Government grants, loans and funding for small businesses

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 92 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER)

   Government of Ontario (Ministry of Energy and Mines; applied by utilities)

   Automatic percentage reduction on the electricity bills of eligible small businesses and farms.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

2. Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (lighting)

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Point-of-sale discounts on energy-efficient lighting products from participating distributors for existing Ontario commercial, agricultural, industrial, institutional...

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   58

   Top pick

3. Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Tax deduction plus investment tax credit for businesses conducting eligible R&D in Canada. Most CCPCs earn an enhanced, refundable 35% ITC up to an expenditure limit...

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $6M
   56

   Top pick

4. BDC Small Business Loan

   Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

   Online-assessed term loan of up to $350,000 for upcoming projects or expenses, with interest-only periods.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $350K
   55

   Top pick

5. Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (qualified small business corporation shares and farm/fishing property)

   Canada Revenue Agency / Finance Canada

   Individuals can shelter capital gains on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares and qualified farm or fishing property up to a lifetime limit.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $1.3M
   55

   Top pick

6. Small Business Deduction (reduced federal tax rate for CCPCs)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Reduced federal corporate income tax rate on active business income of Canadian-controlled private corporations, up to the business limit.

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   55

   Top pick

7. FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedDev Ontario

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for southern Ontario businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. Non-repayable for smaller amounts, repayable for large...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   54

   Top pick

8. Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)

   Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, delivered by banks and credit unions

   Government-backed loans through financial institutions to help small businesses finance equipment, leasehold improvements, intangibles and working capital. The lender...

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $1.1M
   53

   Top pick

9. Apprenticeship Achievement Incentive (employer and group sponsor milestone payments)

   Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

   Pays employers and group sponsors at apprentice milestones: registration, each in-class level, and certification.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $17K
   51

   Top pick

10. Save on Energy Small Business Program

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Free energy assessment plus no-cost direct installation of lighting, refrigeration and smart thermostat upgrades for small businesses.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $6K
    49

    Strong

11. OCI Digital Competence Centre

    Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

    Digital adoption support for Ontario SMEs, including funded digital modernization plans and technology demonstration projects.

    OpenOntarioGrantsUp to $50K
    46

    Strong

12. Save on Energy Retrofit Program

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Incentives for Ontario businesses, institutions, multi-residential and agricultural facilities that cut electricity use. Prescriptive (fixed per measure) and Custom...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    46

    Strong

13. Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)

    Ontario Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

    Refundable credit on qualifying scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) expenditures performed in Ontario by eligible corporations. Helps smaller...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesLimit $240K
    45

    Strong

14. FedNor - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

    FedNor

    Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for Northern Ontario businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
    44

    Strong

15. Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Business Development: Access to Capital (Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program)

    Indigenous Services Canada, delivered by Indigenous Financial Institutions and Metis Capital Corporations

    Non-repayable equity-type contributions and business services for Indigenous entrepreneurs and Indigenous community businesses to start, expand or acquire a business...

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $250K
    43

    Strong

16. Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)

    Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (federal-provincial cost-shared)

    Helps individual Ontario employers pay for short-term training for existing or new employees, with the government covering a share of eligible training costs.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
    42

    Strong

17. Ontario Job Grant (formerly Canada-Ontario Job Grant)

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Employment Ontario)

    Helps employers pay for short-term third-party training for new or existing employees. Employer and government share the training cost.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $15K
    42

    Strong

18. Mitacs Accelerate

    Mitacs

    Matches partner contributions to fund research internships connecting businesses and organizations with university researchers and trainees.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    41

    Strong

19. NGen Industrial AI Readiness Program

    NGen with NRC IRAP

    Reimburses SME manufacturers for professional fees of AI service providers for readiness evaluations and implementation plans.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $15K
    41

    Strong

20. FedNor - Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP)

    FedNor

    FedNor's NODP funds community economic development, SME business growth and a municipal/First Nation economic-development-officer initiative (CIINO) in Northern Ontario...

