Starter Company+.

Do you need assistance growing your existing small business?

Program Info

Our Starter Company+ program is an advanced 4 month program designed to source out pain points within your business; define and design a customized implementation plan with the possibility of up to $5,000 in grant funding to get the problem solved so you can get back to building your business!

The SBEC program is delivered locally by Business Centre Guelph Wellington and funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario.

Applications will open August 2026.

Partners • Invest in Guelph & Ontario.ca
8 in-person group sessions plus 1-on-1 advisory
8 weeks of in-person learning on Wednesdays from 1pm-3:30pm paired with virtual advisor sessions

Prerequisites

Business must be registered
Must be an existing business
Must live or operate within Guelph and / or Wellington County

About Starter Company+

Starter Company Plus is an entrepreneurship program designed to help Ontario residents grow 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 be awarded a grant of up to $5,000
1-on-1 business advisor sessions to help your small business

Application Requirements

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.

Application requirements must include:

Business registration number
Executive summary of your business
A copy of any professional license you need to operate your business.
Cash flow spreadsheet (Excel Spreadsheet)
A customer persona (PDF)
It is required for interested applicants to attend both Business Financials 101 & Crafting Your Business Plan virtual workshops taking place throughout the months of July, August, and September. Please see Events Archive – Business Centre Guelph-Wellington for registration details.

Please have the above items organized and ready before proceeding with your application.

Program 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, oversee 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.

Program Restrictions

Eligibility

Individuals applying for the program must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration
Proposing starting a new company, expanding an existing company, or buying a business in Ontario;
Not attending school full-time nor returning to school;
Resident of Ontario;
Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
Not enrolled in other comparable provincial employment or self-employment related initiatives and programs that include or do not include financial assistance; and
Not currently enrolled concurrently in any comparable self employment or entrepreneurship training / financing initiatives and programs offered by government funded organizations.
OW (Ontario Works) & ODSP (Ontario Disabilities Support Program) may be able to take part in the training but are not eligible for the funding.

Approved participants must create a new business, operate or expand an existing business, or buy a business in Ontario that meets the following criteria to become an eligible business:

Is a sole proprietorship or a corporation in which the Approved Participant is the majority shareholder;
Operates at arm’s length from family business ventures;
Operates in Ontario; and
Is in compliance with all applicable laws.
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.
Applicants need to be proficient in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

While Starter Company Plus is open to all eligible individuals, it is a training and mentoring initiative geared towards assisting those in need of business knowledge and support.

Approval into Starter Company Plus is competitive and eligible applicants may not all be accepted. As the program aims to address local and / or regional economic development needs, the Recipient may prioritize participation based on specific industries and sectors.