Grant and Tax Credit Support from A to Z

Preparing a grant application or claiming a tax credit such as SR&ED or CDAE-IA may look straightforward on paper. In reality, it rarely is. Technical criteria, documentation requirements and administrative deadlines often turn the exercise into an uphill battle for business leaders.

In Quebec, the amounts at stake are significant. A poorly prepared claim can cost tens of thousands of dollars in missed funding, not to mention the risk of a government audit.

This is precisely where grant and tax credit support delivers real value. This article details how Avinova structures its work in six clear steps, designed to maximize your returns while securing every claim.

Why grant and tax credit support changes the game

Quebec’s financial assistance programs are numerous and complex. Avinova has mastered more than 2,000 financial incentives, which makes it possible to quickly identify the ones that match your business project.

A business leader tackling the process alone faces several challenges. They must understand technical criteria written in the language of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or Revenu Québec. They must also document every eligible expense according to precise rules, all while running day-to-day operations.

Expert support solves this problem by assigning the technical responsibility to a team that does this work every day. The result is measurable: Avinova reports a 99% rate of claims accepted as submitted and more than $10M secured each year for its clients.

Concrete benefits for your business

Working with a specialized firm brings several tangible gains:

• Maximization of financial returns on eligible programs, including stacking where permitted
• Reduced time spent by your internal team on administrative tasks
• Lower audit risk thanks to documentation aligned with tax authorities’ expectations
• Proactive identification of opportunities you may not be aware of
• Sharp technical oversight by engineers and tax specialists

The Avinova 6-step process

Over the years, Avinova has refined a turnkey methodology that structures every file the same way. This approach ensures rigour, on-time delivery and compliance with government requirements.

Step	Phase	Main activities
01	Attract	Initial meeting, identification of available incentives, signing of an agreement
02	Assess	Initial meeting, information gathering, preliminary incentives
03	Confirm	Detailed information gathering, technical and financial validation, risk analysis
04	Produce	Drafting of the technical and financial aspects of the claim
05	Approve	Final claim submitted to the authorities
06	Support	Follow-ups, opportunities for improvement

Step 1: Attract — the starting point

The first meeting is used to understand your business, your current projects and your medium-term objectives. Avinova then reviews the relevant programs among the 2,000+ incentives it has mastered. This phase concludes with the signing of a clear agreement that defines roles and expectations.

Step 2: Assess in depth

During the initial meeting, the technical team gets into the details. Which projects are eligible? Which expenses can be claimed? This preliminary analysis quickly estimates potential returns and prioritizes the most rewarding programs.

Step 3: Confirm viability

This step is critical. Engineers and tax specialists validate every technical and financial element. A risk analysis is produced to anticipate sensitive areas. This is also when the team identifies stackable incentives, such as combining SR&ED and CDAE-IA on the same IT project.

Step 4: Produce the claim

Technical and financial drafting is entrusted to specialists in the relevant sector. For software projects, software engineers take over. For industrial projects, mechanical or industrial engineers lead the work. This sector specialization makes a real difference in the quality of the submitted file.

Step 5: Approve and submit

The final claim is filed with the CRA, Revenu Québec or the funding agency, depending on the program. All supporting documents are prepared according to expected audit standards, which directly contributes to the high acceptance rate observed.

Step 6: Support after filing

The work does not stop there. In the event of a request for clarification or an audit, Avinova remains involved to defend the claim. The team also uses this step to identify opportunities for improvement for the coming fiscal years.

Identifying the right programs at the right time can transform the profitability of an innovation project. Talk to an expert to quickly assess the incentives your company is eligible for.

What sets our sector expertise apart

Grant and tax credit support cannot be generic. An R&D project in the manufacturing sector is not documented the same way as a software project or a video game development project.

Avinova has structured its team around this reality. The firm’s case studies show broad sector coverage:

• Software and IT industry: ERP and CRM development, innovation projects and R&D
• Manufacturing industry: automation, new processes, information management systems
• Video game industry: development of interactive multimedia titles, market development
• Human resources: strategic hiring, workforce training

The SR&ED program is one of the most generous in the world. According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), it offers tax incentives to Canadian companies of all sizes that carry out research and development activities in the country. The complexity of its technical criteria reinforces the importance of professional support to properly structure each claim.

On the provincial side, Revenu Québec administers about twenty tax credits for businesses, ranging from R&D to pre-commercialization, including innovative IT activities. Many SMBs miss out on these amounts due to a lack of internal resources to properly prepare their files.

Conclusion

A structured grant and tax credit support service is not a luxury — it is a strategic lever. Avinova’s six-step process gives business leaders clear visibility at every phase, from the initial diagnostic through to post-claim follow-up.

With more than 125 satisfied clients and a 99% acceptance rate, the approach has proven its strength across companies in every sector. The net benefit increases, risk decreases, and your team can focus on what it does best.

To discuss your projects and quickly identify available incentives, contact our team today.

FAQ

How much does grant and tax credit support cost?

The cost of grant and tax credit support varies depending on the program targeted, the complexity of the file and the company’s industry. The pricing structure is generally tied to the returns obtained, which directly aligns the interests of the firm and the end client. An initial meeting allows us to discuss the format best suited to your project.

How long does the claim process take?

The duration varies considerably depending on the program targeted and the complexity of the file to prepare. An annual SR&ED claim follows the company’s fiscal calendar, while a grant application can span several months between planning and final disbursement. A specialized firm respects the production deadlines required by each organization and plans the work accordingly to avoid any delay.

Is my company big enough to use specialized support?

The SR&ED program and several provincial and federal grants are aimed at Canadian businesses of all sizes, including early-stage SMBs and high-growth companies. If your company carries out development, innovation, hiring or export activities, there is very likely a financial incentive that applies. An initial meeting allows you to validate your real eligibility with no commitment.