Starter Company Plus

The eligibility criteria for the Starter Company Plus Grant are listed below for the Early-Stage Startup Stream and the Female Founders Stream.

• 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

Who is eligible?

Yes, there are several eligible types of companies for the Starter Company Plus Grant. Eligible businesses include those registered and operating within specific parameters.

• Registered business at the time of application (Sole Proprietor, Partnership, or Corporation) with a Toronto address.
• Must have a commercial business bank account corresponding with the business registration documentation.
• In operation up to 3 years for Early-Stage Startup stream or 6 months or more for Female Founders stream, with financial activity statements for this period.
• Majority ownership and ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement.
• Located in Toronto with proof of physical address.
• Businesses requiring certification and/or license must be current at the time of application.
• Must have invested at least 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250) into the business prior to application (for legitimate startup expenses).
• Must be able to commit to in-person and/or virtual entrepreneurship training.

Who is not eligible

Yes, there are specific types of companies that are not eligible for the Starter Company Plus Grant. Below is a list of ineligible businesses:

• Nightclubs, lounges, cabarets, discotheques, music festivals and events or other similar activities
• Online businesses that are resellers
• 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

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses for the Starter Company Plus Grant require that applicants have already invested 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250) into the business at the time of application. These expenses can include various legitimate start-up costs.

• Cash investment
• Marketing efforts
• Equipment
• Commercial rent
• Other legitimate start-up expenses

Eligible geographic areas

The eligible geographic zone for the Starter Company Plus Grant is Toronto, Canada. Applicants must be residents of Toronto and demonstrate proof of physical address.

• Toronto, Canada

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for the Starter Company Plus Grant. Applications will be evaluated by a review committee based on several business and applicant requirements, as well as business viability and potential for growth.

• The application should meet business and applicant requirements.
• Proof of concept: showing evidence that your business product or service has been tested or demonstrated in a real-world scenario, indicating its feasibility and potential for market success.
• Customer validation: demonstrating demand for your product or service in the market.
• Clear revenue model: identifying one or more revenue/sales channels.
• Evaluation of the proposed business’s potential for growth and its ability to create jobs.
• Assessment of the start-up budget and financing requirements of the business.
• Contribution of 25 percent of the grant amount as monetary investment towards the business.

The Starter Company Plus Grant is funded by the Government of Ontario and provides targeted support to small businesses located in Toronto. For further inquiries, applicants can contact the program staff via phone or email.

• Funded by the Government of Ontario
• Contact staff at 416-392-6646 or smallbusiness@toronto.ca for questions