Quebec startup grants: what support actually exists for new businesses

Status on November 6, 2026. The Service Démarrer une entreprise, Réseau accès PME and local investment funds are all described as available on Québec.ca (in French). One caution: Soutien au travail autonome has a page last updated in June 2024, and it only confirms income support for participants accepted before May 1, 2024. The startup hub still mentions financial support, so ask Services Québec.

What this support is

We found no single startup grant in Quebec. Support comes from separate sources:

• free advice from public and local bodies
• loans from local funds and Futurpreneur
• hiring aid for people who face barriers to work, once you create a job
• refundable tax credits after eligible spending

Know which kind you are looking at. A loan must be repaid. A tax credit comes after you have spent the money.

Who can apply

Registration. The Service Démarrer une entreprise is for a business not yet registered with the enterprise register or Revenu Québec. It accepts sole proprietorships, partnerships of individuals and corporations. You must be 14 or older, live in Canada, and represent the business.

Local investment funds. The fund is open to legally constituted for-profit businesses, and to co-operatives and non-profits with a commercial activity. A startup project must be at the commercialization stage and must not have reached break-even for more than one year. You must also fit the MRC’s investment policy.

Futurpreneur. It works with entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39.

Subvention salariale. The employer must offer a job in Quebec and have an office or establishment registered with the Registraire des entreprises. The person hired must be found eligible by a Services Québec employment officer.

CRIC. A company must operate a business in Quebec and have an establishment there.

What it pays for, and how much

Local investment funds. The maximum aid rate is 50% of eligible costs for for-profit businesses and 80% for non-profits. On a startup, the founder must put in at least 15% of total project cost. Combined government aid cannot exceed 70% of total project cost, or 85% for social economy businesses.

CRIC threshold. The credit applies to taxation years that began after March 25, 2025. Your spending must exceed an exclusion threshold: the higher of $50,000 or the sum of the basic personal amount for each employee, adjusted for time on eligible work. Eligible spending includes salaries, and 50% of amounts paid to a subcontractor for work done in Quebec. Other assistance for this spending must be deducted from eligible expenses. One expense cannot also claim another Quebec tax credit: Québec.ca’s example is equipment claimed under the C3i.

Investment projects. ESSOR has five streams. The first supports studies before an investment project, including feasibility studies. Our ESSOR guide covers it in more detail. Investissement Québec presents ESSOR as support for growth objectives, so it may fit later rather than at launch. See also our Investissement Québec guide.

Other pages. See our guides on the CDAE, PRIIME, Canada Summer Jobs and the Canada Small Business Financing Program.

How to apply, step by step

1. Book Réseau accès PME. Find your service point. It is free and can refer you to the right program.
2. Check your legal form. Use the Service Démarrer une entreprise. A questionnaire tells you if you can continue. If not, you still get a list of obligations.
3. Register. The service covers the enterprise register, Revenu Québec files and your permanent authentication. It also lists other obligations for your sector.
4. Prepare your file. Have your social insurance number, the business address and your latest Revenu Québec notice of assessment number.
5. Approach the lender. In a region, your MRC decides on local fund files. In Montréal, go to your PME MTL hub. Young founders can also contact Futurpreneur.
6. Before hiring, speak to Services Québec. A valid Subvention salariale letter is required.

Timing

Local funds and Réseau accès PME list no fixed intake on the pages we reviewed. Ask your MRC or hub about its calendar. Ask each one too whether costs paid before a decision can count. We did not find a single rule that covers all of these sources.

The CRIC has a form of its own, RD-1029.8.CR. It comes after the spending, so it does not fund your first months.

How it combines with other programs

Loans and advice can sit side by side, but each lender sets its own conditions. Ask before you sign. Tax credits need more care. The CRA says government assistance can affect your federal SR&ED claim. Read our SR&ED guide and have your accountant model the claim.

Common mistakes

• Treating a loan as a grant. Local funds and Futurpreneur must be repaid.
• Counting on income support. Confirm Soutien au travail autonome with Services Québec first.
• Applying to a local fund too early. A startup must already be at the commercialization stage.
• Hiring first. Check Subvention salariale before you make the job offer.
• Budgeting on a tax credit as if it were day-one cash. It comes after the spending.

What to do first

Book your Réseau accès PME appointment and bring a short budget. Then read our Quebec business grants hub and the startup grants in Canada guide. If you have a defined project, our free assessment can check what is open. An assessment does not guarantee funding.

Canadian Funding Partners is an independent advisory firm, not affiliated with any government or program administrator, and does not administer these programs. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm current terms on the official pages.