoroughly read the requirement of each grant program.

Your time is important and the last thing you want to do is to apply to a grant program that you are not eligible for.

With the Funding Database, you will be able to access and see all available government grants for startups in Ontario and Canada.

Available government grants for Ontario small businesses

To help you with your funding search for grants in Ontario, please take a look at the below as we discuss the various available grants for business expansion, research and development, hiring and training as well as those grants for capital investments in Ontario.

Expert Tip:

Before you apply for any government grants for your business, be sure to speak with a funding expert who can ensure you have all that is needed before you make the move. This essential list may include your business plan, properly done financial projections, a pitchdeck and more! Speak to a funding expert now by calling 1-800-288-9691

Business Expansion Grants in Ontario

The available business expansion grants in Ontario can help from expanding your product/service line, to exporting your goods. In general, any activity that helps your small business grow, can be considered as part of the business expansion funding strategy. Some of the sources for business expansion grants in Ontario are listed below:

1. Business Scale-up and Productivity Program (BSP) Southern Ontario
2. CanExport
3. Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)
4. OCE Voucher Programs
5. IESO Conservation Fund
6. Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)
7. Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
8. Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation Corporation Programs
9. CDMN Soft Landing Program
10. Rural Economic Development (RED)
11. OCE Market Readiness Program
12. MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund
13. Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
14. Canada Media Fund: Experimental Stream
15. Dairy Processing Investment Fund (DPIF)
16. Regional Innovation Ecosystem (RIE)
17. Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)

If you are unsure how to take part of these available grants for your business, be sure to use the Funding Database to see each of the available programs and how to apply.

Research and Development (R&D) Grants for Startups in Ontario

There is quite a lot of R&D that goes into building a business, and what a of small business owners don’t know is that it is not just for the tech, medical, manufacturing, agriculture sector.

Research and development plays a crucial role in helping you as the business owner develop a quality product or service – that lasts and makes you money.

With that, comes a number of business expenses.

The below is a list of available r&d grants in Ontario for small business owners to take advantage of.

1. ENCQOR 5G SME Technology Development Program (5G SDP)
2. Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC)
3. Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund
4. Canada Media Fund: Experimental Stream
5. OCE Voucher Programs
6. Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
7. IRAP Accelerated Review Process (ARP)
8. IRAP Mid-Size Projects
9. IESO Conservation Fund
10. Scientific Research and Development (SR&ED)
11. Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network (AVIN) WinterTech Development Program
12. MITACS Elevate
13. MITACS Accelerate
14. Dairy Processing Investment Fund (DPIF)
15. MaRS – Regional Innovation Centres
16. Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation Corporation Programs
17. MaRS – Investment Accelerator Fund
18. Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
19. Business Scale-up and Productivity Program (BSP) Southern Ontario
20. Alberta-Ontario Innovation Program
21. OCE Customer Demonstration Program
22. Health Technologies Fund (HTF)
23. Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP)

That’s a lot of grant programs, we know! BUT what do you do with them – as they are simply the source.

To take action and actually see if your small business qualifies for any r&d grants in Ontario, use the Funding Database and work with a funding expert.

Hiring and Training Grants for Small Business in Ontario

One of the more beneficial grant programs in Ontario is to help with hiring and training.

As you run your small business in Ontario, you need to be able to hire staff and train them to assist you – to make your job as a business owner easier.

Hiring and training can get pretty costly and while it’s a needed cost, there are hiring grants as well as training grants that business owners can take advantage of:

1. FedDev Ontario Training Program
2. Youth Employment Program (IRAP)
3. Connect Canada Internship
4. Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
5. Mitacs Accelerate
6. Northern Ontario Internship Program
7. Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

Again, if you need funding to hire staff, or funding to train your employees, the hiring and training grants are there for you. To get a better idea of what grants you can apply for, use the expert service via the Funding Database.

Capital Investments Grants in Ontario

What are capital investments you ask?

Well, capital investments are basically investments into your business that are, or can turn into long-term assets. This can include things such as different equipment, machinery, technology, real estate or property. This adds value to your business, allowing to use those assets as collateral if further funding is needed.

A few available government grants in Ontario that help with the capital investment are listed below:

1. Business Scale-up and Productivity Program (BSP) Southern Ontario
2. Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)
3. Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)
4. Dairy Processing Investment Fund (DPIF)
5. Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
6. Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP)
7. Northern Ontario Heritage Foundation Corporation (NOHFC)

If you want to see if you can get a government grant for your equipment, real estate purchase..etc; use the Funding Database and speak with a funding expert.

As a small business, you may have a number of business startup costs.

Many of these startup costs can be covered via government funding options.

While government grants often focus on the big ones such as the expansion costs, wages/hiring and training, equipment purchase, R&D and more, there are other sources of government funding that as a small business in Ontario that you may be able to take part in.

These additional funding methods include:

Government Loans

As a small business in Ontario, if a grant is not available, a government loan can help.

Generally speaking, loans come in many different forms including:

1. Low interest government loans
2. No interest government loans
3. Guaranteed government loans
4. Partially repayable government loans

If you want to see what type of government loan is available, you can access them via the 1,500 available sources of funding in the Funding Database.

Tax breaks and tax credits

The available tax breaks and tax credits that are provided by the Ontario government, or the federal government are generally set up to help you reduce your costs, rather than provide you direct funding.  By reducing your costs initially will allow you to free up cash flow to pay for other things that the business may need.

See if you are eligible for any tax breaks or tax credits as a small business in Ontario.