Start or Expand Your Business

Are you ready to love where you live and work?

If you’ve ever worried about developing a professional network, having dedicated space to start or expand your business, or getting the technical support and business promotion you need to grow in a rural community, Huron-Kinloss delivers all that and more.

You don't have to live in a big city to achieve big business success!

The Township of Huron-Kinloss offers the help you need to start or grow your business.

With affordable commercial property, a supportive business community and blazing-fast internet, your agricultural, tourism, retail or service-based business will thrive in our beautiful Township.

We are here to help you answer these questions and give you the support needed to start on the path to business success. From property for purchase or lease, permits for construction, and through to grants and mentorship, we have many local resources to help you get started.

If you are thinking of opening a home business, be sure to consult our Zoning By-Law to ensure that the type of business you want to open is permitted where you live. If you are unsure whether it is permitted, please contact us using the links at the left of this page.

If you are planning to have a sidewalk patio, accessible ramp, planter box, or other items that encroach onto a sidewalk, please refer to our Sidewalk Policy.

Available Properties

Having the right home for your business is an important ingredient in the recipe for success. Explore our Invest in Huron-Kinloss webpage for a list of available commercial, industrial and resident opportunities. Construction on the Ripley Industrial Park has also begun, learn more about this project by visiting the Ripley Industrial Park webpage. Don't see something that fits your needs? Let us know so that we can assist you in finding a space that fits your needs.

Don't have your property listed in our Available Properties?

List my Property

Interested in our current commercial area business mix? We have Business Mix maps for both downtown Lucknow and Ripley. If you require an accessible version, please contact us.

Building and Planning

Our amazing team in Building and Planning work alongside us to help you get your project done right and on time. Huron-Kinloss is a great place to both build and do business for several reasons:

We're only a 3-hour drive from Toronto, and an even shorter trip to Kitchener-Waterloo and London
We're right in the heart of the Bruce, Grey and Huron network of businesses that work directly with Bruce Power, giving your business a greater opportunity to be a part of something awesome
Between our Lake Huron shoreline and our fertile agricultural heritage, it is no surprise that Huron-Kinloss is an ideal place to build your tourism or agri-based business

Read more about how our Building and Planning Department is here to help you lay a successful foundation for your next build!

Business Incubator: The Hub

The Hub is where you can co-work in a creative space, connect with like-minded people and grow your business with the HK support team. A regional business supports centre, serving Grey-Bruce, where entrepreneurs new and existing can come receive help for starting or expanding their business. Free business consultations are available!

We like to describe The Hub as an internet cafe, meets business supports centre, meets networking space!

The Hub is much more than just a place to work.

The real secret to your success is our dedicated Huron-Kinloss Business Development Coordinator to help you apply for a grant, get your business online or walk you through new business software that you’re losing sleep over!

We might need to say it again...The Hub offers you free help from a real person!

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How does it work?

We Listen

Let us know where you are stuck. It might be at the very beginning of starting your business, it could be getting your current business online or it could be creating a plan to take your business to the next level.

We Plan

Once we understand your challenge we can help you lay out a simple plan with action steps to move you forward. We have the tools, resources and guidance to assist you in reaching your goal.

We Help

We understand that you might need more than just a website link to help you grow your business. We are here to help you understand the steps you need to take to streamline your business or brand your style.

If you’re ready to get started, call or email Lauren. She is awesome. She’s like a living, breathing Alexa, that helps you reach your business goals.

Business Supports

Resources

We're here to help you through every step of your business journey and have developed some great resources for you to keep connected and use as reference:

Our Community Profile gives you all the statistical goods on Huron-Kinloss
The quarterly Huron-Kinloss Business Banner – subscribe today so you don't miss out on any of the essential information in this newsletter

Local Business Communities

Both Lucknow and Ripley are fortunate to have strong, supportive business communities that you are encouraged to join.

Membership in the Ripley Business Community has the benefits of joint marketing initiatives, contribution to down town beautification, special events and more
The Lucknow & District Chamber of Commerce has an average of 60 members per year and is a driving force when it comes to promoting their town

Support Agencies

Sometimes we need a little help to make sure we're giving you all the support you need. That's when we connect you with our local network of agencies who excel at what they do:

With free one-on-one guidance for entrepreneurs, the team at Business to Bruce is usually the first connection (after us!) that we encourage you to make
Bruce Community Futures Development Corporation provides mentorship and funding opportunities for businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing options

Learning & Hiring Opportunities

You know that having a great staff and knowledge up-to-date are both important factors to the health of your business. These are the folks that can help you with that:

Contact North will help you find the program and/or course that's just right to your needs with thousands of online options from Ontario's public colleges, universities, and learning institutions
Fanshawe College Business Services brings some of their amazing programs to the local area and through online classes
Providing employment programs, assessments and supportive vocational services, VPI Working Solutions can help you find your next employee
If you're looking to build a rewarding career, then working with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities can help you get the education you need

Government of Canada

These sites help you get into the nitty-gritty of doing business in both Ontario and Canada:

From starting business, to the taxes involved, and more, the Government of Canada Business and industry page connects you with their services and information
The FedDev Ontario – Small Business Services has a fantastic resource when it comes to guides and essentials to getting your business started

Business Grants

There's no doubt about it: sometimes you need a little help with your business, and it often comes down to needing a few extra dollars and cents! Huron-Kinloss is proud to offer our own series of Business Development Grants in addition to these other funding opportunities:

Bruce County has a variety of Business Development Grants and we're pleased to partner with them to offer business and community organization grants through the Spruce the Bruce program
Save some money by saving energy! Both Hydro One and Westario Power often have incentive programs for you to explore
Students can make amazing employees, which is why there’s the Canada Summer Jobs, the Summer Experience Program, and VPI Working Solutions’ Summer Job Service to help you add them to your roster

Promotions

Our promotional programs are a great way for your business to expand their audience and connect with the community. How do you make sure you're not missing out? Easy:

Check out our promotional offerings to see how they could benefit your business
Follow Do Business Huron-Kinloss on Facebook for updates and information
Subscribe to our Business Banner newsletter so notifications will come right to your inbox

We're always looking of ways to better help our businesses, so if you have any great ideas, we'd love to hear from you, too!