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How to Start a Business in Ontario: The 12-Step Checklist

Do you dream of using your entrepreneurship skills to own your own business? If you’re a would-be entrepreneur looking to start a business in Ontario, we’re here to help you take the plunge. 

Before we dive in, it’s important you understand what you’re signing up for. Entrepreneurs often work long hours, face steep learning curves, and juggle a wide variety of tasks. You’ll also take on new financial responsibilities and will likely face stiff competition. So, it’s important to do your research and plan carefully before you launch a new business.

There are many legal requirements and steps to follow when starting a business in Ontario. And, we’re here to help. We’ve put together this complete step-by-step guide, packed with essential information and resources to help you get started as a business owner.

• Legal Requirements for Starting a Business in Ontario

To start your business off right, there are a few legal requirements you’ll need to consider. 

• Registering your business

You’ll need to determine your business structure . You have three primary options when registering your business in Ontario : 

• Sole proprietorship — You are the sole owner and responsible for assets and liabilities personally. 
• Corporation — Incorporating a business creates a separate legal entity, so all assets and liabilities are tied to the professional corporation and not you personally. It’s the most complex of business structures.
• Partnership — You and one or more partners own the business and share responsibilities, assets and liabilities personally.  

Registration requirements differ based on the business structure you choose.

If you’re a sole proprietor operating a business under your own legal name, you don’t need to register your business. However, if you want to operate under a different business name, or if your business is a partnership or corporation, you have to register your business with the province. Businesses registered in Ontario are automatically registered federally, too.

If you choose to incorporate your business, you’ll need to incorporate in Ontario and every other province or territory you plan to do business in. It’s worth noting your business name will only be protected in the jurisdictions you incorporate in, but incorporating federally ensures your name is protected and recognized across the country and globally.

Incorporating protects your business name — no other business is legally allowed to use the name. But the legal protection is jurisdictional, meaning if you only incorporate in Ontario, the business name is not protected outside Ontario. When you incorporate federally, it protects the name across the country, even if you aren’t incorporated in every province or territory.

Incorporating is complex, and many entrepreneurs turn to a lawyer for help, but Ownr can help you incorporate your business at a fraction of the cost.

• Applying for a GST/HST number

You’ll also need to decide whether to apply for a GST/HST number . Most sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations with total revenues under $30,000 per year are defined as a small supplier by the CRA, and they don’t have to collect GST/HST. Once your worldwide business revenues total $30,000 in a single calendar quarter, or in four consecutive quarters, you have to register for a GST/HST number and begin collecting sales tax on all goods and services. 

There can be a financial benefit to voluntarily registering to collect GST/HST before you hit the $30,000 revenue threshold. How much GST/HST you remit to the government will depend on how you report your GST/HST (there’s a quick method and long method), so take some time to weigh the potential bump to your income against the time it will take you (or the cost for your accountant) to file your GST/HST returns . 

• Obtaining licenses or permits

You may need specific licences or permits to operate your business. You can quickly and easily get a detailed list of all the licences and permits you may need for your type of business with BizPal , an online tool jointly managed by all levels of government.

Now that we’ve covered the basic legal requirements of starting a small business in Ontario, let’s dive into our 12-step checklist for getting your business off the ground.

• 12 Steps to Starting a Business in Ontario
• 1. Come up with a business idea 

If you’re reading this, you may already have an awesome business idea in mind and need some guidance to turn it into a reality. But if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur struggling to nail down the right business to start, we have some suggestions to get the ideas flowing.

Some of the most successful business ideas come from entrepreneurs trying to solve a problem. Apps, for example, can help people track their habits, conduct business, order food and so much more. Cleaning services, junk removal companies and professional organizers all help people bring order to their homes. Consultants tackle organizational challenges for businesses and governments.

The problem might even be relatively small. When Tina Nguyen, the founder of XXL & CO , made an extra-extra-large scrunchie for a cousin with super-long hair, it sparked a business idea. She started making XXL scrunchies in her parents’ basement, and within a year, she had hired a team of 15 and moved her operations to a warehouse.

