Restaurants & Food Service
Restaurants can find funding for kitchen energy costs, kitchen equipment, storefront repairs, staff training and technology. Energy rebates may help pay for efficient lighting, HVAC and refrigeration. Many cities run storefront grants for signage, lighting, awnings and windows. Training grants and wage subsidies may help with staff costs. Government-backed loans may pay for restaurant equipment and renovations. We check which programs are open, explain the rules and deadlines, and send deadline alerts. You apply on the official program site.
Common costs
Costs funding can help with
Kitchen energy bills
Refrigeration, exhaust, lighting and cooking equipment run long hours every day. In several provinces, energy rebates may pay part of the cost of more efficient lighting, HVAC and refrigeration.
Kitchen equipment and renovations
A new cooler, oven or renovation is a large cost at one time. Loans under the Canada Small Business Financing Program may pay for restaurant equipment and leasehold improvements. These are loans, so you pay them back.
A storefront that needs work
Faded signage, old windows and worn awnings cost money to fix. Many cities offer storefront grants that may pay part of the cost of signage, lighting, awnings, doors and windows.
Training and hiring staff
New staff need training before they can work alone. Training grants may pay part of the training cost, and wage subsidies such as Canada Summer Jobs may pay part of a student's wages.
Funding paths
Where to start, in order
- 01
Cut kitchen energy costs
Provincial and utility energy rebates may help pay for efficient lighting, HVAC and refrigeration. In Ontario, the Save on Energy Retrofit Program may cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. Some rebates need approval before you buy, so read the rules first.
- 02
Fix up the storefront
City storefront and facade grants may pay part of the cost of signage, exterior lighting, awnings and windows. Each city sets its own amounts, areas and intake dates.
- 03
Train and hire staff
Training grants, such as the Ontario Job Grant, may pay part of the cost of training staff. Wage subsidies may pay part of the wages for new or summer hires.
- 04
Buy equipment and technology
Government-backed loans may pay for kitchen equipment and renovations. In Ontario, the Retail Modernization Project Grant may pay 50% of eligible costs, up to $5,000, for technology such as POS systems. Some digital programs may also help pay for online ordering.
Funding categories
Programs that may relate
Restaurant projects may fit energy rebates, city storefront grants, training and hiring programs, and government-backed loans. Each program has its own rules, budget and intake dates, and the program decides who is approved. We link every program to its official source, where you apply.
We track 124 programs across Canada that may fit a restaurant. Browse the full restaurant funding list, or check your funding fit to see the ones your province offers.
Starter Company Plus
Up to $5,000
Starter Company Plus pairs a grant of up to $5,000 with hands-on training and one-on-one guidance from your local Small Business Enterprise Centre.
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Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program
Up to $1,250,000
This program helps New Brunswick business owners cut energy bills and improve facilities by reimbursing costs for audits and retrofits.
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Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG)
Up to $5,000
Ontario shops can get 50% back, up to $5,000, on modern store technology: POS systems, inventory tracking, self-checkout kiosks, CRM and more.
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PME MTL: Funds for Retail businesses
Up to $25,000
This fund supports retail businesses on Montreal commercial streets with non-repayable grants for new launches, model adaptations, or resilience…
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Food and Beverage Industry Financing (FCC)
Farm Credit Canada offers loans to food and beverage businesses anywhere in Canada to build, expand, or equip their operations.
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Student Work Placement Program
Up to $5,000
A federal wage subsidy for employers who hire post-secondary students through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).
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New restaurant funding, straight to your inbox
Programs for businesses like yours open and close all year. One short email when something worth your time changes, and nothing else.
Funding by need
Funding for what restaurants need
Funding for Kitchen Energy
Rebates to help restaurants reduce kitchen energy use and costs.
Funding for Storefronts and Facades
Grants and loans that may help pay for storefront and facade work.
Funding for Training
Grants to help you train staff and adopt new digital tools.
Funding for Online Ordering and Booking
Grants and loans may help pay for online ordering, booking and reservation systems.
Funding for Storefront Signage
Grants and loans that may help pay for new storefront signage.
Funding for Restaurants
Open funding programs that restaurants may be able to use.
Where you are
Funding and grants in your province
Free tool · Restaurants · 12 checks · ~3 min
Restaurant Funding Checklist
Twelve checkboxes on kitchen energy costs, storefront and signage grants, staff programs and funding paperwork. Your unchecked boxes show which programs to look at first.
Frequently asked questions
What funding might apply to a restaurant?
It depends on the project. Lighting, HVAC and refrigeration projects may fit energy rebates. Storefront work may fit a city facade grant. Staff training and summer jobs may fit training grants and wage subsidies. Equipment and renovations may fit government-backed loans, which you pay back. Each program has its own rules, intakes and budget, and the program decides who is approved. We check what is open, explain the rules and link you to the official source. You apply there.
Is there a grant for restaurant kitchen equipment?
Help for kitchen equipment often comes as a loan, not a grant. Loans under the Canada Small Business Financing Program may pay for restaurant equipment and renovations. If the new equipment saves energy, such as refrigeration or HVAC, an energy rebate may also pay part of the cost. Rebate rules differ by province and utility, and some need approval before you buy.