All Programs & Resources


NOTICE:  Applications will open for Starter Company Plus in Summer of 2025, please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about when the program intake opens and for IDEA Mississauga’s additional supports for entrepreneurs.

Starter Company PLUS Program
Grant of up to $5,000

The Starter Company PLUS program assists people 18 years and over who are interested in starting, expanding or purchasing a business in Mississauga.

The Starter Company PLUS Program is delivered by the Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) for the Mississauga area. The Program is funded by the Province of Ontario and is delivered by Small Business Entrepreneur Centres (“SBECs”) similar to MBEC across Ontario.  If you are interested in starting, expanding or purchasing a business outside of the city of Mississauga, 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 Mississauga, you must confirm your eligibility to participate in the program and attend a mandatory information session. Attendance at the information session does not guarantee acceptance into the program or the receipt of a program grant.

Services offered by the Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre are available in French upon request for programs funded by the Province of Ontario. (Les services Le Centre d’encadrement des entrepreneurs de Mississauga sont disponible en Français sur demande pour les programmes financés par la province de l’Ontario. L’informations sur l’entreprise en démarrage plus est disponible en français ICI)

What does the Starter Company PLUS Program offer?

The program provides:

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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

We have identified and answered the most commonly asked questions about this topic:

To be eligible for the Starter Company PLUS Program in Mississauga, the program applicant must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements, which includes, but is 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 starting a new business, expanding an existing business or buying a business in Mississauga
  • 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 program schedule
  • Not enrolled in other comparable provincial employment or self-employment related initiatives and programs that include or do not include financial assistance
  • Not currently enrolled concurrently in any comparable self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing initiatives and 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 to apply 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 MBEC.

TO BE ELIGIBLE, A BUSINESS OR PROPOSED BUSINESS MUST:

  • Be an independent business venture based in Mississauga
  • 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
  • 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 application

Before you can apply to Mississauga’s Starter Company PLUS program, you must attend a mandatory Starter Company PLUS info session.

This information session will provide you with important information about the Starter Company PLUS program in Mississauga including:

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

Please sign up for our e-newsletter  to be informed when the Starter Company Plus mandatory information sessions become available.

MEET THE 2024 GRANT RECIPIENTS

TESTIMONIALS

“At a pivotal moment, this program reignited my confidence. It provided strategic guidance, new marketing and sales approaches, and valuable collaborations. Beyond business insights, it reshaped my mindset, reinforcing resilience and adaptability. The mentorship and community support were instrumental in refining eL8 Consulting’s direction and growth.”
Harsh
“The Starter Company Plus (SCP) program helped Dgytal in many ways. Our biggest win was that the amazing mentors that guided us to refocus our service offerings to something more sustainable. Our client base and revenue shot up once we pivoted. The $5,000 grant helped us invest in critical software subscriptions we needed to run the business.”
Chidinma
“The Mississauga Starter Company Plus program was instrumental in helping me build a solid foundation for Tea Time Therapy. It provided me with valuable resources, mentorship, and funding to help get the business off the ground. The guidance and support from the program helped me refine my business strategy, and I’m incredibly grateful for the connections I made during the process.”
Thisanya
“The Mississauga Starter Company Plus program was a game-changer for me! It gave me confidence and the knowledge to truly go for it! The support I received from fellow enterpreneurs, leaders, guest speakers, and mentors, was invaluable.”
Kim

PROVIDER

Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC)

The Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) is your central source for small business information, resources and guidance. Whether you are starting or growing a small business, MBEC can help.​

In partnership with: Province of Ontario