Do you have a creative skill that can be monetized? Or can your professional experience be transferred to a side hustle or full-time service? Perhaps you have a passion for a product, or simply an idea on how to do something more efficiently. 

Keep in mind how and where you want to work. If you want to sell products but don’t love working face-to-face with customers, then an e-commerce store would make a lot more sense than opening a bricks and mortar shop.

• 2. Research the market

Conducting market research is an important starting point that helps you understand your customer, the demand for your products or services, and your competitors. It’s a key component to building a successful business.

Your market research should answer the following questions:

• Who are your potential clients or customers?
• Do they want your product or service?
• Who is your hero client—the person most likely to buy your product/service?
• What are people looking for in the product or service you’re offering?
• How much are people willing to pay for your product or service?
• How much does it cost to make or source your product, and ship it to customers?
• Is there enough demand to build a successful business?
• What sets you apart from competitors?

A tremendous amount of market data is available online. Statistics Canada is a great resource for consumer demographic information, and you can find industry trends in the Canadian Industry Statistics database. If you’re opening a business with a physical location, local BIAs can be helpful, and your municipality may have demographic data for neighbourhoods ( Toronto’s is very extensive ). Finally, Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) are also a great resource that offer entrepreneurs tools, resources and workshops. 

You may also want to survey or poll potential customers. Online tools such as Survey Monkey , Google Forms , as well as polling features available on social media platforms make it relatively easy to do this.

• 3. Choose a business name

Before you register or incorporate your business, you’ll need to decide on a business name, and it’s well worth taking the time to choose one that’s unique and memorable.

As you brainstorm, Google your potential business names and do a domain search to ensure they’re not already being used by other businesses. A registered sole proprietorship or partnership doesn’t automatically have legal protection for its business name, so it is possible for two or more businesses to have the same name —however, that can lead to customer confusion.

Next, you should search your potential business names on the NUANS database of incorporated businesses and the Canadian trademark database to make sure you choose a distinct name that’s not protected. When you’re incorporating a business in Ontario or federally, you’ll also need to get a NUANS report from a registered search company. With Ownr, you can pre-search up to 30 unique names, which helps you save on search fees.

You can incorporate with an English and/or French name. If you choose to have an English form and a French form of your business name, you must have a separate NUANS report for each name. You may also add a version of your business name in any other language.

All incorporated businesses in Ontario must have a legal entity at the end of the name—either Limited, Limitée, Incorporated or Corporation (Ltd., Ltée, Inc. or Corp. for short).

As an alternative, you can choose to incorporate with a number name (which doesn’t require a NUANS search), and then register a business name with the province and trademark it to protect your brand.

• 4. Choose a business structure and register or incorporate

As we outlined above, the three main types of business structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. There are several factors that go into determining which is best for you and your business, including liability, tax rates and funding needs.

In general, sole proprietorships and partnerships are simpler business structures with fewer set-up and reporting requirements. The potential downside is business owners are responsible for any liabilities, so your home, vehicles and personal investments could be at risk. Additionally, your business income is taxed at personal income tax rates. Sole proprietorships operating under a name other than your own and all partnerships have to be registered with the province.

Corporations have the advantage of being distinct legal entities, so liability is attached to the business, not you, ensuring your personal assets are protected. Should your company grow highly profitable, there’s a tax advantage to incorporating and drawing a salary from the company. Lastly, there are more funding options available to corporations, including raising money through the sale of shares and loans with lower interest rates.

Incorporating your business is complex and requires a lot of paperwork to obtain your articles of incorporation, but Ownr simplifies the process. We walk you through the process of registering, compiling documentation, and filing your incorporation to ensure no details are missed. We also store all your important documents in one place. Plans are available for ongoing corporation management, which can save you time and money.

• 5. Purchase a domain name and set up social media accounts

With your business name and structure set, it’s time to purchase a domain for your business page and set up social media accounts.

In a perfect world, your business name will be available for your domain (e.g., yourcompany.ca) and social media handles (@yourcomapny). You may want to check for domain availability before even registering your business name to make sure you can get the .com or .ca at a reasonable price.

If your exact name isn’t available, there’s no need to panic. Consider different variations using abbreviations, acronyms, punctuation or some sort of identifier, such as location. Keep your naming convention consistent across all digital and social media platforms for a strong brand presence.

