Starter Company General Business Grant Program Now Accepting Applications
Starter Company Plus supports eligible entrepreneurs looking to build their small businesses. The program provides training, mentoring and advice. It also helps small business owners apply for a micro-grant of $2,500 that will assist with the growth and expansion of their business. Eligible businesses may apply online by July 30. Apply here.
If you are a business in the City of Toronto Starter Company General Business Program can provide the following support:
- Over 20 hours of BUSINESS Training workshops provided
- Starter Company Plus Grant of $2,500
- Further advisory services for up to 6 months.
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be 18 years of age or older
- not be attending school or planning to return to school while enrolled in the program
- be devoting a minimum of 35 hours per week to their small business and not employed anywhere else
- not be enrolled in any other government-funded employment program
- be a resident of Toronto with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
Business Requirements:
- Business must be registered at the time of application (Sole Proprietor, Partnership or Corporation) and this documentation must show a Toronto address.
- Must have a commercial business bank account which corresponds with Business Registration documentation.
- Applicant must have majority ownership and the ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement
- Business must be located in the City of Toronto with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
- Businesses that require certification and/or license must be current at the time of application
- Business must have been in operation for a minimum of 6 months and be able to demonstrate financial activity statements for this period.
- Can provide match funding of 25% of the grant amount ($625)
- Must be able to commit to one week of virtual entrepreneurship training
The Following Business Types will NOT be Eligible for the Starter Company Program:
- Nightclubs, lounges, cabarets, discotheques, music festivals and events or other similar activities
- Online businesses selling jewellery, apparel or cosmetics.
- REIT’s, Retirement homes, Long Term Care homes
- Technology Apps which are not market-ready
- Student housing and other residential rental accommodation
- Childcare Centres, including Day-cares
- Home Care for Elderly and/or Vulnerable Populations
- Quasi-financial institutions or Money Service and Money Transfer Businesses (This also includes Insurance Companies and Financial Services Companies)
- Cryptocurrency (bitcoin) businesses and traders.
- Businesses brokering funds or taking on a fiduciary duty handling funds for clients. This includes Investment, Insurance, and Real Estate brokers who handle funds in trust for clients.
- Brokers (Insurance, Real Estate, Investment, etc.) who are working for an existing firm are not seen to be creating a new business.
- Businesses and platforms that raise funds for charities
- Charities and Non-profits and Social Enterprise
- Franchises
- Collection Agencies
- Businesses that raise investment capital for other businesses
- Businesses that include or promote financing from Equity Crowd Funding (Share capital)
- Medical Marijuana and Cannabis Retailers are not supported due to the complex regulatory requirements.
- Recording Artists and other similar ‘self-promoting’ artists and activities.
Enterprise Toronto reserves the right to determine the nature of business types to be accepted into the Starter Company Program. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
