Federal government grants, loans and incentives for small businesses

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 58 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Mitacs Accelerate

   Mitacs

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

   OngoingFederalGrants
   41

   Strong

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. EDC Trade Expansion Lending Program (TELP)

    Export Development Canada (EDC), delivered by partner lenders

    EDC guarantees part of a loan or line of credit so your financial institution can offer more working capital to exporters.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    35

    Worth a look

26. BDC Loan for Tech Companies

    Business Development Bank of Canada

    Flexible loans for revenue-generating technology companies that want to scale without giving up shares.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

27. Community Futures Program (Northern Ontario)

    FedNor via Community Futures Development Corporations

    CFDCs provide community planning, business information and planning services, and access to capital for SMEs and social enterprises in Northern Ontario.

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

28. Community Futures Program (southern Ontario, FedDev Ontario-funded CFDCs)

    FedDev Ontario via local Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs)

    FedDev Ontario funds Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in rural southern Ontario that provide business loans, business services and community economic...

    OngoingFederalLoans
    34

    Worth a look

29. Enabling Accessibility Fund - Express Workplace Accessibility Grant (EWAG)

    Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada)

    Funds immediate workplace accessibility updates that support hiring, retention or continued employment of persons with disabilities. Projects can remove barriers through...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    34

    Worth a look

30. GST/HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate and Purpose-Built Rental Housing rebate (100%)

    Canada Revenue Agency

    Rebate to landlords and builders of GST/HST paid on newly built or substantially renovated residential rental property; purpose-built rental buildings can get the GST...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    34

    Worth a look

31. Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

    Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by employer delivery partners (e.g., Technation, ECO Canada, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Magnet)

    Wage subsidies to employers that hire post-secondary students (co-op, internship, practicum) in work-integrated learning placements. Employers apply year-round through...

    OngoingFederalOther incentivesUp to $5K
    34

    Worth a look

32. Mitacs Elevate

    Mitacs

    A one- to two-year program that places postdoctoral fellows with partner organizations to solve R&D challenges, with an academic supervisor and professional development...

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $60K
    32

    Worth a look

33. Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund

    ISED, delivered by WEOC, NACCA, Nventure and Evol

    Microloans of up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs to start or grow businesses, delivered by partner organizations.

    OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $50K
    32

    Worth a look

34. NSERC Alliance grants and Ontario Centre of Innovation Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C)

    NSERC and Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)

    A joint streamlined funding stream that matches an Ontario company with an Ontario university researcher for a short research collaboration, combining NSERC Alliance...

    OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    31

    Worth a look

35. Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (SWIF)

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Continuous-intake fund for industry-led workforce projects that scale proven training initiatives, build talent pipelines for national priorities, or mobilize industry...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $10M
    31

    Worth a look

36. FedNor - Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII)

    FedNor

    Helps Northern Ontario SMEs, not-for-profits, Indigenous organizations and municipalities commercialize and adopt AI. For-profits normally receive repayable...

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $700M
    30

    Worth a look

There are 22 more. Create a free account to filter the full list by your own profile.

Questions

How many federal programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 89 federal programs for small businesses in our database, 51 are open or ongoing and 7 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 federal programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive (56, Top pick), BDC Small Business Loan (55, Top pick), Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (55, 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 51 open or ongoing programs here, 24 are in our Grants category, 18 are loans and 9 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

51 of the 51 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 0 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.