Administered by Government of Ontario · Last verified: July 2026
Income support for unemployed Ontarians starting a business. Pay yourself while you bootstrap. Highly competitive but life-changing for new entrepreneurs who qualify.
Discontinued (ended 2016) We keep this page for reference, but we will not recommend it as a current match.
Review times vary by program, from a few weeks to a few months, so check the official page for its timeline. Grant money is usually paid after you sign a funding agreement, and cost-shared programs often reimburse you once you send proof of what you spent.
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out, and see every other Canadian program you qualify for at the same time.
Check my eligibilityOntario Self-Employment Benefit is generally open to self-employed businesses, in Ontario, under 1 years old. Confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying.
The estimated value is Up to $13,520 over 42 weeks. The actual amount depends on your eligible costs, the program's budget, and approval.
No. Ontario Self-Employment Benefit has closed to new applicants (Discontinued (ended 2016)). This page is kept for reference.
Up to $10,000,000 (most awards much smaller)
GRANTUp to $500,000 (most awards under $100K)
GRANT50% of costs up to $12,500, plus up to $2,500 for accessibility upgrades and bonuses for multi-unit properties