Don’t be afraid to have fun and get creative with your domain and social media handles. Ontario-based workplace design consultancy Bloom opted for a sophisticated action phrase with the domain buildwithbloom.com , and social media handles, @buildwithbloom. Meanwhile, Toronto-based wellness clinic Wellbe opted to add “hello” to the beginning of its domain ( hellowellbe.com ) and social media handles (@hello.wellbe), reinforcing the warm, welcoming tone of the brand.

Once your domain is purchased and social media accounts are created (and set to private or unpublished until you’re ready to launch your business), you can start building a website and then begin to strategize around your social media posting plan. You’ll need to be clear on your company’s value proposition and target market, as well as have a broad strokes marketing strategy to create an effective website. Web development often goes hand-in-hand with writing your business plan. To reduce development and web maintenance costs, consider using a website building service . If you have the budget, consider hiring a designer to create a logo and visual branding for your website, and a copywriter that specializes in small business websites.

Tip: Even if you’ll only be using one or two social media platforms for your business, we recommend securing your handle across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat and LinkedIn to protect your brand.

• 6. Write a business plan

A business plan provides you with a roadmap for your business, so be sure to dedicate some time to develop it. If you’re not sure where to start or are feeling overwhelmed by the scope, a business plan template can help.

As you craft your business plan , you’ll sense where you’re in good shape and where you need to allocate more time or financial resources. Speaking of finances, your business plan can help you secure funding from banks or investors. While you may have startup costs covered, it often takes one to two years for many businesses to turn a profit.

You may feel there’s no need to develop a business plan. Especially if you’re a sole proprietor who is established in your field with an extensive network of potential clients. But the process can be invaluable for any business owner. It can help identify new or niche opportunities, define growth goals, or find alignment with clients who have similar values—all of which can boost your bottom line.

Keep in mind your business plan is not set in stone. Your vision will change as your business, and the market, evolves, so aim for a solid plan, not a perfect one.

• 7. Open a business bank account

Keep your business finances straight by opening a business account to separate any of your business’s financial dealings from your personal expenses. For corporations, it’s a legal requirement to have a bank account open under the corporate name. Without one, vendors and customers will not be able to make payments to the corporation. However, even if you’re operating your business as a sole proprietorship or partnership, opening a separate business bank account has many benefits . It helps with bookkeeping best practices and you’ll be grateful for it come tax season. Opening a business bank account will also likely make any potential audits easier to deal with, plus any fees associated with the account can be deducted as a business expense. Depending on your banking priorities, there are plenty of options to explore for different business accounts you can open with RBC .

Opening a business bank account with RBC is easy and quick. You can apply online, and in less than 15 minutes, you’ll receive your business bank account number. To activate and finalize your account, you may need to visit a branch to verify your identity. See more details on opening an RBC business account .

One of the many benefits of registering your business with Ownr is that you’ll get money back when you open a business account. Sole proprietorships can receive $100 and corporations can receive $300 if they open a business bank account with RBC within 60 days. See full details on the offer here .

• 8. Secure funding for your business

While some businesses are launched on a shoestring budget, others need capital to get off the ground. Here are some of the places you can find funding.

Federal government business grants and financing

The Government of Canada has a range of grants, tax credits, financing programs, wage subsidies and other types of funding and resources for small business owners. 

If you need short-term support in specific areas—for example, a digital marketing team, web design, programming or event management—the federal student work experience program offers wage subsidies when you hire a student for a work term. This can be an affordable way to accelerate projects and build a network of potential future hires.

Ontario business grants

The province of Ontario has small business funding programs to support Indigenous businesses and small businesses in Northern Ontario, as well as training grants for current and future employees. You can also look into whether your municipality or regional innovation centres offers grants or funding programs for local startups. Learn more about the small business grants available in Ontario .

Angel investors

Angel investors generally provide funding (and in some cases mentorship) for a stake in your company.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter , Indiegogo , GoFundMe , and Patreon (for creators) harness the power of people and networks to contribute small amounts to meet a big fundraising goal. Too many choices to choose from? Read this guide on how to choose a crowdfunding platform that’s right for your small business.

