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Starting a Farm Business in Ontario

The Basics
Develop a Farm Business Plan
Registration Requirements
Secure Land
Learn About Financial Planning
Explore Grant Opportunities
Consider Your Financing Options
Recruit Professional Support

You’re Not Alone on This Journey

Starting a farm is no small feat—it takes courage, commitment, and resilience. The learning curve can feel steep, and the challenges are real. But you’re not alone. Across Ontario, there are people, programs, and organizations working hard to support new farmers like you, every step of the way.

Farms at Work is here to connect you with trusted tools, practical information, and experienced voices to help you succeed. Whether you’re looking for land, building a business plan, applying for funding, or just starting to imagine your path, we’re here to help.

Above all, remember: your farm dream is part of a growing movement to build a more secure, resilient, and sustainable food system. We’re glad you’re here.

 

A Farmer's rubber boots, one propped up on a wooden box in a hoop house growing vegetables.

The Basics

  • Starting a Business in Ontario – a step by step guide to the formal requirements for new businesses in Ontario

  • Starting a Farm in Ontario – a resource specific to farms prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri-Business

  • Visit your local Small Business Enterprise Centre for general information and support.

  • Connect with your regional new farmer organization. If you’re in east central Ontario, Farms at Work invites you to sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Baby chicks on hay.

Develop a Farm Business Plan

Farm Business Planning courses are also offered regionally in the province from time to time. A network of new farmer organizations is working to provide more hands-on farm business planning support. Visit Ontario New Farmer to identify a regional new farmer organization and keep in touch. Farms at Works covers east central Ontario.

A farmer picking a cabbage from the garden row. Next to her is a box of other assorted vegetables.

Registration Requirements

  • Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN): Required if gross farm income is over $7,000. Register here (Agricorp)

  • Premises Identification Number (PID): A Premises Identification Number is required in Ontario for access to many funding and compensation programs. It is free and can be obtained by telephone or online. A Premises Identification Number, referred to as a Premises ID (PID), is a number identifying a parcel of land where agri-food activities occur. Premises Identification Numbers differ from business registration numbers (e.g. Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN), license, or other business identifiers as each one is linked to a specific parcel of land, not to a business. Register Here

A grass field at sunrise

Secure Land

A Farmer planting a tree next to their pond.

Business Management Tools

Farmer harvesting a tomato from a tall plant in a hoop house.

Explore Grant Opportunities

A farmer putting an irrigation hole in a water drip line in their vegetable row

Consider your Financing Options

A field of Sunflowers with one sunflower close up

Recruit Professional Support

CAFA is a non-profit, self-regulating organization for Canadian farm advisors. Its mission is to continually improve the quality of advice being given to farm producers and their families. A farm advisor listing is available online. CAFA members include accountants, lawyers, financial planners, bankers, insurance brokers, family therapists and other professionals.

Looking for groups working beyond east central Ontario? Funding, grants, financing and more supporting new farmers across across Indigenous Territories/Ontario

Starting a farm requires careful planning, access to reliable information, and a clear understanding of the steps involved. Whether you’re aiming to grow on a small scale or manage a larger operation, here you’ll find the knowledge and tools you’ll need to move forward with confidence.  We encourage you to explore related resources like those listed above—each offering support, community, and valuable programming for aspiring farmers.