Starter Company Plus
Starter Company Plus gives Ontario entrepreneurs 18+ (not in school full-time) a grant of up to $5,000 plus business training, one-on-one advisor guidance and mentorship, delivered through local Small Business Enterprise Centres. You must contribute at least 25% of the grant amount in cash or in kind, and it covers starting, expanding or buying a business. Intakes run as cohorts that vary by centre, contact your local Northern Ontario SBEC for the next round.
Key facts
- Amount
- Up to $5,000
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Instrument
- Grant (non-repayable)
- Status
- Next intake not announced watch this page or subscribe to the calendar
- Your share
- 25% matching required
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
- Who qualifies
- Individual, sole proprietor, small business
- 18 years of age or older
- Ontario resident and Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Not attending school full-time or returning to school
- Starting a new company, expanding an existing company, or buying a business in Ontario
- Must contribute at least 25% of the grant amount in cash or in kind
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Application process
Call first. This funder expects contact with a program officer before you apply.
- Contact your local Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC)
- Join a cohort: business training plus one-on-one guidance from an SBEC advisor
- Develop and pitch your business plan
- Grant of up to $5,000 awarded to successful participants
- Up to ~3 months of advisory and mentoring follow-on
ontario.ca · Last verified Aug 17, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
Common questions
Is the $5,000 guaranteed if I'm accepted?
No. You complete training and develop a business plan; grants of up to $5,000 are then awarded to successful participants, many SBECs run it as a pitch-style competition, and not every participant receives the full amount.
What counts toward the 25% contribution?
Cash or in-kind contributions worth at least 25% of the grant amount (e.g., $1,250 against a $5,000 grant). Confirm what in-kind items your SBEC accepts.
Can an existing business apply?
Yes, the program covers starting a new company, expanding an existing one, or buying a business in Ontario.
Where do I apply in Northern Ontario?
Through your local SBEC, centres operate in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Kenora and other Northern communities. Each runs its own cohort schedule.
Apply
Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there: