Small Business Access
Get support, information and advice to run your small business.
Get funding
Improve your digital presence
Learn more about a program to help main street businesses adopt new digital technologies and build an online presence.
Get help to pay for training costs
Learn how you can get up to $10,000 (per employee) through the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, a program that helps employers pay for training costs for current and future employees.
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
Apply for programs that support your small businesses in northern Ontario.
Indigenous Economic Development Fund
Apply for grants and financing for Indigenous businesses, communities and organizations.
Get business advice
Connect with your municipality
Reach out to your local Economic Development Office, which works with your small business to help you grow.
Contact your local Business Improvement Area, which organizes, finances and carries out physical improvements to your downtown core.
Start a business
Call or visit a Small Business Enterprise Centre or community-based provider to find the tools to help you start and grow your business.
Find employees
Reach out to Employment Ontario for help finding workers.
Connect with a business advisor
Our experts can help you weigh your financing options, and improve your business plan before you present to lending institutions.
Grow your business
Take your business global
Learn how to sell outside of Canada, grow your business through exports and get financial help and resources.
Sell to the Ontario government
We buy goods, services and construction from 51,000 vendors. Learn how to become one of these vendors.
Get federal government support
Explore what federal government support programs can do for your business through Innovation Canada.
Register your business
Search for, register and renew a business name online.
Get legal advice
Get free legal advice
Pro Bono Ontario provides free legal advice to small business owners over the phone.
Have a legal question? Call toll-free within Ontario:
Have a worker’s compensation or safety issue?
Get free, expert, and confidential advice, representation and education.
Know the important regulations
Employment Standards Act
Covers minimum wage, hours of work, termination of employment, public holidays, pregnancy and parental leave, severance pay, vacation and more.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Covers the rights and duties of all people in the workplace, as well as the procedures for dealing with workplace hazards and enforcement as needed.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
Learn how to meet the standard and make your employment practices accessible.
Get free training for you and your employees to meet these requirements.
Corporate income tax
Learn more about the changes we recently made to the small business corporate income tax rate.
Permits and licenses
Use BizPal to find the permits and licenses you need for your business.
Environmental approvals
Find out which approvals, permits and licenses you need to operate your business.