Waterloo Region & Guelph

GrantLocal program

Starter Company Plus (Guelph and Wellington)

An Ontario program delivered by Business Centre Guelph-Wellington for people starting, growing or buying a small business in Guelph or Wellington County. It includes 8 in-person group sessions, advisor meetings and the chance of a grant of up to $5,000. Grants aren't guaranteed and spaces are limited.

Amount
Up to $5,000
Status
Closed for nowThe centre says applications are closed and will re-open in summer 2027 (no date given).
Type
Grant plus training
Run by
Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario
Where
Guelph
Checked on
Nov 13, 2026

Who it's for

  • 18 or older, Ontario resident, Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Lives in or runs the business mainly in Guelph and/or Wellington County
  • Can spend 25 to 30 hours a week on the business
  • Owner or main decision-maker; comfortable with Word and Excel
  • Business is a sole proprietorship, or a corporation where you are the majority shareholder, at arm's length from family businesses
  • Not enrolled in a comparable government self-employment or entrepreneurship program

Not for

  • Full-time students, and people planning to return to school
  • Multi-level marketing, franchises and brokerage firms or their agents
  • Anyone who already got funding from or took part in the program
  • Ontario Works and ODSP recipients can take the training but can't get the grant

What it covers

  • Funding to start, expand or buy a small business (the page doesn't list specific eligible costs)
  • 8 in-person group sessions at Guelph City Hall
  • One-on-one advisor sessions

How to apply

  1. Attend the two required virtual workshops (Business Financials 101 and Crafting Your Business Plan), held July to September
  2. Gather the application form, business registration number, executive summary, any licence you need, a cash flow projection, a customer persona and proof you attended both workshops
  3. Submit a complete application; incomplete ones aren't considered
  4. If accepted, sign the privacy commitment and declaration

Good to know

  • The page contradicts itself on business stage: it says the business must be registered and existing, but also that applicants may be proposing a new company. Ask the centre.
  • The centre's page doesn't mention a personal contribution. Ontario's program page says you must contribute cash or in-kind support worth at least 25% of the grant. Ask the centre how this applies.
  • The 2026 classes ran October 21 to December 9, 2026. No 2027 dates are posted yet.
  • The page calls it both "Starter Company Plus" and "Starter Company+".

Questions

When does it open again?

The centre says applications will re-open in summer 2027. Watch for the required workshops, which run July to September before applying.

Is the grant guaranteed?

No. The centre says grant funds are not guaranteed and spaces are limited.

Can I apply while I'm a student?

Full-time students are listed as not eligible.

Related programs

Open, closes Nov 27, 2026Grant

Tourism Funding Programs

Destination Animation Fund up to $5,000 (10% match). Gather Here sponsorship up to $25,000, and no more than 15% of the event budget. The Marketing Assets program gives photos, video and training, not money.

City of Guelph (with Destination Marketing Guelph for for-profit applications)Guelph

Open, closes Feb 1, 2027Grant

Heritage grants

No per-grant maximum stated; about $50,000 to $60,000 is shared among successful applicants this window

Waterloo Regional Heritage FoundationAll of Waterloo Region

Open nowGrant

Community Improvement Plan grants

$500 to $7,500 per project or property depending on the program, up to $10,000 for priority sites

Township of WellesleyWellesley