You’re Not Alone: What We Wish More Businesses Knew About Grants

What many businesses think they know about grants is echoed by new team members at Granted.

At Granted Consulting, we work with hundreds of Canadian small businesses every year and many of them unsure about how (or if) they should be using grants. In the past couple of months, we’ve welcomed new Grant Angels: Brandon Holden, Olivia Jensen, and Jorge Monteverde and we’re hearing something familiar: even from the inside, the world of grants can be surprising. We asked them what they’ve learned so far about grants and non-dilutive funding programs.

Their answers mirror what we hear all the time from business owners—so if you’ve been hesitant, you’re not alone.

“I didn’t realize how many grants were actually out there.”

Almost everyone on our team was shocked by the volume and variety of programs available. There are grants for hiring, training, market expansion, tech adoption, even grants that help businesses pay for student interns. And yet, many of these grants go unused. Why? Because most businesses don’t know they exist or assume they won’t qualify. But the truth is, many grants are designed with small business in mind. They’re more accessible than you think with the right guidance.

“I thought grants were just for non-profits or big R&D projects.”

That’s a common misconception. New team members admitted they assumed grants were only for academics, charities, or corporations with full-time grant writers. In reality, Canadian businesses, particularly small companies, have access to a wide range of operational grants. You can get support to hire your first employee, train a new manager, or explore selling into the U.S. It’s not just about “innovation”; it’s about smart business growth.

“Hiring grants are the most useful, especially for small teams.”

Hiring grants stood out across the board. Programs like the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) offer funding to support new hires, especially students or youth. For many of our clients, these grants reduce the financial risk of bringing on new talent and help build capacity faster. Market expansion grants like CanExport also ranked high. They help companies take bold steps—like exporting or attending international trade shows—without carrying the full cost alone.

“Grants help businesses grow without taking on more debt.”

Every business feels the pressure of limited resources. Grants give you breathing room. They help stretch budgets, extend financial runways, support strategic projects, and reduce the financial pressure of doing something new. Be it debt or fundraising for your business, grants are a welcome resource for those who are reviewing your application and/or your pitch deck. 

As one team member put it, “Why wouldn’t you take advantage of support that’s already there?”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not the only one.

Many business owners we speak with feel the same way: unsure where to start, unsure if it’s worth the time, unsure if they’ll even qualify. That hesitation is real—but it’s also solvable. Our team’s job is to help you find what’s relevant, what’s possible, and how to get there.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re missing out on grants you could be using, you probably are. Here are a few next steps that we suggest you take:

• Gain an understanding of what types of grants are available for businesses; 
• Create a grant strategy that can be used throughout the year; and
• Leverage tools to help you identify the best grants that fit your business needs, so that you can be reactive and not proactive in sourcing the right programs and resources.

Calculate Your Grant Funding Now!

Reach out today to explore how much funding you might qualify for. Use our Grant Calculator to estimate potential savings with grants based on your unique business needs.