All programs128 programs
Programs available in Ontario
128 programs
for Ontario businesses.
Federal programs available across Canada, plus 46 Ontario-specific grants and tax credits. Updated regularly.
Find my matches in 3 minutesOntario grant landscape
What makes Ontario different.
Ontario hosts the largest concentration of Canadian small businesses by total revenue and absolute count. The province offers a deeper provincial stack of tax credits and grant programs than most, particularly for technology, manufacturing, film, and book publishing. If you operate in Ontario, you have access to the federal layer plus a substantial provincial layer that many founders never fully claim.
The standout programs.
Ontario's strongest play for SMBs is the combination of the Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC) and Ontario-specific manufacturing credits. The OITC stacks on top of federal SR&ED for any business doing R&D in Ontario, and is refundable for smaller corporations. The Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit gives a 10 percent refundable credit on qualifying capital purchases.
The administering ecosystem.
Ontario's regional development agencies (FedDev for the south, FedNor for the north) provide interest-free or low-interest contributions for scale-up projects. The Ontario Centres of Innovation administers several research programs. Ontario Creates handles all film, TV, and digital media tax credits.
What founders should do first.
- 01Register with the Ontario Business Registry as soon as you incorporate provincially. It is required for most other applications and worth doing the same week.
- 02If you do any R&D, plan to claim OITC at the same time as federal SR&ED. They use mostly the same documentation.
- 03If you are a manufacturer making capital investments, file the Ontario Made schedule even if amounts are small. The credit is refundable.
- 04Look at FedDev Ontario early if your business is in Southern Ontario and growing - their staff are responsive and helpful for first-time applicants.
Top programs to look at first.
TAX CREDIT
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
8–12% of eligible R&D expenditures
TAX CREDITOntario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit
10% of qualifying investments, up to $2M
TAX CREDITOntario Film and Television Tax Credit
35% to 40% of eligible Ontario labour
TAX CREDITOntario Book Publishing Tax Credit
30% of eligible expenses, up to $30,000 per book
GRANTFedDev Ontario Business Scale-Up
Up to $10,000,000 (most awards much smaller)
GRANTFedNor Northern Ontario Development Program
Up to $500,000 (most awards under $100K)
TAX CREDITOntario Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
10% of eligible capital costs
Ontario-specific programs
Only available to businesses in Ontario.
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
TAX CREDIT8–12% of eligible R&D expenditures
Ontario Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT10% of eligible capital costs
Provincial R&D Tax Credits
TAX CREDIT3.5–30% of eligible R&D costs
FedDev Ontario Business Scale-Up
GRANTUp to $10,000,000 (most awards much smaller)
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT35% to 40% of eligible Ontario labour
Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT30% of eligible expenses, up to $30,000 per book
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT10% of qualifying investments, up to $2M
FedNor Northern Ontario Development Program
GRANTUp to $500,000 (most awards under $100K)
Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit (ORDTC)
TAX CREDIT3.5% of eligible R&D expenditures
Toronto Commercial Façade Improvement Grant
GRANT50% of costs up to $12,500, plus up to $2,500 for AODA upgrades and bonuses for multi-unit properties
Toronto Commercial Space Renovation Grant
GRANT50% of costs up to a $20,000 base grant, plus up to $4,000 for AODA upgrades and more for multi-unit properties
Mississauga Starter Company Plus (MBEC)
GRANTMicro-grant up to $5,000 (requires 25% applicant contribution)
Starter Company Plus
GRANTUp to $5,000
Summer Company
GRANTUp to $3,000
Ontario Together Trade Fund
GRANTCost-shared funding, up to $5 million per project
NOHFC Invest North - Launch
GRANTUp to $200,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs)
NOHFC Invest North - Grow
GRANTUp to $400,000 contribution or up to $1,000,000 loan
NOHFC Invest North - Innovation
GRANTUp to $2 million (up to 50% of eligible costs)
NOHFC Invest North - Locate
GRANTUp to $5 million
NOHFC Film & Television Program
GRANTUp to $2 million (up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs)
Eastern Ontario Development Fund
GRANTUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivable
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
GRANTUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivable
Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream
GRANTUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivable
Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program
GRANTBusinesses: up to $10,000 (35% cost-share); community streams up to $250,000
Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP)
GRANTUp to $150,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs)
Skills Development Fund - Capital Stream
GRANTGROW pathway up to 49% of eligible capital costs
Co-operative Education Tax Credit
TAX CREDIT25-30% of wages, up to $3,000 per work placement
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
TAX CREDIT35-40% of eligible Ontario labour and qualifying costs
Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE)
TAX CREDIT18% of eligible Ontario labour (no cap)
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC)
TAX CREDIT35% of eligible Ontario labour (40% first-time producers, plus 10% regional bonus)
Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC)
TAX CREDIT21.5% of qualifying Ontario production expenditures (no cap)
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (OMMITC)
TAX CREDIT15% of eligible investments, up to $3 million per year
Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF)
GRANTVaries by stream (project-based investment)
Hamilton Commercial District Revitalization Grant
GRANT50% matching grant for eligible work
London Core Area Facade Improvement Loan
INCENTIVE50% of costs up to $50,000, 0% interest over 10 years (portion may be forgivable)
Kitchener Downtown Facade Grant
GRANT50% of costs, up to $10,000 per storefront ($30,000 multi-storefront, $20,000 corner)
Brampton Central Area Facade and Building Improvement Grants
GRANTUp to $30,000 per program (facade plus building up to $60,000), 50% of costs
Waubetek Indigenous Business Financing
INCENTIVETerm loans up to $500,000; ABFP financing up to $250,000
Metis Voyageur Development Fund (Ontario Metis)
INCENTIVEFinancing up to $1,500,000 plus non-repayable business plan support
WEOC National Loan Program
INCENTIVEUp to $50,000
Save on Energy Small Business Program (Ontario)
INCENTIVEUp to $3,000 lighting plus up to $2,500 non-lighting equipment, installed free
Save on Energy Retrofit Program (Ontario)
INCENTIVEUp to 50% of project cost; custom track $1,800/kW or $0.20/kWh
PARO Prosper Peer Lending Circles (Ontario)
INCENTIVEPeer lending circle loans of $1,000 to $5,000
Waubetek Aboriginal Business Financing (North-Eastern Ontario)
INCENTIVEUp to $250,000 interest-free repayable financing (up to $20,000 women's stream)
Métis Voyageur Development Fund (Ontario)
INCENTIVEBusiness financing up to $1,500,000
Enbridge Gas Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentives (Ontario)
INCENTIVEUp to 50% of cost (prescriptive) or 75% (custom), to $100,000 per project; small business up to 100%
Grants available in Ontario
49Canada Job Grant
Up to $10,000 per employeeGrant
Futurpreneur Canada Startup Loan
Up to $25,000Grant
CanExport SMEs
Up to $50,000 (50% of eligible costs)Grant
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Up to $50,000 (SME stream)Grant
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund
Up to $100,000Grant
AgriInvest
Up to $10,000 per year matchedGrant
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Up to $30,000 per youth hiredGrant
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
Up to $7,000 per studentGrant
Mitacs Accelerate
$10,000 per 4-month internshipGrant
Clean Growth Hub Programs
Varies by underlying programGrant
FedDev Ontario Business Scale-Up
ONTARIOUp to $10,000,000 (most awards much smaller)Grant
FedNor Northern Ontario Development Program
ONTARIOUp to $500,000 (most awards under $100K)Grant
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Project-by-project, typically $10M to $100M+Grant
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
50% of intern stipend, up to $7,500 per internshipGrant
NACCA Aboriginal Business Financing Program (ABFP)
Up to $99,999 (sole proprietor) or $250,000 (corporation)Grant
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada Grants
Up to $25,000 per streamGrant
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP)
Varies by stream, typically $10,000 to $200,000Grant
Clean Fuels Fund
Up to 30% of eligible capital costs, ceilings varyGrant
Mitacs Globalink Research Internship
Mitacs covers $6,000 of internship stipendGrant
Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur
Up to $15,000 per 4-month internshipGrant
SSHRC Partnership Grants
Up to $2.5M per partnership over 7 yearsGrant
Toronto Commercial Façade Improvement Grant
ONTARIO50% of costs up to $12,500, plus up to $2,500 for AODA upgrades and bonuses for multi-unit propertiesGrant
Toronto Commercial Space Renovation Grant
ONTARIO50% of costs up to a $20,000 base grant, plus up to $4,000 for AODA upgrades and more for multi-unit propertiesGrant
Mississauga Starter Company Plus (MBEC)
ONTARIOMicro-grant up to $5,000 (requires 25% applicant contribution)Grant
Starter Company Plus
ONTARIOUp to $5,000Grant
Summer Company
ONTARIOUp to $3,000Grant
Ontario Together Trade Fund
ONTARIOCost-shared funding, up to $5 million per projectGrant
NOHFC Invest North - Launch
ONTARIOUp to $200,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs)Grant
NOHFC Invest North - Grow
ONTARIOUp to $400,000 contribution or up to $1,000,000 loanGrant
NOHFC Invest North - Innovation
ONTARIOUp to $2 million (up to 50% of eligible costs)Grant
NOHFC Invest North - Locate
ONTARIOUp to $5 millionGrant
NOHFC Film & Television Program
ONTARIOUp to $2 million (up to 50% of eligible Northern Ontario costs)Grant
Eastern Ontario Development Fund
ONTARIOUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivableGrant
Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
ONTARIOUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivableGrant
Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC) Stream
ONTARIOUp to $5 million loan (up to 15% of costs), up to 30% forgivableGrant
Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program
ONTARIOBusinesses: up to $10,000 (35% cost-share); community streams up to $250,000Grant
Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP)
ONTARIOUp to $150,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs)Grant
Skills Development Fund - Capital Stream
ONTARIOGROW pathway up to 49% of eligible capital costsGrant
Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF)
ONTARIOVaries by stream (project-based investment)Grant
Hamilton Commercial District Revitalization Grant
ONTARIO50% matching grant for eligible workGrant
Kitchener Downtown Facade Grant
ONTARIO50% of costs, up to $10,000 per storefront ($30,000 multi-storefront, $20,000 corner)Grant
Brampton Central Area Facade and Building Improvement Grants
ONTARIOUp to $30,000 per program (facade plus building up to $60,000), 50% of costsGrant
VAC Education and Training Benefit
Up to roughly $99,000 lifetime, with up to about $6,300 reserved for short coursesGrant
VAC Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program
Covers approved training and re-establishment costs; can pair with the Income Replacement Benefit at 90% of pre-release salaryGrant
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Employer Wage Subsidy)
Wage subsidy negotiated with the local delivery agent; program guidance averages about $12,000 in supports per participantGrant
Enabling Accessibility Fund: Small Projects Component
Up to $125,000 per project (recent small projects calls); some calls have set higher per-project ceilingsGrant
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital
Up to $99,999 for individuals; up to $250,000 for community businessesGrant
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Business Opportunities
Up to $500,000 per recipient per year; up to 100% of eligible costsGrant
CWCF Technical Assistance Grants
Up to $4,000 per grantGrant
Tax Credits available in Ontario
22GST/HST Input Tax Credits (ITCs)
5–15% back on all business expensesTax Credit
Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
Up to $2,000 per apprentice per yearTax Credit
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)
ONTARIO8–12% of eligible R&D expendituresTax Credit
Ontario Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
ONTARIO10% of eligible capital costsTax Credit
Provincial R&D Tax Credits
ONTARIO3.5–30% of eligible R&D costsTax Credit
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit
ONTARIO35% to 40% of eligible Ontario labourTax Credit
Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit
ONTARIO30% of eligible expenses, up to $30,000 per bookTax Credit
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit
ONTARIO10% of qualifying investments, up to $2MTax Credit
Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC)
15% of qualifying exploration expenses (to investor)Tax Credit
Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)
25% of qualifying labour expendituresTax Credit
Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)
16% of qualifying Canadian labour expendituresTax Credit
Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit
30% of eligible clean technology investmentTax Credit
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Investment Tax Credit
18.75% to 60% of eligible CCUS investmentTax Credit
Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit
15% to 40% of eligible clean hydrogen investmentTax Credit
Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit (ORDTC)
ONTARIO3.5% of eligible R&D expendituresTax Credit
Medical Expense Tax Credit (Business Owner)
15% federal + provincial portion of eligible medical expensesTax Credit
Co-operative Education Tax Credit
ONTARIO25-30% of wages, up to $3,000 per work placementTax Credit
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
ONTARIO35-40% of eligible Ontario labour and qualifying costsTax Credit
Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE)
ONTARIO18% of eligible Ontario labour (no cap)Tax Credit
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit (OFTTC)
ONTARIO35% of eligible Ontario labour (40% first-time producers, plus 10% regional bonus)Tax Credit
Ontario Production Services Tax Credit (OPSTC)
ONTARIO21.5% of qualifying Ontario production expenditures (no cap)Tax Credit
Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (OMMITC)
ONTARIO15% of eligible investments, up to $3 million per yearTax Credit
Deductions available in Ontario
19Small Business Deduction (SBD)
Up to $30,000 per year in tax savingsDeduction
Home Office Expense Deduction
Typically $3,000–$12,000 per yearDeduction
Motor Vehicle Expense Deduction
Typically $4,000–$15,000 per yearDeduction
Accelerated Investment Incentive (AII)
30–100% of asset cost in year 1Deduction
Business Meals & Entertainment Deduction
50% of all qualifying expensesDeduction
Zero-Emission Vehicle 100% Deduction
Full vehicle cost in year 1 (up to $55,000+)Deduction
Eligible Capital Property Deduction (Class 14.1)
5% of eligible capital costs per yearDeduction
Manufacturing and Processing Profits Deduction
6% federal tax savings on M&P incomeDeduction
Education and Training Expense Deduction
