Salons, Spas & Barbershops
Salons, spas and barbershops can find funding for the storefront, staff, equipment and software. Many cities offer storefront grants for signage, lighting and windows. Training grants and wage subsidies, such as Canada Summer Jobs, may help with staff costs. In Ontario, the Retail Modernization Project Grant may pay 50% of eligible costs, up to $5,000, for POS hardware and one-time scheduling software costs, if your salon qualifies. Software subscriptions are not covered. Small-business loans may pay for renovations and equipment. We check which programs are open and tell you when nothing fits. We explain the rules and deadlines and send deadline alerts. You apply on the official program site.
Common costs
Costs funding can help with
Renovation and equipment costs
Stations, sinks, chairs and a renovation cost a lot at one time. Loans under the Canada Small Business Financing Program may pay for equipment and leasehold improvements. These are loans, so you pay them back.
A storefront that needs work
Faded signage and old windows cost money to fix. Many cities run storefront grants that may pay part of the cost of signage, exterior lighting, awnings and windows.
Training new staff
New stylists and staff need training before they take clients. Training grants may pay part of the training cost, and wage subsidies may pay part of the wages for a young person in a new summer job.
Booking and payment software
Booking, scheduling and payment tools have set-up and monthly costs. Some digital programs and technology loans may help pay for this software and the hardware it runs on.
Funding paths
Where to start, in order
- 01
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.
- 02
Train and hire staff
Training grants, such as the Ontario Job Grant, may pay part of the cost of training staff. Canada Summer Jobs may pay up to half the minimum wage for a new summer job for a young person aged 15 to 30, for private employers with 50 or fewer full-time staff. The 2026 intake is closed.
- 03
Pay for booking and business software
In Ontario, the Retail Modernization Project Grant may pay 50% of eligible costs, up to $5,000, for POS hardware and one-time scheduling software costs, if your salon qualifies. Monthly software subscriptions are not covered. Technology loans may also pay for software and computers.
- 04
Start or grow the business
In Ontario, Starter Company Plus offers a grant of up to $5,000 to start, expand or buy a small business. Across Canada, small-business loans may pay for renovations and equipment.
Funding categories
Programs that may relate
Some salon projects may fit programs open to storefront businesses, mainly storefront grants, staff training and digital tools. Everything depends on program rules and available budget, and the program decides who is approved. If nothing fits right now, we tell you.
We track 123 programs across Canada that may fit a salon. Here are examples from different provinces. You can also 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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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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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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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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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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Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED): Entrepreneur Support
Up to $25,000
This territorial program helps NWT entrepreneurs fund start-ups, expansion, and market development.
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New salon 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 salons need
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 Retail POS
Grants and loans that may help pay for point-of-sale systems and other store technology.
Where you are
Funding and grants in your province
Frequently asked questions
Is there any funding that applies to salons?
Sometimes. Salons with a storefront may fit city storefront grants and some retail and digital programs. Training grants and wage subsidies may apply when you train or hire staff. Rules and budgets change between intakes, and the program decides who is approved. We check what is open now, explain the rules and tell you if nothing fits. You apply on the official program site.
Is there a grant to open a salon?
In Ontario, Starter Company Plus offers a grant of up to $5,000 to people who start, expand or buy a small business. It has its own rules, and you put in money or in-kind support too. Outside Ontario, look at start-up loans such as Futurpreneur (up to $75,000 total) and BDC start-up loans (up to $150,000). These are loans, not grants.