Small Business Grants in Ontario for 2025

Ontario is an important part of Canada's economy. As such, it naturally offers a wide range of grants and financing to small businesses. These opportunities are designed to stimulate growth, encourage innovation and help entrepreneurs realize their ambitions and financing. This 2025 guide is your complete resource for navigating the landscape of grants available in Ontario, helping you find the financial support you need to thrive. There's bound to be a grant available for you, or government assistance to help you get your projects off the ground without impacting your financial situation.

What grant programs are available to small businesses in Ontario?

Grants for small businesses in Ontario are varied, covering sectors ranging from technology and agriculture to retail and services. These financial aids, ranging from partial repayments to non-repayable contributions, are designed to support businesses at different stages of their development.

What financial support services are available for small businesses in Ontario?

After Covid, a great deal of support became available, but there was no clear pattern to the arrival and withdrawal of support for businesses. We made this observation over a period of several years, not only in Ontario but also in the other provinces of Canada. To help you, here's the list

What are the eligibility criteria for small businesses in Ontario to benefit from government subsidies?

If you look at all the programs we've selected for small businesses in Ontario, the information you need to provide is almost always different. Certain benefits may be available depending on the health of the company, how long it has been in business, the reason for the request, or its digital maturity, such as the integration of a CRM or ERP to develop workplace efficiency.

The same grant can also work with companies in different sectors. The most important eligibility criterion for applying for grants may then be the reason for the project. There are benefits to be financed, such as digital development and marketing, the needs of employers in the context of their work, or for the good health of the company, there is government aid for a reduction in your tax bill, or loans with a 0% interest rate, or financing with a preferential rate that can be guaranteed with the BDC, for example.

How can small businesses in Ontario obtain grants to help create jobs in the province?

In business development, the need for new employees can sometimes arise, and this requires entrepreneurs to apply online to the various granting agencies. Some grants can be combined with an initial dollar amount, for example, to finance a project and give you new investment capacity.

What training services are available to small businesses in Ontario to help develop their employees' skills?

Developing your employees' skills is very important for a number of reasons. There can be online training to quickly learn new skills without any specific certification. In the context of job development and evolution, training can be very interesting, with the possibility of bonuses for employees who follow through. You'll find plenty of online resources to guide and help you.

After the Covid period, the government set up a number of aid projects to help people who want to train and evolve. The various training courses can represent significant costs for companies, especially if you're based in large cities like Toronto, where the cost of development is above the Canadian average.

If training courses lead to certification, they may entitle you to a tax credit to help you adjust your projects and manage your employees. Repayment of training subsidies is sometimes simpler to arrange, and once payment has been made, repayment periods are shorter. This ensures that your dollars remain in good financial health. Innovation grants, for example, take longer to obtain, especially for smaller companies.

Conclusion: Seizing Opportunities in 2025

The year 2025 is rich in opportunities for small businesses in Ontario looking to grow and innovate. With the right support and information, your business can take full advantage of the grants and financing available. This guide is the first step towards achieving your business goals in Ontario.

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Small Business Grants in Ontario for 2025

Employer Health Tax relief

Ontario Business Registry

Starter Company Plus

Business advisory services for small and medium-sized businesses

INVEST North Program — Innovation – Industrial Research Chair

FedDev Ontario Small Business Services — Community Partners

Canada-Ontario Job Grant

Launch Lab — Entrepreneurs In Residence (EIR)

My Main Street — Local Business Accelerator

Workforce Development Stream

OVIN — Electric Vehicle (EV) — Stream 1

PARO Services

Digital Main Street – ShopHere

Invest Ottawa Ignition Program

OVIN — C/AV and Smart Mobility — Stream 1

INVEST North Program — Innovation Stream

INVEST North Program — Investment - Locate Stream

BioCreate Program

OCI — Ready 4 Market (R4M)

Tourism Growth Program in southern Ontario

Toronto Circular Food Innovators Fund

FedDev Ontario — Economic Development Initiative (Southern Ontario) — Not-For-Profit

Ontario Office of the Employer Adviser

Grow Ontario Market Initiative

Digital Main Street – Digital Service Squad Grant

OCI — Technology Demonstration Program

Food Safety and Growth Initiative

Intellectual Property Ontario

OVIN — R&D Partnership Fund – Advanced Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Stream

OCI — Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan program

Ontario Junior Exploration Program

How to apply for a successful grant

OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant

Ontario Automotive Modernization Program

Ontario Labour Market Partnerships

Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Up! Program

Community Futures Ontario — Business Information and Planning Services

FedDev — Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative – Adoption Pillar 2 – Businesses

INVEST North Program — Investment — Launch Stream

Northern Ontario Development Program — Youth Internships — Private Sector

Enabling Accessibility Fund — Small projects

OTF — Family Innovations Scale Grant

Innovation Guelph — Boundless Startup Program

Summer Company

REGI — Business Scale-up and Productivity

CME’s Technology Investment Program

i.d.e.a. Fund

Regional Development Program — Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund — Business project grants

Digital Main Street – Digital Transformation Grant Program

C/AV and Smart Mobility — Stream 2

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund — Small Businesses or Entrepreneurs Developing Agri-tech and Cleantech Solutions

WinterTech Development

OCI — ENCQOR 5G Technology Development (SME) Program

EV ChargeON Program

Skills Development Fund — Training Stream

OMIF — Live Music

OCI — Innovating Digital Health Solutions

Toronto Retail Accelerator Program

Toronto Main Street Innovation Fund

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund — Non-Profits that Serve Underrepresented Communities

Business Incubation & Commercialization Grant Program

Any questions about grants for small businesses in Ontario?

How can small businesses in Northern Ontario access government funding for tech innovation projects?

How can small businesses in Ontario benefit from government grants for wide adoption of capital tech in their operations?

What types of projects can receive funding for small businesses in Ontario?

Is Ontario small business support grant taxable?

Are there specific grants available for hiring and training in the tech industry for small businesses in Ontario?

Can small businesses in the agri-food industries in Ontario benefit from government grants?

Are there grants available for specific industries in Ontario?

Will the Toronto Maple Leafs win the cup?

Where can I find more information about available grants?

By Province