Business, workplace and economy

Start a business

Learn how to:

• choose your business structure
• register your business name in Ontario
• set up an Ontario business number for business tax purposes

Get a custom guide

Answer a few simple questions and get a downloadable custom guide to starting your business. For example:

• business registration
• getting an HST number
• setting up payroll and benefits
• permits, licensing and insurance

Check your permit or licence application status beta

Introducing a new unified experience for monitoring the progress of select provincial permits and licence applications.

Permits and licences

Find out what permits and licences are required for your business, based on your location, industry and business activities.

Find out how long it takes to process business permits and licences per ministry and method of request.

Close a business

Learn about how to close a business including succession planning, selling a business, closing accounts, and declaring bankruptcy.

Investment needs

Talk to a business consultant at Invest Ontario for your investment needs.

Free legal advice

Pro Bono Ontario provides free legal advice to small business owners over the phone.

Call toll-free within Ontario: 1-855-255-7256

Indigenous resources

Access the Indigenous business development toolkit for support on starting and expanding your business. In the toolkit, you can find:

• a list of Indigenous financial institutions that can help you plan your business
• instructions on how to bid on government contracts that benefit Indigenous people and communities

For practical advice, case studies and economic development resources to boost the local economy in your community, read the First Nations community economic development guide.

Technology and innovation centres

Visit a Regional Innovation Centre for programming and services to grow your innovation and technology company.

Funding opportunities

Ontario has a number of funds available for business and not-for-profit entrepreneurs. Depending on the type of business or not-for-profit you want to run, you may be eligible for programs and funding:

• Indigenous economic development — support for business, employment and training for Indigenous peoples
• Start a summer business — money and advice for students
• small and medium-sized businesses — advice, support and grants
• Starter Company Plus — training, mentoring and grants for starting, expanding or buying a small business
• Futurpreneur — financing, mentoring and support for aspiring business owners aged 18–39 to start, buy and grow a businesses
• Canada-Ontario Job Grant Program — funding to support training or workforce development needs
• Women’s Economic Security Program — entrepreneurship training programs for low-income women’s self-employment
• Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs
  (R.A.I.S.E) — funding to support Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs
• Digitalization Competence Centre — help for businesses to adopt digital tools into their operations
• Ontario Creates — services and funding for Ontario’s creative industries
• Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit — support for investments in buildings, machinery and equipment used for manufacturing or processing

View a full list of funding opportunities available to businesses and not-for-profits.

Programs by region

Get support to expand or bring business to your community:

• Eastern Ontario
• Northern Ontario
• Southwestern Ontario
• Rural Ontario

Employment Standards Act

Learn the rules about minimum wage, hours of work limits, termination of employment, job-protected leaves of absence and more.

Occupational Health and Safety Act

Learn about everyone’s rights and duties in the workplace, and how to deal with workplace hazards.

Learn about small business health and safety responsibilities and how to get help keeping your workplace safe.

Before starting specialized work (work that involves a trench, window cleaning, tunnelling, asbestos removal or diving) you must file a work notice to protect the health and safety of your workers.

Accessibility laws

Laws and standards are in place to make Ontario more inclusive for everyone.

• Get free training about Ontario’s accessibility laws.
• Learn about accessibility requirements and standards for your business.
• How to complete an accessibility report for a business or non-profit with 20 or more employees.

Consumer protection information for businesses

Learn how to comply with consumer protection laws and avoid consumer complaints.

Agriculture and food laws

Agri-food businesses must comply with food safety and agriculture laws. Meat plants must apply for a licence and follow specific acts and regulations related to meat processing.

Environmental permissions

Learn about the different types of environmental permissions you or your business may need and how to apply for each.

Animal welfare

Businesses with animals on the premises must comply with the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act.

Commercial vehicles

Learn how to get what you need to operate commercial vehicles, such as trucks or buses.

Ontario’s Building Code

Learn more about Ontario’s Building Code so your business can meet all required building regulations in Ontario.