Applications CLOSED for 2023

The Starter Company Plus program will assist people 18 years and over interested in expanding or purchasing a business in Brampton.

The program provides:

Free training and business skills development
Free mentorship and guidance
Opportunity to apply for a program grant of up to $5,000 after the completion of mandatory training and mentorship

The Starter Company PLUS Program is delivered by the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) for the Brampton & Caledon area. BEC is a business unit of the City of Brampton’s Economic Development Office. The Starter Company PLUS program is funded by the Province of Ontario and is delivered by Small Business Enterprise Centres (“SBECs”) similar to BEC across Ontario, which are part of the SBC Ontario. For information about the program outside of the Brampton area, please refer to the list of Small Business Entrepreneur Centres and Community-Based Provider Locations in Ontario.

To apply to the Starter Company Plus Program in Brampton, you must confirm your eligibility to participate in the program and attend a mandatory info session. Attendance at the info session does not guarantee acceptance into the program or the receipt of a program grant.

Are you eligible to apply to participate in the Starter Company Plus Program?

To be eligible for the Starter Company Plus Program in Brampton, the program applicant must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements, which include, but are not limited to:

Be a resident of Ontario
Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Not attending school full time nor returning to school
Be proposing expanding an existing business or buying a business in Brampton or Caledon
Be prepared to commit a minimum of 35 hours a week to running a full-time business
Be prepared to attend scheduled mandatory training and mentorship meetings as per the program schedule
Not enrolled in other provincial employment or self-employment-related programs that include or do not include financial assistance
Not currently enrolled concurrently in any self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing programs offered by government-funded organizations
Not have received a Starter Company Program or Starter Company Plus Program grant in the past
If there are two or more partners in the business, the partner who is applying to the program must confirm a minimum of 51% ownership of the business to participate in the program and would be responsible for applying for the program grant
Provide proof of 25% contribution of the potential program grant (up to $1250). Contributions can be in cash or in-kind contributions as approved by BEC.

To be eligible, a business or proposed business must:

Be an independent business venture based in Brampton or Caledon
Not be a business that relies on commissioned sales
Be a legal business in Ontario
Not be a franchise
Operate at arm’s length from family business ventures
Operate full-time as defined in the business plan - no side hustles or part-time/seasonal businesses
Maintain its own books and records
Have a Master Business License or Articles of Incorporation or plan to register the business
Maintain a separate bank account
Follow all government rules and regulations and applicable by-laws for the operation of the business
Demonstrate a viable and sales-ready business plan at the time of funding

Please note: Brampton’s Starter Company Plus program will give priority to Brampton-based entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding a main street business, including retail, bars, restaurants and cafes, and professionals in the creative industries. At its sole discretion, BEC may also determine that a particular business is inappropriate for the program.

How can you register to attend the mandatory orientation session?

Before you can apply to Brampton’s Starter Company Plus program, you must attend a mandatory Starter Company Plus info session. We will be hosting orientation sessions during the summer of 2024.

This orientation session will provide you with important information about the Starter Company Plus program in Brampton, including:

Eligibility requirements
Program requirements and expectations
Program training and mentorship, and schedule
Information about the program grant opportunity

This program is funded by the Ontario Government and is only available to City of Brampton & Caledon residents.

To contact your local Starter Company Plus Program provider, visit here.

We encourage interested participants to subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on our social channels @bramptonbec for updates on next year's program that will be launching in the summer of 2024.

Program Information

I don't live in Brampton. Can I still apply?
Starter Company Plus is a provincial program, but you must apply in the municipality where your physical business is located. The program in Brampton is open to Brampton and Caledon residents only.
If I previously received a Starter Company grant, may I apply to Starter Company Plus
No. If you or your company have already received a grant under the Starter Company program you may not apply to any of the other grant streams that are offered as part of Starter Company Plus.
I am in school full time. Am I eligible for Starter Company Plus?
A potential applicant to the program who is enrolled in part-time schooling or training (part-time can include in-class, on-line or distance studies) is eligible for participation in the Starter Company Plus program. You must be prepared to satisfy program training and mentoring requirements and commit a minimum average of 35 hours per week to running your business.
I am working full time. Am I eligible for Starter Company Plus?
The intent of Starter Company Plus is to help people start or expand an existing business where other forms of financing are unavailable. Those working fulltime are not eligible.

**you are able to work throughout the training/mentoring period, but must be ready to launch your business full time IF you receive the grant.
Who decides if I get approved for funding?
A grant committee made up of City of Brampton staff and private sector stakeholders will review applications and determine which applicants are approved for grant funding.

Approval decisions are based on:

feasibility of the proposed business

proposed business’s potential for job creation

start-up budget and financing needs of the proposed business

cash and in-kind contributions of the applicant

applicant’s entrepreneurial aptitude

Have the ability to create sufficient economic impact

Sustainable business model with potential to scale

Fulfills market demand in priority industries
What happens if I pitch to the grant committee and don't receive the grant funding?
You will have an opportunity to pitch again at the next intake period only. This will give the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre an opportunity to work with you to refine your pitch and business model to increase your chances of receiving the grant.
What happens if I don't complete the requirements?
If for whatever reason you are unable to complete the program requirements during the intake period you applied to, you will have an opportunity to apply again at the next intake only.
BEC Waiver
BEC reserves the right to disqualify any participant that, in its sole judgement violates the spirit of the program and its guidelines, process and rules. BEC and the grant review committee decisions are final.

BEC reserves the right to suspend, delay, modify or cancel these terms and conditions for any reasonable applicable law.

**Please note: not all program participants will receive the grant money, but all will receive training.
Grant Application Process and Disbursement
1. Submit completed application
2. Attend mandatory orientation session
3. Complete mandatory business training and mentoring provided by BEC
4. Submit your completed business plan and cash flow for review by the Grant Committee, if your business plan score is 80% or higher, opportunity to pitch for grant funding
5. Provide proof of equity 25% ($1,250)
6. Comply with the Participant Agreement
7. Operate your business on a full-time basis, a minimum average of 35 hours a week
8. Agree to one site visit by the program provider
9. Complete the anonymous participant survey upon receiving grant funding
Businesses not eligible for Starter Company include
- Side Hustles
- Partnerships where the applicant holds a minority share, franchises, commissioned sales and distributorships
- Business ventures that are continuations of existing commercial endeavours
- Not-for-profit or charitable enterprises
- Multi-level marketing ventures
- Single event such as musical ventures bands, DJs or dance/party event organizations
- Businesses that are strictly pay per click and 1-900 number businesses
- Rely on commission salesely on commission sales
- Are part of an existing franchise operation
- Are based on a pyramid scheme or multi-level marketing operation
- Gas Station
- Tire Recycling
- Scrap Metal Recycling
- Pawnbrokers
- Holding Companies
- Laundromats
- Automated Car Wash Operations
- Pay Day Loan and related businesses
- Real Estate Investment
- Businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former Starter Company participants (including Starter Company Plus)