BBN Labs — Better Business Network

Retail Stores

BBN Labs helps independent retailers modernize the storefront and the systems behind the counter. That covers signage and façade improvements, e-commerce, loyalty and review tools, and retail technology planning. Each project is screened against federal, provincial and municipal programs across Canada that may support retail modernization, digital adoption or storefront work. You see your potential fit and the realistic costs before deciding.

Pain points

What store owners tell us

Showrooming against online prices

Customers browse in store, then order from a phone in your aisle. Without your own online presence and pickup options, the rent pays for someone else's sale.

Inventory is invisible online

The answer to 'do you have this in stock' lives only behind the counter. So the phone rings all day, and shoppers who will not call drive elsewhere.

The storefront undersells the store

Faded signage and a tired façade set expectations before anyone touches the door handle. On a busy street, that first impression is the whole pitch.

Systems that do not talk to each other

Point of sale, accounting, e-commerce and the customer list each live in their own tool. Staff re-enter data, and nobody has one clear picture.

Upgrade paths

Where to start, in order

  1. 01

    Make the storefront earn its rent

    Signage, façade improvements and window presence that pull people off the sidewalk. We coordinate design, permits and qualified installers.

  2. 02

    Sell beyond the postal code

    An online store, or simply in-stock visibility with pickup, turns your inventory into answers shoppers can find at 10 pm.

  3. 03

    Modernize the counter and back office

    Tools around the POS, a real customer list and loyalty that brings people back. All planned so the systems finally talk to each other.

Funding categories

Programs that may relate

Retail modernizationDigital adoptionE-commerceStorefront & façade improvementExterior signage

Retail technology, e-commerce and storefront projects may align with provincial and municipal programs. Availability and criteria change between intakes, and each program administrator makes the final call. We screen your project against what's open right now and link every match to its official source before you spend anything.

119 verified programs across Canada may apply to a store right now. Here are examples from different provinces — check your funding fit to see the ones your province offers.

Accepting applicationsGrantOntario

Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG)

Up to $5,000

Ontario shops can get 50% back, up to $5,000, on modern store technology: POS systems, inventory tracking, self-checkout kiosks, CRM and more. You…

Last verified July 3, 2026

Check local availabilityGrantNew Brunswick

Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program

Up to $1,250,000

This program helps New Brunswick business owners cut energy bills and upgrade facilities by reimbursing costs for audits and retrofits. It is a…

Last verified July 2, 2026

Check local availabilityGrantQuebec

PME MTL — Funds for Retail businesses

Up to $25,000

This fund supports retail businesses on Montreal commercial streets with non-repayable grants for new launches, model adaptations, or resilience…

Last verified July 3, 2026

Accepting applicationsTax creditOntario

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit

Up to $45,000

Boost your bottom line by claiming a 10% refundable corporate income tax credit on eligible commercial or industrial building expenditures in…

Last verified July 2, 2026

Check local availabilityGrantPrince Edward Island

Small Business Assistance

Up to $2,500

Boost your productivity and competitiveness by accessing expert strategic planning or launching your first-year marketing campaign. This program…

Last verified July 3, 2026

Check local availabilityGrantPrince Edward Island

E-tools for Exporting

Up to $15,000

This cost-share program helps PEI SMEs cover eligible expenses for export market development activities like SEO, paid advertising, and e-commerce…

Last verified July 2, 2026

Packages

Bundles that fit

Retail Modernization Package

Store technology that knows your customers and saves your staff hours every week.

Details →

Storefront Visibility Package

A storefront people notice, scoped and quoted with the grant paperwork ready.

Details →

Website & E-commerce Growth Package

A website that earns its keep: found locally and easy to buy from.

Details →

Where you are

Funding and upgrades in your province

Frequently asked questions

Is e-commerce actually worth it for a small independent store?

Often, but not always in the way owners expect. For many Canadian retailers the practical first step is making in-store inventory visible online with pickup or local delivery, rather than competing nationally on shipping. That answers the 'do you have this in stock' phone calls and captures shoppers who check online before driving over. We will tell you honestly if a full online store is not the right next step for your products and margins.

What might funding cover for a retail store?

Retail-focused programs across Canada support point-of-sale and inventory technology, e-commerce projects and digital adoption planning, and many cities run storefront or signage improvement streams with their own intakes. Program availability, rules and budgets change, and final decisions always rest with the program administrator, so treat any list as a starting point. We screen your project against current programs and link you to official sources before you commit.

Can you handle our storefront sign from design through installation?

Design and project coordination, yes. Fabrication and installation are completed by qualified sign partners, and we tell you exactly who does what before any quotation is finalized. We manage the details that tend to stall sign projects: municipal sign permits, landlord approvals, measurements and site photos, and making sure the finished sign matches the brand and the drawings you approved.

Upgrade your store

Tell us about your business and project. You get a practical plan, a clear quote, and an honest read on which programs may help pay. It's all free, with nothing to lose.

Free No obligation Reply within 1 business day

Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Final decisions are made solely by each program administrator.