Starter Company Plus

Get the Support and Funding You Need to Launch or Grow Your Business

Starter Company Plus provides entrepreneurs with the training, mentorship, and funding needed to start, expand, or buy a business in Sarnia-Lambton. Whether you're launching a new venture or scaling an existing one, this program equips you with essential business skills and access to up to $5,000 in funding. Gain expert guidance, develop a solid business plan, and take your business to the next level.

Applicant Requirements

The Starter Company Plus Grant is available to entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria:

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,
Businesses less than five (5) years in age,
Not be enrolled in any other government-funded employment program, and
Be a resident of Lambton County with the ability to demonstrate proof of physical address

Business Eligibility

Eligible entrepreneurs must also have small businesses that meet the following criteria:

Must be registered at the time of application (Sole Proprietor, Partnership, or Corporation), and this documentation must show a City of Hamilton address,
Must have a separate business bank account that corresponds with Business Registration documentation,
Must have majority ownership and the ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement,
Businesses that require certification and/or license must be current at the time of application,
Must have been in operation for a minimum of 6 months and be able to demonstrate financial activity statements for this period,
Can provide a 25% investment of the grant amount ($1,250), and
Must be able to commit to 12 hours of entrepreneurship training

Ineligible Businesses

The following businesses are ineligible for a Starter Company Plus Grant:

Nightclubs, lounges, cabarets, discotheques, music festivals, and events, or other similar activities,
Online businesses that are resellers,
Technology apps that are not market-ready,
Student housing and other residential rental accommodation,
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 crowdfunding (share capital),
Medical marijuana and cannabis retailers

Starter Company Plus

Get the Support and Funding You Need to Launch or Grow Your Business

Some of Our Past Participants