Toronto Small Business Grants & Funding in 2026: What’s Open Now?

Searching for small business grants in Toronto can be surprisingly confusing.

A program may still appear in Google even though applications closed months ago. Some funding advertised as a “grant” is actually repayable. Other programs require several years in business, multiple employees or a significant expansion project.

So, what funding can a Toronto business actually pursue in 2026?

The answer depends heavily on the size and stage of your business. Several of Toronto’s most accessible small-business grants are currently closed, while larger federal programs remain available for qualifying established companies.

Here is where things stand as of August 31, 2026.

Quick summary

• Regional Tariff Response Initiative — $125,000–$10M — OPEN
• Starter Company Plus — $5,000 — CLOSED
• CanExport SMEs — Up to $50,000 — CLOSED Aug. 31
• Toronto Trade Accelerator Program — $5,000 — CLOSED
• Summer Company — Up to $3,000 — CLOSED
• Commercial Space Renovation Grant — Up to $20,000+ — CLOSED

Program availability can change. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and whether funding is repayable with the administering government agency.

1. Regional Tariff Response Initiative: currently open

One of the largest programs currently available to qualifying southern Ontario businesses is the federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative, or RTRI.

The program is intended to help companies affected by tariffs and global trade disruptions invest in areas such as productivity, technology, supply-chain resilience and new markets.

Businesses can normally request $125,000 to $10 million in repayable funding, or $125,000 to $1 million in non-repayable funding under the current program parameters.

This is not designed for most brand-new microbusinesses. Eligible applicants generally need to be incorporated, located and operating in southern Ontario, and meet the program’s business eligibility requirements.

For established Toronto companies dealing with trade disruption, this is one of the most significant current funding opportunities.

2. Starter Company Plus: $5,000, but applications are closed

For smaller entrepreneurs, Starter Company Plus is one of Toronto’s better-known grant programs.

The City of Toronto program combines business training and mentoring with the opportunity to receive a $5,000 micro-grant.

However, applications are currently closed. The City recommends subscribing to its BusinessTO newsletter for announcements about future rounds.

The program is worth watching rather than treating as funding you can apply for immediately.

3. CanExport SMEs: up to $50,000, but the 2026 intake has just closed

Businesses looking to expand outside Canada should know about CanExport SMEs.

The federal program helps qualifying Canadian companies share the cost of entering new international markets.

For the 2026–27 intake, successful projects could receive up to $50,000 in funding. Approximately $31 million was available for international market activities.

The 2026 application window closed at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 31, 2026. Toronto businesses interested in exporting should monitor the official CanExport page for information about the next intake.

4. Toronto Trade Accelerator Program: $5,000, currently closed

Toronto’s Trade Accelerator Program offers qualifying small and medium-sized businesses training, mentoring and a $5,000 micro-grant to support trade diversification.

Businesses generally need to have been operating for at least two years and generate more than $50,000 in annual revenue, among other eligibility requirements.

Applications are currently closed. It is another program worth monitoring if your company is already established and looking to reach customers outside its current market.

5. Summer Company: up to $3,000 for student entrepreneurs

Toronto students between the ages of 15 and 29 can potentially receive up to $3,000 through Ontario’s Summer Company program.

The program also includes business training and mentorship for students launching a summer business.

Ontario’s general 2026 application deadline was May 15, so this year’s intake is closed. Students considering starting a business next summer should watch for the next application period rather than waiting until summer has already begun.

6. Commercial Space Renovation Grant: closed for now

Businesses improving commercial premises should also be aware of Toronto’s Commercial Space Renovation Grant Program.

Eligible projects can receive matching support, with a base grant of up to $20,000. Additional funding may be available for qualifying accessibility improvements and certain multi-unit properties.

Applications are currently closed.

Toronto maintains a broader directory of business grants, incentives and rebates, including programs aimed at properties, Business Improvement Areas and other specialized situations.

Why so many Toronto grants are closed

Government business funding is often offered in intake rounds rather than being continuously available. That means a perfectly legitimate program can appear in search results while accepting no applications at that moment.

Before spending time preparing an application, check three things:

• Is the intake currently open?
• Is the funding actually non-repayable?
• Does your business meet the minimum eligibility requirements?

Those three checks can eliminate a lot of wasted time.

Where Toronto businesses should search for funding

The City of Toronto maintains an official list of business grants, incentives and rebates. At the federal level, the Business Benefits Finder is particularly useful because it can return a tailored list of grants, financing, tax credits, wage subsidies and other support programs based on your business situation.

That is generally a better starting point than relying on an old third-party list of “100 Canadian business grants.”

Find business services in Toronto

If you are preparing a funding application, building a business plan or getting your finances organized, you can also use the AD18 Toronto Business Directory to discover local businesses that may be able to help.

Depending on what you are applying for, that may include accountants, bookkeepers, consultants, professional advisers and other business-service providers.

• Business Services: Browse Toronto Business Services →
• Financial Services: Browse Toronto Financial Services →
• Professional Services: Browse Toronto Professional Services →
• Toronto Business Directory: Browse all Toronto businesses →

An AD18 Directory listing is a discovery tool, not an endorsement or guarantee of a provider’s qualifications, pricing, eligibility advice or services.

The bottom line

There is legitimate business funding available to Toronto companies in 2026, but there is currently no universal Toronto grant that simply gives every small business free money.

For very small businesses, programs such as Starter Company Plus and the Trade Accelerator Program are worth monitoring when new application rounds open.

For established companies undertaking larger projects, federal programs can provide significantly more support — particularly where the business is investing in productivity, expansion, exports or adapting to trade disruption.

The most useful approach is to identify funding based on your actual business stage and project, then confirm its current status directly with the government agency administering it.

Funding amounts, eligibility requirements and application windows can change. This article is informational only and was last reviewed on August 31, 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant government agency before applying.