Starter Company Plus Grant

City of Toronto · The Starter Company Plus Grant provides early-stage entrepreneurs in Toronto with business training, mentoring, and a $5,000 micro-grant to support business gr…

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Overview

The Starter Company Plus Grant provides early-stage entrepreneurs in Toronto with business training, mentoring, and a $5,000 micro-grant to support business growth and expansion. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents operating registered small businesses in Toronto for 6 months to 5 years and must have invested at least 25% of the grant amount themselves.

Eligibility

Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 years or olderResident of Toronto with proof of physical addressNot currently attending school and devoting minimum 35 hours per week to the businessNot enrolled in other government-funded employment programsBusiness must be registered (sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation) with Toronto addressBusiness operating for 6 months to 5 years with majority ownership demonstrated

Eligible projects

Business growth and expansion activitiesEquipment and commercial rent expensesMarketing efforts and startup costsLegitimate business operating expenses

Financing terms

Micro-grant of $5,000 provided to selected entrepreneursApplicants must have invested at least 25% of grant amount ($1,250) in the business before applicationUp to 15 hours of business training includedUp to three months of advisory and mentoring services provided

How to apply

1Check eligibilityConfirm you meet every criterion listed above before you start.

2Prepare the project packageProject description, budget with quotes, team, and recent financial statements.

3Apply on toronto.caGovgrant members can draft the application with AI and export a formatted PDF.

4Respond to reviewer questionsMost programs come back with one round of questions within a few weeks of submission.

Additional information

Business must have commercial bank account and demonstrate financial activity for operating periodBusinesses must operate year-round with consistent monthly revenues; seasonal businesses ineligibleIneligible sectors include nightclubs, online resellers, franchises, charities, cryptocurrency, cannabis/marijuana products, and various financial service businessesApplicants cannot be past recipients of Retail Accelerator Program or other Starter Company Plus Grant streamsBusinesses requiring licenses/certifications must be current at time of applicationSelection based on business viability, proof of concept, customer validation, revenue model, and job creation potential

At a glanceMaximum$5KProviderCity of TorontoDeadlineOct 9, 2026StatusClosedRegionOntarioOfficial sourcetoronto.ca ↗

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