• 9. Obtain business licences and permits

Specific licences and permits are required for many types of businesses. As mentioned earlier, BizPal provides a detailed list of the licences and permits you may need for your business.  Results can be filtered based on your location, industry, and business activities. It’s important that you know and acquire all licences that are required for your business. 

One common licence needed for sole proprietorships and partnerships is the business name registration (formerally known as a Master Business Licence or MBL). This lists basic information about your business, like the business name, address, business number and a description of your business activities. 

Keep in mind there may be occasions when additional permits are required beyond those already needed to begin business operations. For example, photographers often need location permits for photoshoots, and special permits are often required for events.

• 10. Protect your company with business insurance

Business insurance is an important consideration. The proper insurance for your business can protect you or your corporation from liability and losses that could be financially devastating. There are a variety of options for small business insurance, and the type of coverage that’s best suited for your business will depend on your business activities. Some business activities are relatively low-risk (for example, if you’re the sole employee and you work from home on your laptop), while some may require additional insurance coverage for protection (like if you provide a public-facing service that involves some degree of risk). 

Here are some options to consider when choosing what kind of business insurance your small business needs . 

• General liability insurance 
• Commercial property insurance
• Business income insurance
• Workers’ compensation insurance
• Professional liability insurance
• Data breach insurance
• Commercial auto insurance

We recommend contanting an experienced commercial insurance broker to advise you on the appropriate coverage for your business operations.

• 11. Build your brand presence

Your business is essentially ready to launch at this point—so it’s time to get the word out and build your customer base. Your marketing strategy will depend on your type of business and marketing budget , but there are several effective ways to connect with customers:

• Build your social media following with engaging content
• Reach customers directly with email marketing to build brand loyalty and drive sales (consider email marketing services like HubSpot or MailChimp if you’d like to outsource this)
• Use paid social media to build your following and reach your market more efficiently
• Advertise with local publications or radio stations to reach specific markets or demographics
• Participate in events to increase brand awareness (and keep an eye out for in-kind sponsorship opportunities)
• Network within your industry among local business groups and marketing and events professionals
• 12. Hire employees and scale your business

As your marketing strategy pays off and your business flourishes, you may consider how to grow and scale your business by automating certain tasks to save you valuable time. Another important milestone is hiring employees for your small business .

One way to set your business up for growth and scaling is to automate tasks and processes wherever possible. You can automate emails to clients, batch upload and schedule social media content, or use apps to send out proposals and invoices, or accept payments. Part-time support can also free up your time for growth. A virtual assistant can manage your calendar and take care of invoices, payments or customer inquiries, while a freelance social media manager can handle strategy, content creation and engagement. 

Even solopreneurs may reach a point where the demand for goods or services is more than one person can handle. Whether you have the budget to hire employees or choose to outsource some work, bringing the right people on board can help take your business to the next level.

You may want to consider additional professionals for specific services, such as a lawyer to write a vendor contract or an accountant to manage your books and prepare tax filings.

• Frequently asked questions about starting a business in Ontario
• What do I need to start a business in Ontario?

To start a business in Ontario, you first and foremost need an idea for a service or product that you would like to bring to market. Beyond that, following the 12-step process above will set you up for success with your business in Ontario. Registering your small business with Ownr will help make the process simple, and provide you the peace of mind that your business is fully compliant with all legal requirements. 

• How much does it cost to register a small business in Ontario?

The cost to register your small business in Ontario depends on the type of business structure you choose. The cheapest and most simple option is to register your business as a sole proprietorship or partnership which costs $60 online, by mail or email when registering yourself. Incorporation in Ontario can range from $300 to $360. 

If you choose to register your business with Ownr, the cost for a sole proprietorship is $49 and ranges from $499 to $599 for Ontario corporation, depending on if you incorporate federally or provincially. Learn more about pricing and the advantages of registering as a sole proprietorship or incorporating your business with Ownr , like a year of free online Minute Book management.

• Do you need a license to operate a business in Ontario?

It depends on your exact location, business structure, and the types of business activities you conduct, but in most cases, you will require a business licence to operate. The easiest way to find out what business licences (and any additional permits) that your business requires is by using BizPal , a free service that lets you search for required permits and licences in your area.

