Grant
Provincial
Active
Small Business Assistance Program
Innovation PEI / Government of Prince Edward Island
Maximum Funding
50% of eligible costs
No closing date is published. Innovation PEI states that applications are rev...
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Small Business Assistance Program provides up to 50% of eligible costs. Up to $5,000 in the first year of business only, made up of $2,500 for professional fees and $2,500 for marketing and promotion. $2,500 for professional fees in any other year. Provides PEI small businesses with a 50% cost-share contribution for professional fees, operational efficiency projects, and marketing or promotion costs. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. No closing date is published. Innovation PEI states that applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis and as budget allows, and that all projects meeting the minimum criteria may not receive funding. Online applications are encouraged..
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Provides PEI small businesses with a 50% cost-share contribution for professional fees, operational efficiency projects, and marketing or promotion costs.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a business located in Prince Edward Island and actively operating on PEI.
- Must be registered to do business in PEI, although registration may not be required for business planning support only.
- Business must be the primary source of income for the applicant, or employ at least one employee working a minimum of 560 hours.
- New businesses may access one-time marketing and promotion support only within the first 12 months of operation.
- Capital equipment purchases are not eligible; the Small Business Investment Grant may apply instead.
- Businesses with defaulted provincial debt, fishers, farmers, realty companies, and banks or financial companies are ineligible.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- 50% of eligible costs. Up to $5,000 in the first year of business only, made up of $2,500 for professional fees and $2,500 for marketing and promotion. $2,500 for professional fees in any other year.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- No closing date is published. Innovation PEI states that applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis and as budget allows, and that all projects meeting the minimum criteria may not receive funding. Online applications are encouraged.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipApply before you sign anything.
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Rejection Pitfalls 9
- A financial or legal commitment on the project was made before the application was submitted
+8 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 9 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Small Business Assistance Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 9 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 2-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Apply before you commit to anything An application must be submitted before any financial or legal commitment is made on the project. Get the application in before signing with a consultant, agency or web developer.
Required Documents 5
✓ Business registration number and date of incorporation, if applicable
✓ Description of the business operations
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 4
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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2 partners
Compatible Programs
Other non-repayable government funding for the same project
Innovation PEI Small Business Investment Grant
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Small Business Assistance Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Assistance Program | Up to $5,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | No closing date is... |
| PEI Small Business Investment Grant | Up to $3,750 | Easy | Reimbursement | March 31, 2027 (annual... |
| Ocean Supercluster | Up to $5 million | Hard | Reimbursement | Call-specific — no open... |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency ... | Up to 50% of capital costs | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Business Development Program (BDP) - ... | Varies (Repayable Contribution) | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Small Business Assistance Program
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How much can I receive?
Up to 50 per cent of eligible costs: a maximum contribution of $5,000 in the first year of business only, for applicants that access the maximum support for both marketing and promotions activities (up to $2,500) and professional fees (up to $2,500), and a maximum contribution of $2,500 for professional fees support in any other year.
What can the professional fees be spent on?
Business plans, marketing plans or market research, human resource or operational efficiency plans, and website creation for applicants that do not have a website or are upgrading an existing website to add e-commerce for the first time. Innovation PEI will discuss other activities on request.
Who is eligible?
A business located in Prince Edward Island that is registered to do business there, actively operating on PEI, and is the primary source of income for the applicant or employs at least one employee for a minimum of 560 hours. Business plan and market research support may also be available to a PEI resident actively planning to start a business that would meet those requirements once operating.
Can I apply after I have hired the consultant?
No. An application must be submitted before any financial or legal commitment is made on the project.
Who cannot apply?
Not-for-profit organizations and associations, except for website development; a business or individual with a defaulted debt obligation to the Province of PEI; and a business whose primary activity is fishing, farming, banking or financing, or property development, including commercial and residential landlords and developers.
What do I need to submit?
Your business registration number and date of incorporation if applicable, a description of the business operations, detailed estimated project costs supported by written quotes from vendors, the consultant's written cost estimate and terms of reference if the application is for professional fees, and a detailed description of the project and how it will benefit the business.
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Full Playbook: Small Business Assistance Program
5 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights