Starter Company Plus Grant – Early-Stage Startup Stream

Please Read Before Completing Application - Grant Program Requirements
Starter Company Plus Grant – Early-Stage Startup Stream provides businesses with further training to assist them to build and grow their businesses.

If you are a business in the City of Toronto, the Starter Company Plus Grant – Early-Stage Startup Stream can provide the following support:
  • Up to 15 hours of business training,
  • a micro-grant of $5,000,
  • and up to six months of advisory and mentoring services.
Applicant Requirements:
This stream of the Starter Company Plus Grant is available to entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:
  • 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 the ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
Business Requirements:

Eligible entrepreneurs must also have small businesses that meet the following criteria
  • Must be a registered business at the time of application (Sole Proprietor, Partnership or Corporation) and this business registration documentation (Master Business License or Articles of Incorporation) must show a Toronto address
  • Must have a commercial business bank account at the time of application which corresponds with Business Registration documentation
  • Must have been in operation for up to 3 years and be able to demonstrate financial activity statements for this period
  • Must have majority ownership and the ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement
  • Must be located in Toronto with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address
  • Businesses that require certification and/or license must be current at the time of application
  • Must be able to commit to in-person and/or virtual entrepreneurship training
  • Must have already invested 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250) into the business at the time of application (cash, marketing efforts, equipment, commercial rent, or other legitimate start up expenses).
Ineligible Businesses:

The Following Business Types will NOT be Eligible for the Starter Company Plus Grant – Early-Stage Startup Stream:

  • Nightclubs, lounges, cabarets, discotheques, music festivals and events or other similar activities
  • Online businesses that are product-based resellers/distributors (Jewellery, Clothing, Cosmetics etc.)
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), retirement homes, and long-term care homes
  • Technology applications which are not market-ready
  • Student housing and other residential rental accommodation
  • Childcare centres, including daycares
  • Home care for elderly and/or vulnerable populations
  • Quasi-financial institutions or money service and money transfer businesses (including insurance companies and financial services companies)
  • Cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin) businesses and traders,
  • Businesses brokering funds or taking on a fiduciary duty handling funds for clients (including 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 enterprises
  • 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
  • Recording artists and other similar 'Self-promoting' artists and activities
Toronto Small Business Enterprise Centre reserves the right to determine the nature of business types to be accepted into the Starter Company Plus Grant Program. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

A few notes to consider before starting your application:
  • You will receive a confirmation email with a copy of the submitted application.
  • You will also receive an anonymous survey after the form submission. This survey is used strictly for information purposes and is entirely voluntary.
  • If you have questions about this application or would like accessibility supports, accommodation and/or a different format, please call 416-392-6646 or email smallbusiness@toronto.ca using your business email account.
Collection Statement
The business information collected in this application will be maintained as a business record and made publicly available (if requested).

Economic Development and Culture collects applicant personal information under the legal authority of Item 2022.EC28.6, City Council Decisions 1-3, as confirmed by the City of Toronto By-law 322-2022. The information is used to determine program eligibility; for statistical reporting; and for outcomes follow-up and evaluation. Questions about this collection can be directed to Small Business Consultant, Economic Development and Culture, Toronto City Hall, 9th Floor, East Tower, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2 or by telephone at 416-392-6646.
Starter Company Plus Grant Program Eligibility
  • You are not eligible to participate in this program if you have been a past recipient of any stream of the Starter Company Grant from the Toronto Small Business Enterprise Centre (formerly known as Enterprise Toronto) or another Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) within Ontario.
  • This program requires up to 15 hours of mandatory training and is only open to City of Toronto residents and businesses prepared to take the time to learn through the Starter Company Plus Grant Program.
  • This program is only open to City of Toronto residents and businesses that have invested at least $1,250 into their business have been running it for a maximum of 3 years.
  • This program is only open to the City of Toronto residents that have been running their business for a maximum of 3 years. If you're running a business outside of Toronto, contact your local provider of the Starter Company Plus Grant Program (visit here).
  • This program is only open to the City of Toronto businesses that have been running a business for a maximum of 3 years. If you're running a business outside of Toronto, contact your local provider of the Starter Company Plus Grant Program (visit here).
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