If you run a small business in Ontario, Digital Main Street onboarding is a practical first step to improve your online presence. The process is free and designed to assess where your business stands today, then give you clear, useful recommendations for going digital. Digital Main Street is supported by the Province of Ontario and delivered through local partners. The City of Toronto is one example.
For many businesses, this onboarding is also a starting point before applying to other digital grants or training programs.
Digital Main Street (DMS) is a free digital adoption program for main street businesses in Ontario. It helps small businesses build or improve websites, e-commerce, digital marketing, and online tools through guided support and training.
The onboarding step matters because it:
Digital Main Street itself does not provide direct cash funding. Instead, it offers free support, diagnostics, and education that can prepare you for funded programs later.
Digital Main Street is open to small, main street businesses in Ontario. While eligibility can vary by local delivery partner, it typically includes:
There is no cost to participate in onboarding.
To start Digital Main Street onboarding, create an account on the official Digital Main Street platform. You will be asked for:
This information is used only to tailor your recommendations.
You can finish the digital assessment in 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your business.
You will answer questions about:
Your answers help identify gaps and quick wins.
After onboarding, you receive a customized digital action plan. This includes:
This plan is practical and written in plain language, so you can act on it right away.
If you want to build on this plan, GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter related digital programs by province and business type in seconds.
Once onboarding is complete, you can:
Many businesses use Digital Main Street onboarding as a foundation before applying to programs like CDAP or regional digital transformation grants.
Rushing through the assessment
Quick answers lead to generic recommendations. Take time to answer honestly for better results.
Assuming Digital Main Street gives cash grants
DMS provides free tools and support, not direct funding. Funding usually comes later through other programs.
Skipping workshops after onboarding
The real value comes from training and follow-up support, not just the initial checklist.
Not updating your profile
If your business changes, update your DMS account so your recommendations stay relevant.
Q: How long does Digital Main Street onboarding take?
Most businesses complete onboarding in 15 to 30 minutes. More complex businesses may take slightly longer.
Q: Is Digital Main Street a grant program?
No. Digital Main Street does not provide direct cash funding. It offers free assessments, training, and digital support.
Q: Who is Digital Main Street for?
It is designed for small, main street businesses in Ontario, especially retail, service, and consumer-facing businesses.
Q: Does Digital Main Street cost anything?
No. Onboarding, assessments, workshops, and advisory support are free for eligible businesses.
Q: Can I combine Digital Main Street with other digital grants?
Yes. Many businesses use DMS onboarding to prepare for funded programs like CDAP or regional digital transformation grants.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and support programs across Canada—check which ones match your business profile.
Completing Digital Main Street onboarding gives you a clear picture of where your business stands digitally and what to do next. Once you have your action plan, the next step is to explore which provincial or federal programs can help fund those improvements. With GrantHub, Canadian businesses can identify digital grants and support programs that align with their goals.
See also:
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