Starter Company Plus
Ontario's Small Business Enterprise Centres offer up to $5,000 plus training to people starting, expanding or buying a business. You put in at least 25% of the grant amount yourself, the money is competitive rather than automatic, and your own centre's rules and dates decide everything, so start there. You can apply anytime.
How we verify funding records →
“You can also apply for a grant of up to $5,000.”
From the official program page
Before you spend a dollar
Confirm with your local SBEC whether approval must precede spending; typically, grants require pre-approval before you incur costs.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You are an Ontario resident aged 18 or older who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You are not attending school full-time or returning to school.
- You can contribute at least 25% of the grant amount in cash or in kind: at least $1,250 if you request the full $5,000.
- You are ready to complete the training and pitch your business to a review committee.
Probably not the right fit if
- You are under 18, a full-time student, or planning to return to school full-time.
- You cannot make the personal contribution in cash or in-kind value, or you already received a Starter Company Plus grant before.
- Your business is a franchise, distributorship, multi-level marketing or commissioned-sales operation; most centres exclude these.
How much you'd realistically get
Up to $5,000 in grant funding, contingent on your ability to provide the matching 25% contribution.
What may be supported
- Starting a new small business in Ontario.
- Expanding an existing small business.
- Buying an existing small business.
What's excluded or restricted
- attending school full-time
- returning to school
How applying works
Effort: moderateYou must apply through a Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) and likely complete training or mentoring components alongside the application.
- 01Find your local Small Business Enterprise Centre on the official Ontario page; you apply where you live and where the business operates.
- 02Check your centre's own rules first: business age limits, whether you can keep another job, and the contribution it requires all vary by centre.
- 03Confirm the current intake dates with your centre; they are set locally and are not published centrally.
- 04Complete the application and the training, and prepare a short pitch: selected applicants typically present to a review committee.
- 05Get approval before spending, keep receipts for everything, and file the follow-up reports; the final portion of the grant is paid only after them.
Who to ask: https://www.ontario.ca/feedback/contact-us?id=24865&nid=545803
Before you apply
Your application will likely need written quotes
Programs like this usually ask for written estimates for the work before they approve anything, and some require as many as three. BBN Labs works with you on this: we prepare a quote for the work this program funds — scope, costs and timelines you can put straight into your application. Free, no obligation.
Get my quote for this program →Documents commonly required
- Proof of age and residency (e.g., driver's license, passport).
- Proof of citizenship or permanent resident status.
- Evidence of your 25% contribution (cash proof or valuation of in-kind assets).
- Business plan or proposal for starting, expanding, or buying the business.
How BBN Labs helps
- Put the grant where it is allowed to go: marketing, equipment and leasehold improvements are on the eligible list at the delivering centres, and that is the work BBN does — websites, local SEO and marketing, POS and store technology, and coordinating the trades for a space fit-out.
- BBN builds the professional web and digital presence that turns a business plan into something a review committee can see working.
- BBN helps you manage the application and the deadlines around your centre's intake, and prepares the marketing materials that support your pitch, so you don't lose the funding to a missed date or a thin presentation.
What to know before you count on it
- You contribute at least 25% of the grant amount yourself, in cash or in kind: at least $1,250 if you request the full $5,000. Sweat equity and loans do not count, and some centres ask for more (London requires a full match with at least $2,500 in cash).
- It is competitive, not automatic: cohorts are capped, and selected applicants typically pitch to a review committee before any money is approved.
- The money usually arrives in two parts, up to 75% on approval and the rest only after your reports and milestones, and at some centres it must be spent within 60 days with receipts.
- The grant is taxable income and a T4A slip is issued; ask your accountant how it affects your return.
- The detailed rules genuinely differ by city: business age limits, whether you can keep another job, and intake dates are all set by your local centre, so confirm everything with your own SBEC.
What are your odds?
Winnable but genuinely competitive: cohorts are small (one centre admits up to 23 people a year, another has $35,000 in total grants), and a recent round split $40,000 across 9 recipients, so many winners receive less than the full $5,000. A clear plan and a well-prepared pitch are what the review committees score.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to pay the full cost before getting the grant?
The payment mechanics are not published. Typically, matching grants require you to spend first and then claim reimbursement, but you must confirm this with your local SBEC.
Is the grant money taxable?
Yes, grant income is generally taxable. Ask your accountant to understand the impact on your personal or business taxes.
Can I use the grant to buy a business?
Yes, the program funds starting, expanding, or buying a business, provided you meet the eligibility criteria and can make the 25% contribution.
Where do I apply?
You must apply through a Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC). Find your local centre at the official Ontario government page.
Related BBN services
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Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
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Logos, brand guidelines, menus, cards and print that match your storefront. One consistent identity everywhere.
Business Websites
Fast, search-ready websites your customers can actually use. Built, hosted and maintained by one accountable team.
Local SEO & Google Business Profile
Show up when nearby customers search: accurate profiles, real local content and reviews handled honestly.
What you can combine it with
This program is distinct from federal tax credits or other provincial grants; check with your accountant to ensure no overlap or double-dipping rules apply.
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Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated ; last verified today with the official source. Source: official program page.