100% of qualifying training costsDeduction
Canadian Advertising Deduction
100% of qualifying ad spendDeduction
Bad Debt Deduction
100% of uncollectible receivablesDeduction
Professional Fees Deduction
100% of qualifying feesDeduction
Trade Show, Conference, and Certification Deduction
100% of event costs (excluding meals)Deduction
Provincial Small Business Tax Rate Reduction
Up to 15% combined effective rate savingsDeduction
Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE)
Up to $1.25 million in tax-free gains (2026, indexed to inflation)Deduction
Individual Pension Plan (IPP) for Owner-Managers
$10K to $40K+ extra annual deductions vs RRSPDeduction
Shareholder Loan Interest Deduction
Variable: based on loan amount and rateDeduction
Incorporation and Reorganization Costs
100% of qualifying costsDeduction
Worker Co-operative Capital Gains Exemption
Up to $10,000,000 in capital gains exempted from taxDeduction
Incentives available in Ontario
38BDC Growth & Transition Capital
Up to $5,000,000Incentive
Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
Up to $1,000,000 in financingIncentive
AgriStability
Up to 70% of margin declineIncentive
Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB)
Access to ~$1.5B annual federal procurement set-asideIncentive
Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Up to $50,000 loanIncentive
Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (FACE)
Loans from $10,000 to $250,000Incentive
BDC Equipment Purchase Loan
Up to 125% of equipment cost, terms up to 10 yearsIncentive
BDC Commercial Real Estate Loan
Up to 100% of property value (with partner lender)Incentive
BDC Purchase Order Financing
Up to 100% of fulfillment cost per orderIncentive
BDC Working Capital Loan
Up to $250,000 with no fixed assetIncentive
London Core Area Facade Improvement Loan
ONTARIO50% of costs up to $50,000, 0% interest over 10 years (portion may be forgivable)Incentive
Waubetek Indigenous Business Financing
ONTARIOTerm loans up to $500,000; ABFP financing up to $250,000Incentive
Metis Voyageur Development Fund (Ontario Metis)
ONTARIOFinancing up to $1,500,000 plus non-repayable business plan supportIncentive
IWSCC Veteran-Owned Business Certification
Certification costs $500 per year; opens access to corporate and government supplier diversity procurementIncentive
CFMWS HERCS Entrepreneur Workshop
$0 fee (free workshop); covers small business startup and financing fundamentalsIncentive
IWSCC Disabled-Owned Business Certification
Certification costs $500 per year; opens access to corporate and government supplier diversity procurementIncentive
Futurpreneur Newcomer Startup Program
Up to $25,000 in loans plus two years of mentorshipIncentive
Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship (IWE) Program
Microloans up to $50,000 plus advisory supportIncentive
Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship (IYE) Program
Up to $75,000 in combined loans and grantsIncentive
Canadian Co-operative Investment Fund (CCIF)
$50,000 to $1,250,000 in loans, quasi-equity, or equityIncentive
CWCF Tenacity Works Fund
$15,000 to $50,000 term loansIncentive
Co-operative Housing Development Program (CHDP)
Forgivable and low-interest loans funding up to 100% of eligible costsIncentive
Social Finance Fund (SFF)
Repayable investment capital (part of $400M+ deployed through intermediaries)Incentive
Social Finance Fund: Boann Social Impact
$154,000,000 deployed nationally through impact funds and intermediariesIncentive
Social Finance Fund: Realize Capital Partners
Part of $400M+ SFF capital deployed through intermediariesIncentive
WEOC National Loan Program
ONTARIOUp to $50,000Incentive
BDC Thrive Venture Fund for Women
Direct equity from the $500M Thrive platform (seed to Series A/B)Incentive
BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund
Equity investmentIncentive
BDC Inclusive Entrepreneurship Loan
Up to $350,000Incentive
Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP)
Up to $5,000 per vehicle (up to 10 vehicles for a business)Incentive
Save on Energy Small Business Program (Ontario)
ONTARIOUp to $3,000 lighting plus up to $2,500 non-lighting equipment, installed freeIncentive
Save on Energy Retrofit Program (Ontario)
ONTARIOUp to 50% of project cost; custom track $1,800/kW or $0.20/kWhIncentive
PARO Prosper Peer Lending Circles (Ontario)
ONTARIOPeer lending circle loans of $1,000 to $5,000Incentive
Waubetek Aboriginal Business Financing (North-Eastern Ontario)
ONTARIOUp to $250,000 interest-free repayable financing (up to $20,000 women's stream)Incentive
Métis Voyageur Development Fund (Ontario)
ONTARIOBusiness financing up to $1,500,000Incentive
Enbridge Gas Commercial Energy Efficiency Incentives (Ontario)
ONTARIOUp to 50% of cost (prescriptive) or 75% (custom), to $100,000 per project; small business up to 100%Incentive
Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP)
Up to 50% of project costs, max $2,000,000 per project (75% for Indigenous organizations)Incentive
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) Employer Program
$0 cost to employers (federally funded program, roughly $30M to 2027)Incentive
Which of these do you actually qualify for?
Take the 3-minute quiz and we'll filter all 128 programs down to just the ones your Ontario business is eligible for.
Find my matches