Starter Company Plus Criteria

ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES

• A sole proprietorship or a corporation in good standing, where the applicant will be the majority shareholder (document required at time of application and must show a United Counties of Leeds and Grenville address)
• An independent business venture
• Meets the Canada Revenue Agency’s definition of self-employment (Form RC4110) and complies with all applicable requirements for legally operating the business, including maintaining any required licences, permits, certifications, or registrations.
• Operates at arm’s length from family business ventures in Ontario
• Maintains a separate business bank account which corresponds with Business Registration documentation.

NON ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES

• Businesses with a partnership structure
• Franchises, commissioned sales, and distributorships
• Quasi-financial institutions or money service and money transfer businesses (including insurance companies and financial services companies)
• Collection Agencies
• Cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin) businesses and traders
• Businesses brokering funds or taking on fiduciary duty handling funds for clients (including investment, insurance, and real estate brokers who handle funds in trust for clients),
• Vending machines/laundry mats and other traditionally coin operated operations
• Business ventures that are continuations of existing commercial endeavours
• Not-for-profit, social enterprise, co-operatives or charitable enterprises
• Multi-level marketing ventures
• Single event such as musical ventures, bands, DJs or dance/party event organizations
• Recording artists, authors, and other similar ‘self-promoting’ artists and activities.
• Businesses that are strictly online (e.g. dropshipping, resellers, e-commerce, SaaS), pay per click, 1-900 number businesses, or subscription models
• Technology apps which are not market-ready (operational) or are a stand-alone app.
• Businesses that are operated part-time/seasonally
• REIT’s (Real Estate Investment Trust), retirement homes, and long-term care or group homes
• Student housing and other residential rental accommodation
• Childcare centres, including private daycares,
• Home care for elderly and/or vulnerable populations,
• Adult -oriented businesses - sale, display, or sexually oriented material
• Gambling and gaming businesses
• Cannabis production, distribution, or retail businesses
• Tobacco, vaping, and nicotine product businesses