• How can I start a business with no money?

Some small businesses require very little capital to startup, for example a freelance service that you provide from home where you already have most of the necessary tools (like if you provide freelance marketing and writing services or work as a virtual assistant). To make money online , you may not require much to get started beyond the fees to register your business (and if operating as a sole proprietorship with your exact name, you may not be required to register). Other businesses, like those selling a commercial product will require greater startup capital for stock, packaging and marketing materials. 

• What are the best businesses to start in Ontario?

The best businesses solve a problem or fill a gap in the market, and the same is true of any small business in Ontario. It’s also important that you as a business owner are interested and invested in your business idea. Get inspired with home business ideas for the best businesses to start on Instagram or check out the best small businesses to start in Toronto .If you already have an amazing business idea in mind, here’s how to validate it or put its potential to the test before you proceed with starting up your small business.

• More resources to help you start a business in Ontario

Here are some additional resources to set you on the path to entrepreneurial success. Local small business centres are also a great resource as they will provide tools, workshops and free local resources to help get you started on your entrepreneurial journey.

• Ownr’s managed corporation plan
• Small business grants for Canadian businesses
• Resources and support for Indigenous entrepreneurs
• Resources for Black-owned businesses
• Everything you need to know about startup costs

Starting a business in Ontario is a lot of hard work and takes careful planning, but with this step-by-step guide, you now know some of the basics to make it happen. Go for it!

This article offers general information only, is current as of the date of publication, and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Ventures Inc. or its affiliates.

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How to Start a Business in Ontario

In Ontario , starting your own business is streamlined yet comprehensive, ensuring that new businesses are well-prepared to succeed in the competitive market. If you dream of opening a business in Ontario using your entrepreneurship skills, this guide is for you.

Below are the essential steps for entrepreneurs searching for how to start a small business in Ontario and how to register a business in Ontario:

Conduct Market Research

Market research is the foundation of any small business Ontario. It helps you understand the industry landscape, identify your target market, and gauge the demand for your product or service. This is especially important when you plan to open a business in Ontario to avoid costly mistakes and missed opportunities. Conducting market research will also benefit those looking to start a business in Ontario or those who are already starting a business in Ontario.

How to Conduct Market Research

• Determine who your potential customers are.
• Identify your main competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use surveys, focus groups, and existing research reports to gather data about your target market and industry.
• Analyze the data to identify trends, opportunities, and potential challenges.

Your market research should answer these questions:

• Who are your potential clients?
• Are they interested in your product or service?
• Who is your ideal client?
• What do people want from your product or service?
• How much are they willing to pay?
• What are the costs of production and shipping?
• Is there enough demand for a successful business?
• What makes you different from competitors?

Come Up with Business Ideas

Some of the most successful businesses arise from ideas that solve problems, such as creating apps, offering cleaning services, starting junk removal companies, becoming professional organizers, working as consultants, monetizing creative skills, leveraging professional experience, turning a passion for products into a business, or developing efficiency improvements. Your small business in Ontario must start here.

Business Plan Development

A business plan details your business idea, short-term and long-term goals, and the resources required for starting your own business in Ontario. If you need assistance in drafting your business plan, our team of expert business plan writers is here to help. Furthermore, you can open business samples on the web or explore our sample business plan template to help you create a business plan and provide you with the ideal business plan format. Following a clear outline is also crucial for effectively preparing your business plan to pitch to investors .

Have Questions? Looking To Get Started?

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Choose the Right Business Structure When starting a small business in Ontario, it’s essential to choose the right business structure to suit your needs. The table below is an overview of the four main business structures that you need, each with its unique legal and tax implications, to explore when starting your own business in Ontario.:

Whether you’re looking to start a business, such an LLC Ontario or open corporation Ontario, each business structure offers distinct pros and cons. Your choice should reflect your specific business needs, goals, and risk tolerance. Consider factors such as the level of control you want, the extent of liability you’re willing to accept, the complexity of tax obligations, and your capital requirements. Consulting with a business consulting firm can help ensure you make the best decision for your enterprise.

