Shipping costs can quickly impact your bottom line, especially if you ship products across Canada or run an online store. Canada Post’s small business shipping discounts are designed to lower those costs without locking you into contracts or minimum volumes. As a Crown corporation, Canada Post offers this program to help Canadian businesses save up to 36% on eligible shipping rates, depending on how much you ship each year.
Canada Post offers shipping discounts through its Solutions for Small Business™ — Shipping Discounts program. This is not a cash grant. It is a program that lowers your shipping costs directly at checkout or on your invoice.
Here’s how it works in practice:
The goal is simple: help Canadian small businesses compete by reducing logistics costs, especially for e‑commerce and product-based businesses.
Canada Post states that eligible businesses can save up to 36% on shipping costs through this program.
Key details to know:
Because the savings are applied as reduced rates, the benefit shows up immediately as lower expenses rather than delayed reimbursement.
Eligibility is broad and designed to be accessible.
To qualify, you must:
There are no industry restrictions listed, and eligibility is not limited by province or territory.
This makes the program especially useful for:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly see how programs like this fit alongside grants and tax credits available in your province.
No. This is an important distinction.
The Solutions for Small Business shipping discounts program is:
Instead of receiving money, your business benefits from reduced operating costs. For accounting purposes, these savings are generally treated as lower expenses, not taxable income.
That said, programs like this are often listed alongside grants because they improve cash flow and can complement funded growth projects.
There is no traditional application or approval process.
The steps are straightforward:
There are no deadlines and the program is currently open.
Assuming you need high shipping volumes
Many businesses delay signing up, thinking they won’t qualify. There is no minimum volume required to join.
Thinking discounts apply to every service
Not all Canada Post services are discounted. Always check which shipping options are eligible.
Treating this like a cash grant
This is a cost-reduction program. You won’t receive funds directly, so plan your cash flow accordingly.
Forgetting to compare with other supports
Shipping discounts work best when combined with grants, tax credits, or e‑commerce support programs.
Q: Is the Canada Post Solutions for Small Business program free to join?
Yes. Enrollment is free, and there are no monthly fees to access shipping discounts.
Q: Do the shipping discounts apply to international shipments?
Yes. Discounts can apply to both domestic and international shipping, including U.S. destinations.
Q: How are discount levels calculated?
Discounts are based on your annual shipping spend with Canada Post. Higher volumes typically result in higher savings.
Q: Are Canada Post shipping discounts taxable?
Generally, no. They are treated as reduced business expenses rather than taxable income, but you should confirm with your accountant.
Q: Can I combine this with other small business supports?
Yes. Shipping discounts can be used alongside grants, tax credits, and other non-repayable supports.
Canada Post small business shipping discounts are one of the easiest ways to lower operating costs without paperwork or waiting periods. When combined with grants and tax credits, they can make growth more affordable.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and support programs across Canada — check which ones match your business profile and stack with shipping discounts to reduce costs even further.
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