Start a Business

Are you looking to start your own business? There’s a lot you need to know about launching a company - from writing a convincing business plan to securing the right amount of financing. By making informed decisions you can turn your business ideas into a reality.

 Venture Funding Resources

Please note that if you are looking for financial relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic, click here

ArchAngel Network

ArchAngel is a consortium of superangels and venture capitalists, from the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor ecosystem have come together to create an early stage investment fund to support Canada's new entrepreneurs and proven innovators. 

Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a financial institution owned by the Government of Canada. The BDC offers business loans and advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow, both at home and abroad. They offer a full spectrum of specialized funding, including venture capital, equity as well as growth and business transition capital. 

• Small Business Loan provides up to $100,000 loans with affordable rates. Sometimes, you need to act fast to grab opportunities or conquer challenges. The BDC's Small Business Loan is designed to help you quickly and easily access the funds you need with flexible terms you can afford*.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans get support for extra space to grow through Commercial Real Estate Financing. The BDC provides up to 100% project financing loans with repayment plans up to 25 years. Buying commercial real estate is an important decision, potentially very profitable and often complex. With support from BDC experts and a loan* adapted to your needs, they can help make your project reality. 
• Start-Up Business Loans get support through your early stages to grow your business with Start-Up Financing. The BDC provides up to $250,000 loans to jumpstart your projects. One of the biggest challenges for small businesses is getting adequate financing. The BDC provide funds to help Canadian businesses in the start-up phase who have been in operation for at least 12 months and have generated revenues* turn their business ideas into reality.
• Purchase Order Financing helps you to fulfill large purchase orders without the stress by providing up to 90% coverage with repayment plans of up to 18 months. When you want to take on new business opportunities and are short of cash, PO financing is the ideal solution. You can increase your cash flow to fulfill large orders without shortchanging your operations*.
• Equipment Purchase Financing helps you to improve your business productivity by providing up to 100% financing coverage with repayment plans of up to 24 months. Do you need to expand and modernize operations, or replace outdated machinery? Get financing to cover the cost of new or used equipment so you can increase production and fuel your growth*.
• Business Purchase or Transfer Financing helps smoothen acquisition starts by providing loans tailored to your needs. Thinking of buying a company, making a merger or acquiring a competitor to expand your business? Get the right financing and support from their experts for a smooth transaction that benefits both your business and the one you’re acquiring.
• Loan for Tech Companies with Recurring Revenues allows you to invest in customer acquisition by providing up to $750,000 loans. You completed your product development and started commercialization, but you need to attract more customers to generate sales. Finding the cash to do so can be tough when your revenue model consists of recurring fees*. That is when you can count on their team of dedicated tech specialists who understand your reality and will help you find a financing solution adapted to your needs.
• Tech Scale-up Loan allows you to grab your share of the market by providing up to $750,000 loans with repayments plans up to 5 years. Your solution has launched successfully, but you need more customers to secure your market position. With no tangible assets to use as collateral, getting cash to invest in your growth plan is tough. That is when you can count on their team of dedicated tech specialists who understand your reality and will help you find a financing solution adapted to your needs.
• Working Capital Financing allows you to maintain your company's cash flow by providing loans with repayment plans of up to 6 years. Your business has projects, but it requires money to undertake them. Many entrepreneurs face this challenge—which is why our working capital financing is unique and designed to help you realize key growth projects, without putting your everyday cash at risk.
• Technology Financing allows your business to remain competitive by providing up to 100% project financing with repayment plans of up to 4 years. Investing in technology is one of the fastest ways to drive growth, trim costs, and boost productivity. The BDC's technology loan can help your company optimize performance and become more profitable*.
• Bridge Financing Program Through this special program, BDC Capital may match, with a convertible note, a current financing round being raised through qualified existing and/or new investors made into eligible Canadian start-ups. The program is ideal for high potential companies who have venture capital investor syndicates that are willing to support them. BDC will invest alongside these groups.
• Industrial Innovation Venture Fund invests in companies and entrepreneurs who are accelerating the transformation of core Canadian industries that form the backbone of the national economy, including agriculture and food technologies, resource extraction technologies and advanced manufacturing.
• Industrial, Clean and Energy Technology (ICE) Venture Fund helps build tomorrow’s leaders who are reinventing the industry and defining new markets. They do this by partnering with exceptional founders who are creating a future powered by science and technology. They work with businesses from their early and growth stages to becoming globally successful companies.
• Fund Investments is at the heart of BDC Capital’s effort to develop and enable the venture capital (VC) ecosystem in Canada. They play a leadership role in the VC fund industry and encourage the development of world-class Canadian funds by supporting established and emerging top-tier managers.
• Co-Investments aims to support late stage, high growth and knowledge-based companies through direct investments or special purpose vehicles as part of later stage funding rounds led by BDC-backed fund managers.
• Strategic Investments brings together a number of partners and players within the Canadian technology ecosystem to garner financial and non-financial support for Canada’s technology entrepreneurs.
• IT Venture Fund manages over $300 million in venture capital investments across Canada in emerging and mid-stage Internet, mobile and enterprise companies. Their initial investment typically ranges from $2M to $5M in Series A or B rounds with up to $15M invested over the life of the company.
• Healthcare Venture Fund invests in transformative Canadian companies that will dramatically increase healthcare productivity by reducing healthcare costs while improving patient health.
• Market Development encourages the growth of Canada’s venture capital (VC) ecosystem by providing non-financial support to general and limited partners (GPs and LPs). The program focuses on initiatives with a significant impact on scaling and market expansion.
• Diversified Portfolio was created in 2011 as a $160M fund consisting of a group of innovation-based companies in a variety of industries. Managed by the Co-investments team, they support them by ensuring a focus on growing value, providing industry contacts, encouraging good corporate governance, leading investment rounds and attracting talent. Capital is also reserved for companies within the portfolio that are creating value as they advance towards an exit.
• Women in Technology (WIT) Venture Fund is one of the world’s largest venture capital funds dedicated to investing in women-led technology companies and helping to build a robust ecosystem to support women in tech today and in the future. 
  

