Ontario Business Grant Options for 2025–2026: A Practical Starting Point

If you’re searching for an Ontario business grant, you’re likely trying to answer one question: what funding is actually available right now, and where do I start? As of March 2026, Ontario businesses can access a mix of provincial and federal programs offering anywhere from $5,000 for startups to millions for established employers, depending on your size, location, and goals.

This page is a hub. It gives you a clear map of active Ontario business grant and funding options for 2025–2026, plus links to official portals where deadlines and intakes are posted.

Core Ontario Business Grant and Funding Programs (2025–2026)

Below are the main programs Ontario business owners search for most often. These are real, active programs, with funding amounts and eligibility pulled from official sources.

1. Starter Company Plus (Ontario)

Best for: New and early-stage entrepreneurs

Funding: Grants of up to $5,000
What’s included: Mandatory business training, mentoring, and coaching
Who’s eligible:
- Ontario residents aged 18+
- Starting a new business or growing a very small one
- Able to commit time to training
How it’s delivered: Through local Small Business Enterprise Centres across Ontario

This is one of the few true Ontario business grants for startups that does not require repayment.

2. Canada–Ontario Job Grant (COJG)

Best for: Employers hiring or upskilling staff

Funding: Up to $10,000 per trainee
Cost coverage: Typically covers 50–83% of eligible training costs, depending on employer size
Eligible training: Third-party, skills-based training (not internal onboarding)
Who can apply: Most Ontario employers, including small and medium-sized businesses

While not labelled as a “grant” in marketing terms, COJG is one of the most-used Ontario business funding programs because it directly reduces payroll-related training costs.

3. Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF)

Best for: Established businesses facing trade or supply-chain disruptions

Funding: Up to $5 million
Coverage: Maximum 75% of eligible project costs
Eligibility highlights:
- For-profit business registered and operating in Ontario
- At least 3 years of operations
- Minimum 5 full-time equivalent employees
- Demonstrated impact from U.S. tariffs or trade disruptions
Uses: Equipment, expansion, reshoring supply chains, market diversification

This is one of the largest Ontario business grant-style programs available in 2025–2026, though it is competitive and project-based.

4. RAISE 2025–26 (Targeted Ontario Grant)

Best for: Indigenous, Black, and other racialized entrepreneurs

Funding: One-time $10,000 grant
Extras: Training and business coaching
Intake style: First-come, first-served (until funds run out)
Focus: Early-stage and growth-oriented small businesses in Ontario

Because of limited intake windows, this Ontario business grant often fills quickly.

5. FedDev Ontario (Southern Ontario)

Best for: Growing SMEs in Southern Ontario

Funding type: Grants and repayable contributions
Typical range: Tens of thousands to several million dollars
Priority areas: Manufacturing, clean tech, innovation, productivity, export growth
Who’s eligible: Incorporated businesses operating in Southern Ontario

FedDev programs are federal, but they are often the largest funding source available to Ontario-based businesses.

Where to Find Open Ontario Business Grant Calls

Some Ontario business grants do not have fixed deadlines. They open and close based on budgets. These portals are your safest starting points:

Ontario funding portal (Transfer Payment Ontario): Central list of current provincial programs and open calls
Government of Canada Business Benefits Finder: Matches federal and provincial funding to your business profile

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by province and industry in seconds, especially when intakes change mid-year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Only searching for “free money.”
Many Ontario business grants are tied to training, hiring, or projects. Ignoring these means missing real funding.
Waiting until the deadline week.
Programs like RAISE and OTTF often close early when funds are fully committed.
Applying without matching eligibility exactly.
Employee counts, years in operation, and location rules are strict. Small mismatches lead to rejections.
Overlooking federal programs available in Ontario.
FedDev Ontario funding is often larger than provincial-only grants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a single Ontario business grant everyone qualifies for?
No. Each Ontario business grant has specific rules tied to size, industry, location, or purpose. Most businesses qualify for some funding, but not the same program.

Q: Are Ontario business grants taxable?
In most cases, yes. Grant funds are usually considered business income. Confirm with your accountant before applying.

Q: Can startups get Ontario business grants in 2025–2026?
Yes, but options are limited. Starter Company Plus and RAISE are the most common entry points for early-stage businesses.

Q: Do I need to repay Ontario grants?
True grants do not require repayment. Some programs, especially through FedDev Ontario, use repayable contributions instead.

Q: Can I apply for more than one Ontario business grant?
Often yes, as long as programs do not fund the same expenses. This is common with training plus growth funding.

GrantHub tracks 2,500+ active grant programs across Canada — check which ones match your business profile.

Next Steps

Ontario business grants change often, and many programs never show up in simple Google searches. The smartest next step is to confirm which Ontario and federal programs actually fit your business today, based on your size, revenue, and location.

If you’re also exploring related funding, see our guides on Money from the Ontario Government in 2025 and Co-op Student Funding in Ontario.

Ontario Business Grant Options for 2025–2026: A Practical Starting Point