Note: This is not legal or financial advice. Grant programs change. Always verify directly with the program before applying. The Canada Business Benefits Finder is the official starting point: https://innovation.ised-isde.canada.ca/.

Who this is for

Canadian small businesses planning a digital investment in the next 12 months. Federal programs apply nationwide. Provincial programs vary — Ontario, Quebec, BC have the most options.

Federal programs to know

• Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) successors: Boost Your Business Technology stream funds digital adoption plans + youth digital advisor positions.

• SR&ED (Scientific Research and Experimental Development) tax credit: covers custom software development with novel technical work.

• IRAP (Industrial Research Assistance Program): R&D project funding via NRC. Most useful for AI implementation and custom AI agents.

• Canada Job Grant: employer-driven training, often used for digital marketing skill development.

• FedDev Ontario / PrairiesCan / PacifiCan / ACOA: regional development agencies fund digital adoption + ecommerce expansion.

Ontario-specific programs

• Digital Main Street: ~$2,500 grants for digital transformation including website and ecommerce.

• Ontario Together Trade Fund: ecommerce expansion specifically.

• Ontario Job Skills Grant: training subsidies including digital marketing.

What grants usually fund

• Website rebuilds with ecommerce capability.

• CRM, marketing automation, and analytics platform adoption.

• AI and ML implementation projects.

• Digital marketing training for staff.

• Custom software development with novel components (via SR&ED).

What grants usually do NOT fund

• Generic marketing retainers.

• Paid ad spend (ad budget, not eligible; account management may be).

• Pure design refreshes without functional changes.

• Projects already started before application approval.

Documents to prepare

• Business plan or one-pager describing the project.

• Quotes from vendors (most programs want at least 2).

• Financial statements (1–2 years).

• CRA Business Number.

• Outcome metrics: what does success look like (revenue, jobs, efficiency)?

Talkerstein recommendation

Plan the grant-prep BEFORE the spend. Most programs are non-retroactive. We coordinate with grant consultants who handle the paperwork — usually for 10–15% of the grant amount, contingent on approval. Worth it on projects $20k+.

External sources

• Canada Business Benefits Finder (official)

• Canada.ca for Businesses

Prepare your grant-ready digital plan

15 minutes. We scope the project, map the relevant funding programs, and tell you whether grant-prep is worth it for your business. Book →