We’ve received a few questions recently about eligibility for the OSBSG, and simply put, you’re probably eligible.

The eligibility requirements are very few:

• A required closure resulting from the most recent government mandated lockdown, effective December 26, 2020.
• Fewer than 100 employees;
• A business number; and,
• A 20% loss in revenue.

The Province is using the months of April 2019 and April 2020 as the baseline for the calculation of this loss. If your business is not in operation during the month of April, you can use a different month in years 2019 and 2020 to show the loss in revenue.

Some businesses such as child care, tutoring and health practitioners do not require an HST number in order to operate as their services are exempt from charging HST. These businesses can apply for a 9-digit Ontario business number without applying for an RT (HST), RP (Payroll) or any of the other available business remittance accounts.

Businesses ineligible are those deemed essential and those “already required to close prior to the introduction of modified Stage 2 measures on October 10, 2020”. These are businesses that were required to close (or required to stay closed) as part of Stage 1 and included museums, galleries and other such attractions.

In other words, most small businesses will be eligible for this grant and if you need it, one can apply here.