Starter Company Plus

How it works

Starter Company Plus includes:

• guidance from a Small Business Centre advisor
• participation in an online business plan boot camp and coaching/training from professional consultants and coaches
• funding of up to $5,000
• training and mentorship that will better position you to be more successful and profitable in your business and to obtain more traditional financing

Who is eligible

Individuals applying for the Starter Company Plus must satisfy the following Starter Company Plus Initiative eligibility requirements:

• must be 18 years of age or older at the time of application
• must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and residing in the Lower Leeds and East Grenville area (see map)  **link map here
• have started a new company in the last 5 years, expansion of an existing company (may be over 5 years old) or buying a business in Ontario
• not attending school full time nor returning to school
• not enrolled in other comparable provincial employment or self-employment related initiatives and programs that include or do not include financial assistance; and
• not enrolled in any comparable self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing initiatives and programs offered by government funded organizations

Suitable applicants must also –

• Be working full time in their business (30 plus hours per week) or part time with a proven plan to be full time in their business in the next 6 months
• Be working with clients and earning income
• Have contributed at least 25% (in cash or in kind) of the grant amount

Suitable applicants should see value in the following –

• writing a business plan and creating a cash flow to focus business ideas and create new opportunities and buying patterns.
• Wish to receive business coaching and foundational business training from our business advisors

Those who aren’t eligible

• Non-profits will not be eligible for the grant but may be eligible to take part in the training.  This will be looked at on a case by case basis.
• OW & ODSP may be able to take part in the training but are not eligible for the funding.
• Any franchise businesses.
• Previous Starter Company and Starter Company Plus participants are not eligible.

How to apply

To recieve an application you must attend one of our virtual Information Sessions listed below.

You will learn more about the program, eligibility, dates, and requirements so you can see if it is the right program for you to apply for. 

There are a limited number of spots available for this program. Those who apply are not guaranteed a spot but will have to be approved through an interview process. 

The program is set to start at the beginning of January 2024.

Online Information Sessions

*September 26th Information Session is now FULL. Please register for the Oct. 5th one below.

Contact us today to set up an appointment to receive guidance on next steps in your business, if you haven’t met with us yet, or if you have any further questions.