Looking for a small business grant in Canada? See if your business qualifies for any of the following small business grants. (If you have arrived on this page from search, there are more examples of Canadian small business grants on the previous page of this article.)
“Partial” Canadian Small Business Grant Programs
Then there are small business grant programs that aren't really. You’ll get some “free” money with these small business grant programs, but you’ll have to make your own financial contribution to get it:
- Toronto Region Sustainability Program- The purpose of the Toronto Region Sustainability Program is to cut down on the amount of smog, greenhouse gases, toxic releases to the air and sewers, and hazardous wastes which threaten the region’s environmental health. To this end, the program provides one-stop pollution prevention technical assistance for SME manufacturers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and a 50 percent cost-share funding incentive, up to a maximum of $5,000.
- Aboriginal Business Canada -They make a point of saying on the Web site that they don't provide small business grants, but Aboriginal Business Canada does provide funding for small businesses in the form of "non-repayable contributions". Applicants must be of aboriginal heritage and prepared to make a personal investment. For instance, if you wish to apply to start a small business offering business, professional, scientific or technical services you have to have a minimum of 15 percent cash equity to invest in the total eligible project costs.
The Best Canadian Small Business Grants of All
However, don't despair. While small business grants with no strings attached for just anybody who wants to start a business are few and far between, even better financial assistance is available - programs.
If you are willing to make the required contribution, (often some kind of sweat equity) and demonstrate your level of commitment, these programs offer small business funding and the kind of support, such as training and/or mentoring that can make the difference between success and failure.
- Self Employment Program - What makes this program so outstanding is the level of support provided. Participants not only get help in creating a business plan for a viable business, but receive income support while they do it – for up to a year (or up to 78 weeks for a person with a disability). You have to be Employment Insurance eligible to apply.
- Summer Company Program for Young Entrepreneurs - Students in Ontario aged 15 to 29 can receive small business grants ("awards") of up to $3000 and hands-on entrepreneur training and support to run their own summer businesses.
- Agri-Opportunities Program - This program provides repayable and non-repayable contributions for the commercialization of new innovative value-added agricultural, agri-food and agri-based products, services and processes that are currently not commercially produced or available in Canada and that are ready to be introduced into the marketplace.
These are only some of the government programs that provide “non-repayable contributions”, “awards”, “shared-cost subsidies” or other funding similar (or even identical to) a small business grant. For more small business grants in Canada that your business may be eligible for, see my Small Business Grants section. And for even more sources of financing, be sure to consider small business loans, as there are many more Canadian small business loan programs than small business grants.