Register your Business

How do I register a business in Ontario? To register business in Ontario, you must use the Ontario Business Registry. Here’s a guide on how to register a business in Ontario:

1.Registering a business in Ontario requires a working email address for online registration and a valid debit or credit card for payment. The business registration Ontario fee depends on the type of business you are registering.

2.Steps to register a business in Ontario include:

• Search the Ontario Business Registry for free to ensure your business name is available.
• Select your business type and complete the registration:
• To register small business Ontario, as a Business Corporation, you will need an Ontario-biased Nuans name search report to reserve your business name (if not using a number name). A federal Nuans report is not acceptable. Obtain this report from a private company or a local Nuans member .

You will be given a 9-digit Ontario Business Identification Number (BIN) from ServiceOntario, which is needed for incorporation, setting up an import/export account, and registering with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). Note that this BIN is different from the CRA’s Business Number (BN).

Check Licences and Permits

When starting a small business in Ontario, you will need licences and permits to operate according to federal, provincial, or municipal regulations. Use BizPaL , a free online tool, to find the licences and permits you need for your business. BizPaL filters permits based on your location, industry, and business activities.

Determine if you need to charge HST

Most businesses must register for a GST/HST account with the federal government and collect GST/HST on taxable sales. If your Ontario small business makes $30,000 or more in gross revenue over four consecutive calendar quarters, you may need to charge GST/HST. Explore  Canada Revenue Agency to learn more. 

Know your Tax Obligations

To start your own business in Ontario, you need to understand your tax obligations . Learn about the various taxes collected in Ontario, including corporation tax. Find out if you need to register and pay Employer Health Tax, understand which items are subject to HST, and see if you’re eligible for business tax credits. If you’re self-employed, run an unincorporated business, or are in a partnership, you will need to report your personal income.

Consider Business Insurance

While not mandatory, business insurance is highly recommended, even for home-based small businesses Ontario. The table below shows the main types of business insurance and their features:

Learn the Regulations

Understanding the regulations that apply to your business is one of the steps to starting a business in Ontario. Here are some regulations that may apply to your business to ensure compliance:

• Accessibility for Ontario Businesses
• Employment Standards
• Workplace Health and Safety

Get Funding

Starting a new business in Ontario is an exciting venture. The Ontario government provides various grants, loans, and funding programs to assist entrepreneurs. These funding opportunities fall into four main categories: (1) hiring or training employees, (2) research and development projects, (3) business expansion projects, and (4) capital and technology adoption. To open a small business in Ontario, you can seek support and financial assistance through these programs:

Accelerator Centre Start-Up Grants

Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC)

Agri-Tech Innovation Cost-Share Program

Angel Investors Ontario

APMA: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Fund

Canada Periodical Fund: Business Innovation

Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities

CME’s Technology Investment Program (TIP)

Community Futures Ontario: Access to Capital

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund

Customer Demonstration Program

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)

Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargeON Program

EnAbling Change Program

ENCQOR 5G SME Technology Development Program (5G SDP)

Farm Credit Canada: Young Farmers Starters Loan

Invest Ontario Fund

FedDev Ontario

Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP)

Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN)

Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON)

Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund

NOHFC INVEST North Program

Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)

Life Sciences Innovation Fund

Métis Voyageur Development Fund (MVDF)

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

OBIO Capital Access Advisory Program (CAAP)

OBIO Life Sciences Critical Technologies & Commercialization (LSCTC) Program

OCI – Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP)

OCI – Technology Demonstration Program

Ontario Disability Support Program

Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI)

Ontario Automotive Modernization Program (O-AMP)

Ontario Creates Industry Development Program

Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate Program

Ontario Junior Exploration Program (OJEP)

Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) & Smart Mobility Program

OSCIA – Honey Bee Health Initiative

NOHFC People & Talent Program

R&D Partnership Fund – Electric Vehicle (EV) Stream 2

Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI) in Southern Ontario

Responsive Advancement for Meat Processing (RAMP)

Rise Small Business Lending Program

Rural Economic Development Fund (RED)

Save on Energy

SCAP – Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative

SCAP – Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative

SCAP – Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program

Skills Catalyst Fund

Skills Development Fund

Southwestern Ontario Angel Group

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF)

Supply Chain Stability and Adaptability Program

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)

VERGE Capital Start-Up Fund

Yves Landry Foundation Funding  

Start Business in Ontario with BSBCON

Our team created this starting a business in Ontario checklist as a valuable resource to ensure you don’t miss any steps in setting up a business in Ontario.

