Small business recovery resources

Get free resources to help grow your business. Digital Main Street connects you with programs to help you:

• start selling online right away
• access digital grants to help you transform your business
• make sure your business is positioned to keep going and growing through any economic storm

Learn how we’re cutting unnecessary red tape across government so businesses can spend less time on paperwork and more time creating jobs.

Read Ontario’s small business strategy to learn about our long-term plan to help small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed, grow and create jobs.

Learn how to request a temporary rule or regulation change to help your small business respond to COVID-19covid 19.

Help small businesses regain lost revenues from COVID-19.

How to support local businesses

• order for takeout or delivery
• use curbside pick-up
• shop safely in-person where you can
• buy gift cards

Businesses that are open for in-store shopping and curbside pick-up have put in place best practices to keep shoppers safe.

Contact your local Business Improvement Area Association (BIA) to learn more about the small businesses in your community.

Check with your local public health unit or municipality for additional information or restrictions. Advice may vary by the zone a public health unit is in and can change based on public health trends.

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters' Ontario Made program is developing a consumer-focused website to help Ontarians find locally made products.

Manufacturers can register for the program's approved-product list and get a digital branded logo to add to your products and marketing materials.

Retailers can access promotional tools to help highlight your business and Ontario Made products.

Ontario Live is a virtual marketplace that brings Ontario together to help support local artists, operators, attractions and businesses throughout the province.

If you or your employees are feeling anxious, experiencing other mental health or addiction challenges, or you can’t access your regular in-person counselling support, there are services available online or by phone, including self-led support, peer support and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy.

If you are currently receiving mental health and addictions services and supports, please contact your current service provider, including community-based mental health and addictions agencies. Many of these providers are modifying their services to move towards virtual care, meeting clients by phone or secure video-conferencing.

If your small business or organization has products, services or solutions that can help support our response to COVID-19covid 19, tell us through our Ontario Together initiative.

Consider making the POST Promise – a self-declaration that your business is working to help prevent the spread of COVID-19covid 19. Once completed, you'll get tools to help educate employees on workplace safety. You can also display the POST Promise logo, which is a nationally recognized symbol of a business' commitment to doing their part.

Through Advocis Connect, small businesses can get free advice from financial advisors on responding to and recovering from COVID-19.

Learn about pandemic recovery, cash management, financial planning, and risk management through the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s small business web portal.

Small Business Enterprise Centers offer new businesses with up to 10 employees the tailored support they need to succeed and grow.

If you or any of your employees have been laid off as a result of COVID-19covid 19, we offer several skill-building programs to help Ontarians prepare for new jobs.

Get hands-on, in-depth information and advice about exporting with:

• one-on-one export advisory services
• in-person and virtual business missions
• meetings with foreign buyers, prospective partners, agents and distributors
• webinars and workshops including:
• how to prepare a pitch
• cross-border e-commerce

Visit our small business support page for general information and advice to run your small business.

Find out your general health and safety responsibilities as a small business employer and how to get help keeping your workplace safe.

Find out how your small business or registered charity can get a one time, on-bill credit to help catch up on energy bills through the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program – Small Business.

The Canadian government has made available supports for businesses, including links to resources specifically for small businesses and people who are self-employed.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses’ COVID-19covid 19 Small Business Help Centre offers free tools and advice, as well as information specific to Ontario.

Retail Council of Canada’s Road to Retail Recovery Playbook includes resources on customer health and safety, employee wellbeing, retail operations, finances and more.

The Office of the Employer Adviser provides free and confidential support to employers that need help with Workplace Safety Insurance Board issues.

Learn more about the Small Business Lighting program, which provides up to $2,000 in incentives for eligible energy-efficient lighting upgrades.