
Business Navigators - NS
Last Update: July 22, 2025
NS, Canada
Help understanding business regulations in Nova Scotia
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- No Condition
Timeline
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Expert Advice
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open
Overview
Get timely information on rules and regulations specific to your business and help understanding how to comply with provincial regulations.
Activities funded
Business Navigators - NS aims to assist individuals in understanding the process of starting a business in Nova Scotia by providing guidance on regulatory and operational requirements. This includes helping with specific types of businesses and offering necessary resources.
- Guidance on starting a business, including understanding necessary regulations, licences, permits, and inspections.
- Providing overview guides on starting specific businesses such as restaurants, breweries, and convenience stores.
- Offering resources and information on financing, taxes, staffing, and start-up funding opportunities.
- Facilitating contact through Business Navigator Contact Form for personalized inquiries and support.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 12,000
Opening a community kitchen to provide meals to the underprivileged
$ 18,000
Establishing a cooperative workspace with necessary equipment
$ 11,000
Setting up a non-profit art gallery and obtaining necessary permits
$ 11,000
Launching a mobile app development business with required permits
$ 11,000
Opening an organic grocery store and obtaining necessary licenses
$ 13,000
Starting an IT consulting business with necessary permits and licenses
Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for assistance from Business Navigators include specific requirements for engaging with the service.
- Individuals must be looking to start a business in Nova Scotia.
- The enquiry should be related to understanding regulations, permits, licences, or registrations necessary for business operation.
- Applicants can seek information on starting specific types of businesses, such as restaurants, garages, or food trucks, among others.
Who is eligible?
The Business Navigator service is designed for individuals or entities looking to start a business in Nova Scotia. This service provides guidance on understanding regulations, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, and addressing inspection requirements. It is especially relevant for those aiming to start specific types of businesses such as a restaurant, garage, brewery, farm, or similar ventures in Nova Scotia. Entrepreneurs seeking to understand the regulatory landscape or requiring help with startup funding can benefit from using the Business Navigator Contact Form to get personalized assistance.
Who is not eligible
There are specific types of companies that may not be eligible for this grant.
- Companies engaged in illegal activities
- Non-profit organizations
- Individual entrepreneurs without a registered business
- Companies with outstanding tax issues
- Companies without a clear business plan
Eligible expenses
The Business Navigators program offers support to individuals looking to start specific types of businesses by providing guidance on regulations and necessary permits. These activities are designed to simplify the process of starting a business in Nova Scotia by addressing all essential compliance requirements.
- Starting a brewery with a focus on adherence to relevant regulations and permits.
- Initiating a construction business by ensuring compliance with required licences and permits.
- Establishing a convenience store, covering all necessary registrations and operational guidelines.
- Launching a farm with guidance on regulations and necessary permits.
- Setting up a food truck by following health and safety regulations and permits.
- Beginning a garage with the required operational licences and inspections.
- Creating a meat plant with focus on processing regulations and required permits.
- Opening a restaurant (food establishment) by understanding food safety regulations and necessary operating licences.
- Setting up an accommodation or campground with guidance on compliance requirements.
- Organizing an event by adhering to necessary regulations and obtaining permits.
Eligible geographic areas
This program is supported for businesses operating within the province in order to comply with provincial regulations effectively. Its primary focus is aiding companies to navigate the regulatory environment specific to Nova Scotia.
- Businesses located in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Selection criteria
There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Business viability and sustainability
- Alignment with regulatory requirements
- Economic impact and growth potential
- Feasibility of the business plan
- Entrepreneurial experience and skills
How to apply
1
Access Business Navigator Contact Form
- Visit the Nova Scotia government website or search for the Business Navigator Contact Form online.
- Open the contact form to start your query process.
2
Complete the Contact Form
- Fill out all required fields in the contact form, including your personal and business information.
- Specify the type of assistance or information you need regarding starting your business.
- Provide any additional details that might help the Business Navigator understand your requirements better.
3
Submit the Contact Form
- Review all the details entered in the form for accuracy.
- Submit the completed form through the provided submission method, usually by clicking the "Submit" button on the webpage.
4
Await Contact
Wait for a Business Navigator to contact you for further discussion or clarification based on your details and requirements.
Additional information
There are various types of companies eligible for this grant in Canada. The grant supports businesses in industries such as restaurants, construction, convenience stores, farms, food trucks, garages, meat plants, restaurants, accommodations, campgrounds, and events.
- Restaurants
- Construction businesses
- Convenience stores
- Farms
- Food trucks
- Garages
- Meat plants or meat processing plants
- Accommodations or campgrounds
- Events
There are specific types of companies that may not be eligible for this grant.
- Companies engaged in illegal activities
- Non-profit organizations
- Individual entrepreneurs without a registered business
- Companies with outstanding tax issues
- Companies without a clear business plan
Eligible expenses for this grant may include but are not limited to:
- Startup costs for the specific type of business
- Licenses and permits required to operate the business
- Inspection requirements
- Resources for start-up funding
There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. Applicants will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Business viability and sustainability
- Alignment with regulatory requirements
- Economic impact and growth potential
- Feasibility of the business plan
- Entrepreneurial experience and skills
Frequently Asked Questions about the Business Navigators - NS Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Business Navigators - NS. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Business Navigators - NS?
How much funding can be received?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the Business Navigators - NS a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the Business Navigators - NS?
Who is eligible for the Business Navigators - NS program?
Who can I contact for more information about the Business Navigators - NS?
Where is the Business Navigators - NS available?
Are startups eligible for the Business Navigators - NS program?

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