There is plenty of support available if you plan to open a company in Ontario. Learning the essentials before you start your business can save you time and money in the long run. You don’t have to navigate the complexities of business planning alone. Contact us now to make your dream of starting a company in Ontario easier with the help of our experienced consultants.

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• Business plan guide

What is a business plan and why do I need one?

A business plan is a written document that describes your business, its objectives and strategies, the market you are targeting and your financial forecast. It is important to have a business plan because it helps you set realistic goals, secure external funding, measure your success, clarify operational requirements and establish reasonable financial forecasts. Preparing your plan will also help you focus on how to operate your new business and give it the best chance for success.

Securing financial assistance to start your new business will be directly related to the strength of your business plan. To be considered a viable candidate to receive funds from a financial institution or investors, you must demonstrate that you understand every aspect of your business and its ability to generate profit.

A business plan is more than just something to show lenders and investors, it is also necessary to help you plan for the growth and progress of your business. Your business’s success can depend on your plans for the future.

Listed below are examples of questions to ask yourself when writing your business plan:

• How will I generate a profit?
• How will I run the business if sales are low or if profits are down?
• Who is my competition, and how will we coexist?
• Who is my target market?

What should be included in a business plan?

Although business plans can vary in length and scope, all successful business plans contain common elements. The following points should be included in any business plan:

• Executive summary (business description)

Identifying your business opportunity

Marketing and sales strategy of a business plan, financial forecasts of a business plan, other useful documentation, the executive summary (business description).

The executive summary is an overview of the main points in your business plan and is often considered the most important section. It is positioned at the front of the plan and is usually the first section that a potential investor or lender will read. The summary should:

• Include the main points from each of the other sections to explain the basics of your business
• Be sufficiently interesting to motivate the reader to continue reading the rest of your business plan
• Be brief and concise – no more than two pages long

Although the executive summary is the first section of the plan, it is a good idea to write it last – after the other parts of the plan have been finalized.

In this section of your business plan, you will describe what your business is about – its products and/or services – and your plans for the business. This section usually includes:

• Who you are
• What you do
• What you have to offer
• What market you want to target

Remember that the person reading the plan may not understand your business and its products and services as well as you do, so try to avoid using complicated terms. It is also a good idea to get someone who is not involved in the business to read this section of your plan to make sure that anyone can understand it.

Some of the things you should explain in your plan include:

• Whether it is a new business venture, a purchase of an existing business or the expansion of an existing business
• The industry sector your business is in
• The uniqueness of your product or service
• The advantages that your business has over your competition
• The main objectives of your business
• Your legal business structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)

You can also include the date the business was registered/incorporated, the name of the business, its address and all contact information.

A strong business plan will include a section that describes specific activities that you will use to promote and sell your products or services. A strong sales and marketing section demonstrates that you have a clear idea of how you will get your product or service into market and can answer the following questions for the reader:

• Who are your customers? Do some research and include details of the types of customers who have shown an interest in your product or service. You can describe how you are going to promote yourself to potential customers.  
• How are you going to reach your customers? You should know your customers and the best methods to reach them. Research will help you identify the most effective way to connect with your selected audience, whether it is through the Internet, over the telephone or by in-person contact.  
• Who is your competition? Once you understand this, you need to research their strengths and weaknesses and use this information to assess potential opportunities and threats to your business.  
• How are you going to position your product or service? Describe what makes your product or service unique to the market you are trying to target.  
• How are you going to price your product or service? This information will outline your pricing strategy, including incentives, bulk pricing and/or group sales.

Don't underestimate the importance of this part of your plan. Investors need to know that you and your staff have the necessary balance of skills, motivation and experience to succeed. This section describes the people working in your business and how you plan to manage your activities. Information in this section can include:

• A brief organizational layout or chart of the business
• Biographies of the managers (including yourself)
• Who does what, with a brief job description of each position
• The needed skills of each position
• Any other relevant information related to personnel

It is also a good idea to outline any recruitment or training plans, including the cost and the amount of time required.

