PROGRAM CURRENTLY CLOSED - Applications start August 2025

Starter Company Plus is an entrepreneurship program designed to help Ontario residents start a small business.

The program is funded through the Province of Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. This program is delivered by Business Centre Guelph-Wellington (BCGW).

This program provides:

 Training and business skills development
 Opportunity to win a grant of up to $5,000
 1-on-1 Business Advisor sessions to help your small business

Requirements for Application Completion:

• Please note all information within this application package must be completed to be considered for the program. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Once accepted, participants will be required to sign a privacy commitment and a digital declaration.
• Additionally, there are a limited number of spaces available for this BCGW program and your application does not guarantee your acceptance. The information you provide will be used to evaluate your candidacy for the program.

Requirements for Application Completion:

• Business registration number
• Executive summary of your business
• A copy of any professional license you need to operate your business
• A customer persona

Please have these items ready before proceeding.

Expectations:

Successful applicants will participate in Group learning sessions, these are a series of 8 Mandatory In-Person session located at Guelph City hall. These sessions are for learning and allow for Networking and Professional Connection Building with experts and group members. Group sessions are mandatory to be considered for the final grant application. 

Successful applicants will also be connected with an expert Business Advisor who will guide you through the grant process, over-see expectations, and ensure you are on track for program completion. Your advisor will meet with you to help you develop an implementation plan for applying for the Grant at the end of the session.

Participants are expected to work a minimum of 25 to 30 hours on their business a week, have decision making responsibility within your business structure (owner, founder, CEO, etc.) and be located within Guelph and/or Wellington County as your place of residence or primary business location.

• You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration
• An Ontario resident and Canadian citizen (or permanent resident)
• Growing a recently created small business, or expanding an existing company
• Committed to working a minimum of 25-30 hours a week running your business
• Committed to attending 8 in person sessions
• Committed meeting with an advisor to help with your grant application
• Applicant businesses must be launched prior to acceptance in the program.
• Applicants must include copy of their Business Registration with their application
• Applicants must be the owner and primary decision maker for the business.
• Not attending school full-time or returning to school
• Not enrolled in other provincial employment or self-employment related initiatives and programs that include or do not include financial assistance
• Not currently enrolled concurrently in any self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing initiatives and programs offered by government funded organizations
• Not a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) business, or a Franchise.
• Not a brokerage firm and their agents (real estate, investment, insurance, etc.)
• Applicants must attend weekly in-person sessions and virtual advisor appointments.
• Applicants understand that the grant funds are NOT guaranteed but based on participation, merit and strength of grant application.

***Priority will be given to those in Guelph-Wellington Area