Your one-stop source to start and grow your small business.
Our team can help you make the right decisions as you start-up your business venture and help develop your management capabilities as it grows. Click below to find out more about how we can help you.
Le services de la Centre d'encadrement des petites entrepreneurs do Markham (MSBC) est disponible en francais à la demand pour les programmes financé de l'Ontario. Cliquez ci-dessous pour en savoir plus.
The City of Markham has many small business services for residents. These include:
Free Counseling
Our consultants can help you with:
Business planning
Start-up procedures
Regulations
and more!
This counseling is confidential. It’s also free!
To make an appointment, please contact the Markham Small Business Centre:
Our Resource Centre offers free books and brochures. These cover:
Business Registration
Business Planning
Taxation/Record Keeping
Marketing
Sources of Financing
Import/Export
Franchise
Related government programs and services are also available.
Seminars/Workshops
We offer breakfast seminars and evening workshops throughout the year. These cover:
Legal and Financial Considerations
Strategic Business Planning
Small Business Taxation
Effective Marketing Tools
E-Business Strategies
Managing Your Cash Flow
Workshops and seminars are also excellent for networking with other small business owners.
Please view our current Event Calendar.
Reference Library/Internet Access
Use our Reference Library! We have trade directories and guide books. These list potential suppliers, clients, and market statistics. You can use these references in our office.
We also have business magazines and other publications. You can also use the Internet here.
Markham Small Business Centre hosts educational seminars on various business topics throughout the year. Certain subjects we repeat regularly and others are special interest topics, please see our schedule below:
Starter Company Plus seeks to help entrepreneurs start, expand or grow a small business in their communities by providing training, grant funding of up to $5,000.00, and access to mentorship from local business leaders.
The December 2, 2019 deadline has now passed but we are beginning to accept intake for our next cohort. The deadline for submitting a completed business plan and cash flow projections for our next cohort is Friday, August 14, 2020 before 3:00PM. (Continue reading for more detail.)
If you are:
Not employed full time
Not in a full-time education program or returning to school
Not currently receiving funding from another Provincial entrepreneurship or business program
Not a previous recipient of Starter Company (Plus) grant
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Ontario.
And are willing to:
Create and follow a business plan and a 2-year financial forecast
Agree to participate in bi-weekly training and mentoring meetings over a 3-month period
Agree to provide business reports to the Markham Small Business Centre for verification over a 3-month period.
Then:
Your business may be a fit with the Starter Company Plus program.
Important Note:
We encourage all who are eligible to apply, we can help with your business plan but please be reminded that preference to receive a grant will be given to those applicants whose proposals have a realistic plan for:
Creating employment opportunities for individuals other than the business owner; and/or,
Opening a physical location outside of a home office; and/or,
Expanding an existing business；and/or,
Operating in a priority sector (e.g., Regulated professions, Scientific, Technical, Medical, Life Sciences services or Technologies that are market ready with demonstrated traction).
Please fill out an expression of interest survey, and our program coordinator will contact you about next steps.
Important: This expression of interest is not a complete application. In order to complete an application you must submit a substantially completed business plan including cash flow projections. Our program coordinator will help you get started by recommending training sessions and working with you to complete these documents.
Based on your responses to the above survey, we will determine the eligibility of your proposal, if eligible, the program is delivered in two stages:
Training and Preparation of Business Plan and Cash Flow Projection
Only for selected candidates: Receive grant funding and begin 3-month mentoring period (September 2020).
Because of the competitive nature of the program, some proposals do not end up satisfying the above criteria as well as other proposals and therefore do not end up being selected to receive grant funding as part of the second stage of the program. Despite this, we are still available to assist you in working on your business plan and providing you with training and advisory services.
Eligible applicants will be assigned a learning plan which typically includes attending training sessions. These training sessions will prepare an applicant to write a complete business plan and financial forecast which will be the basis for evaluating the application. You can find the Business Plan and Financial Forecast Templates here:
Those who
are selected to receive a grant will then begin three months of mentoring and
receive their grant, starting in September as they work towards executing their
business plan. This is just one of a number of upcoming cohorts, so if
your application is not selected to receive a grant for this cohort, there is
the possibility that your application could be deferred for consideration in a
subsequent cohort. The Starter Company
Plus Program is competitive and there are limited spaces available. Complete
your business plan and cash flow projections as soon as possible, as the
program may fill up early.
Every year, the Markham Small Business Centre is proud to help develop, and celebrate, the entrepreneurial achievements of Markham's Youth. A number of funding programs are available for Markham's High School, College and University students.
Leadership Development Series – Business Management Skills Certificate
Enhance your management skills! This new management development program helps today’s leaders and managers. It covers a wide range of topics. It focuses on the skills used by managers in everyday decision-making and problem solving. Learn more about the Leadership Development Series.
Entrepreneurship Certificate Program
Learn how to start your own business! This course will teach you how to develop a business plan, follow business law, and deliver good customer service. Choose electives that include:
Business insurance is a key part of business planning, you need to know how much you need; coverage for life events, property, workers, and liability; where to buy; choosing an advisor; and considering group insurance.
A business plan is not just for obtaining financing, there are other benefits to planning. Be prepared to discuss the industry, your services/products, management, marketing, equipment, operations, financial projections and risks.
It is never too early to think about retirement and succession plans. Think about passing the business on to the next generation, or selling the business as exit strategies.
Plan for retirement as a business owner or self-employed individual. Learn about RRSPs, reducing tax rate, individual pension plans, insured retirement plan, and savings.
Statistics and Demographics Markham is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Ontario. It’s home to over 310,000 people and covers 212 square kilometres of land. More than 400 companies are headquartered in Markham.
Markham Online Business Directory This is Markham's official online directory service. With over 12,000 listings, this is the region's largest directory of organizations, businesses, schools, tourist attractions, churches, agencies, and government offices.
BizPaL - Business Permits & Licences BizPaL is a free online service. It helps you get the permits and licences you need to open or expand your business.
Government Grants, Loans and Financing Find government grants, loans, and other ways to finance your business. Be sure to select the purpose of financing (to start up, hire employees, develop a new product, etc.), and select "Ontario" as your location.
Your Guide to Small Business This guide was made by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. It will help you find the tools you need to start a small business.
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Business This guide was made by Canada Business Ontario (CBO). It has information on federal and provincial government programs, services, and regulations.
Canada Business Ontario A one-stop-shop for information on federal and provincial government programs, services, and regulations.
Business Plan Guide, Canadian Youth Business Foundation
A business plan is a business development map. It shows your destination and maps out your travel path. Learn how to create it!
Service Ontario Visit this website to register your business.
