6-minute read · by Philippe, who runs a home-service business in Québec
There is help for Québec small businesses going digital: websites, management software, training. Programs change often, have limited budgets and precise criteria. This guide explains where to look and what to check, rather than listing programs that may close next month.
Where to look, in order
- Your regional county municipality’s or city’s economic development office (for example PME MTL in Montréal). Local funds and advisors who know which programs are open are usually there.
- Investissement Québec and the Ministry of the Economy, for provincial digital transformation programs.
- Services Québec, for measures that fund employee training, including training on new software.
- Tax credits: ask your accountant; some development costs may qualify.
What grants rarely cover
- Monthly subscriptions. Many programs fund a one-time project (an assessment, an implementation), not software paid monthly for years.
- Spending before approval. The most common rule: sign nothing before the written answer.
- Advertising. Almost always excluded.
Questions to ask before applying
- Is the program open now, and until when?
- What share of the project is reimbursed, and what is the cap?
- Do you have to use an accredited provider?
- How long between filing and answer?
Should you wait for a grant to start?
If the delay is several months and missed calls cost you jobs every week, waiting often costs more than the grant brings. The missed-call calculator gives you that number. Crescendo’s Essential plan has no contract and a 30-day money-back guarantee: you can start now and stop if it is not worth the price.