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $170K
    40

    Strong

21. Enbridge Gas Business Energy Efficiency Programs (UTILITY PROGRAM - not government)

    Enbridge Gas Inc. (private utility; NOT a government program)

    Natural-gas utility incentives for commercial and industrial customers: prescriptive equipment incentives, custom retrofits, new construction, audits and assessments...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    39

    Strong

22. Mitacs AI Advantage (ADOPT and AI+X)

    Mitacs

    Non-competitive Mitacs offerings supporting organizations to adopt and innovate with AI through trainee-led projects: ADOPT (AI readiness to implementation) and AI+X...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $25K
    39

    Strong

23. Save on Energy Energy Performance Program (EPP)

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Pay-for-performance incentives for commercial, institutional and industrial facilities that reduce electricity use through operational and capital changes, paid per kWh...

    OpenOntarioOther incentives
    39

    Strong

24. Work-Sharing Program (EI)

    Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada

    Employment Insurance support that lets employers avoid layoffs during a temporary drop in business by reducing hours while employees receive EI income support for the...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    39

    Strong

25. Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Green Jobs

    Natural Resources Canada, delivered through STIP - Green Jobs delivery organizations

    Funds employers to hire, train and mentor youth in energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences and clean technology roles for up to 12 months.

    OpenFederalOther incentives
    38

    Strong

26. BDC Pivot to Grow (tariff support loans)

    Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

    Liquidity, working capital and equipment financing for Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, with long interest-only periods and no prepayment penalty.

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $10M
    37

    Worth a look

27. Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program

    Employment and Social Development Canada (Reserve Force employer support)

    One-time financial support to civilian employers and self-employed reservists to offset operational costs when a reservist employee deploys on full-time operational duty.

    OpenFederalGrants
    37

    Worth a look

28. EDC Export Guarantee Program (EGP)

    Export Development Canada (EDC)

    Guarantees to your lender to secure flexible working capital, optimize an operating line or secure a new loan.

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $25M
    37

    Worth a look

29. FedDev Ontario - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

    FedDev Ontario

    Funded AI commercialization and AI adoption projects in southern Ontario. Intake has ended.

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $700M
    37

    Worth a look

30. Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI)

    Mitacs

    Matches partner funds to place students, postdocs and recent graduates in business-strategy and innovation projects at Canadian organizations.

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $15K
    37

    Worth a look

31. Save on Energy Peak Performance Program

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Demand response incentives for commercial and institutional buildings that reduce HVAC loads on forecast peak electricity demand days.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    37

    Worth a look

32. Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program

    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    A federal loan guarantee that makes it easier for farmers and agricultural co-operatives to get loans from lenders to establish, improve and develop farms.

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $500K
    36

    Worth a look

33. CanExport GAC-Led Delegations

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Covers part of the cost of SME participation in selected GAC-led trade missions and delegations.

    OpenFederalGrants
    36

    Worth a look

34. Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (Loan Fund, Ecosystem Fund, Knowledge Hub)

    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and regional development agencies (FedDev Ontario in southern Ontario)

    The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) funds supports for women entrepreneurs through the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (loans up to $50,000 via selected delivery...

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $6M
    36

    Worth a look

35. Worker Retention Grant (Work-Sharing)

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Provides additional income support to EI-eligible employees working reduced hours under an approved Work-Sharing agreement.

    OpenFederalGrants
    36

    Worth a look

36. EDC Trade Credit Insurance (Select and Portfolio)

    Export Development Canada (EDC)

    Insurance against non-payment by international buyers, improving access to financing through insured receivables.

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    35

    Worth a look

There are 56 more. Create a free account to filter the full list by your own profile.

Questions

How many programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 145 programs for small businesses in our database, 76 are open or ongoing and 16 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 4, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

FedDev Ontario - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $700M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Ontario Electricity Rebate (58, Top pick), Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program (58, Top pick), Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive (56, Top pick). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 76 open or ongoing programs here, 34 are in our Grants category, 19 are loans and 23 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

51 of the 76 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 25 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.