Centre for Business and Economic Development

The Centre for Business and Economic Development (CBED) is a Community Futures Development Corporation funded by the Canadian government. They offer support for small and medium-sized businesses by way of counselling services, providing loans and access to business information. 

• Home-based Business Guide

Simcoe County "Spark" Program

The “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program will match selected applicants with a mentor and provide a $3,000 seed grant to help take their new tourism idea to the next level.

Individual entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits and community groups are encouraged to apply with their new tourism ideas for Simcoe County by May 12th, 2022. Following a juried review process, five finalists will be invited to virtual Pitch Session where three winners will be selected to receive mentorships and grants.

There will be an information session May 3^rd at 11:30am for those who are interested

The Simcoe County “Spark” Program is being led by the Tourism Innovation Lab in collaboration with Tourism Simcoe County and Regional Tourism Organization 7.

For more information visit https://www.tourisminnovation.ca/simcoecounty.html.

Export Development Canada

Export Development Canada (EDC) is Canada's export credit agency, helping Canadian companies respond to international business opportunities. EDC is a self-financing, Crown corporation that operates at arm's length from the Government providing insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. 

Federal Government

The Canadian Government has created the Canada Business Network portal to assist entrepreneurs and small business. The portal provides information and resources to help businesses during their start-up and growth phases of their business. 

Financial, Bookkeeping and Legal Services in Wasaga Beach

There are a number of business support services available in the Town of Wasaga Beach including major banks, financial planning consultants, certified professional accountants, office management firms, legal firms and bookkeeping service providers. Visit the Town's Business Directory to connect to local assistance. 

Futurpreneur Canada

Futurepreneur Canada has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for nearly two decades. They are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners ages 18-39. The internationally-recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. 

Georgian Angel Network

The Georgian Angel Network (GAN) is a group of private investors from across the region that come from a wide variety of backgrounds and careers. The group's investment capacity typically ranges from $100,000 - $350,00 and look at participating in subsequent financing rounds (follow-on investment). Furthermore, they consider syndication opportunities with other angel investors, other commercialization partners and early-stage venture capital funds. 

Ontario Centres of Excellence

The Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) focuses on ensuring the people of Ontario reap the personal and economic benefits of leading edge research underway at our publicly funded universities, colleges and research hospitals. OCE supports commercialization of academic intellectual property, industry-academic collaboration and the development and adoption of emerging technologies. This includes overseeing the execution of advanced technology platforms that will equip Ontario companies to compete in a competitive global digital economy.

Ontario Small Business Access

Ontario Small Business Access Centre is a provincial resource to help support small business owners in Ontario including funding opportunities, business advice and information about growing your business.

Regional Tourism Organization 7

Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) provides regional leadership and coordination to help build and support competitive and sustainable tourism. They help ensure that our region is better able to attract visitors, generate more economic activity and create more jobs. They offer free tourism-related data, funding and training.

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)​

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund is a business expansion funding program for large-scale project. It that incentivizes companies to invest in new facilities and equipment. It attracts projects that have a significant impact on business productivity and create new employment opportunities within the company.

To qualify for SWODF funding, Southwestern Ontario businesses must provide a minimum investment of $500,000, have at least 10 employees at the time of application, and commit to creating at least five jobs during the project. 

SWODF will fund up to 15% of project costs. Rolling application deadlines.

Starter Company Plus

Offered through the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre, Starter Company Plus provides enterprising people over 18 years of age who want to start or expand a business in their community with the opportunity to receive mentoring, training and funding up to $5,000 to start or grow a business. 

Summer Company

Summer Company is a youth entrepreneurship program of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. The program is available to students between the ages of 15-29 who are in school and returning to school in the fall and is delivered locally by the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre. This program provides funding up to $3,000 as well as hands-on coaching and mentoring to help students start and operate their own summer business. 

ventureLAB

ventureLAB is the non-profit Regional Innovation Centre (RIC) servicing Simcoe County. They help entrepreneurs bring their innovations to market, by offering a unique combination of mentoring, partnering and connection tailored to the need of each unique business. ventureLAB offers the BUILD training program, one-on-one advisory services, workshops, conferences, special events and investor meetings. 

Employment Resources

So much of your success depends on your human resources. Get a head start with competent human resource management that sees you hire the best candidates for the job and maintain employee engagement. Be aware of the ins and outs of employment law and learn how you can improve human resources and skills development in your organization.