The operations section of your business plan will outline your daily operational requirements, facility requirements, management information systems, information technology requirements and any improvements you may have planned. This section usually includes information like:

• Daily operations – descriptions of hours of operation, seasonality of business, suppliers and their credit terms, etc.  
• Facility requirements – this includes things like size and location, information on lease agreements, supplier quotations and any licensing documentation    
• Management information systems – inventory control, management of accounts, quality control and customer tracking  
• Information technology (IT) requirements – your IT systems, any consultants or support service and an outline of any planned IT developments

Your financial forecast turns your plan into numbers. As part of any good business plan, you need to include financial projections for the business that provide a forecast for the next three to five years. The first 12 months of forecasts will have the most details about costs and revenues, so investors can understand your strategy.

Your financial forecasts should include:

• Cash flow statements – cash balance and the cash flow pattern for the first 12-18 months, including working capital, salaries and sales
• Profit and loss forecast – projected level of profit based on your projected sales, the costs of providing goods and services and your overhead costs
• Sales forecast – the money you expect to make from sales of your product or service

Some other things to consider include:

• How much capital do you need (if you are seeking external funding)?
• What security can you offer to lenders?
• How do you plan to repay your debts?
• What are your sources of revenue and income?
• Forecasts should be covering a range of scenarios
• Reviewing risks and developing contingency plans to offset the risks
• Reviewing industry benchmarks/averages for your type of business

It is important to do your research to find out how your business compares to other small businesses in your industry.

The following sections are not always required, but can enhance any business plan:

• Implementation plan – this section lists estimated dates of completion for different aspects of your business plan, targets for your business and accomplishments. Appendices – these should include supporting material, such as licences and permits, agreements, contracts and other documentation that support your business plan.

Who should write my business plan?

Your business plan should be prepared by you, the entrepreneur. It is your business and your plan, but do not hesitate to ask for help from your management team, consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, copy editors or other experienced people.  

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• Sample business plans and templates

Top business essentials

• Business regulations guide
• Employment regulations: Hiring
• Financing a business guide
• Marketing plan outline
• Starting a business
• Taxation guide

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• Developing a company brochure
• Consulting a lawyer for your business
• Setting up a pay system
• Managing a family-owned business
• Determining your profit
• Business structure: Which one is right for you?
• Naming your business
• Understanding your business lease
• Home-based business
• Choosing and setting up a location
• Franchising
• Buying a business
• Buy a business or start your own
• Developing your ideas
• Introduction to market research

How to Start a Business in Ontario (2023): Step-by-Step Guide for New Entrepreneurs

For someone thinking about starting a small business in Ontario , it is easy to talk yourself out of the idea. The economy always could be better. You can’t quite find the right location to rent. Or maybe you’re worried whether your business name is clever enough. (The latter may be a clear sign that you’re stalling.)

The truth is that starting a business is nearly always a daunting process. But at some point, you’ll never know whether you can make it a success unless you overcome your fears and pull the trigger.

Granted, quite a few Canadian start-ups don’t survive beyond several years. But more make it than you may think, according to an Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada study , which shows:

Those odds are not too bad, especially considering how many start-ups aren’t anywhere as near well-prepared as they should be before unlocking the doors and turning on the neon “OPEN” sign.

You can give yourself a better chance to have both short- and long-term success when you take the time to prepare yourself as much as you can. (Better preparedness is likely to silence the doubting voice inside your head as well.)

Our beginner’s guide on how to start to a small business in Ontario aims to help you with your research. We’ll discuss a variety of things you need to know to give yourself the best chance at making it 3, 5, or 10 years and beyond with our 10 steps to starting a business in Ontario.

Let’s get started!

Starting a Business in Ontario: 10 Steps to Success

Following a proven formula is a good way to reduce risk and increase your chances of success (which is one reason why franchises are popular ).

In the following sections we cover these steps for setting up – and growing – a thriving business in Ontario:

Let’s cover each one in detail:

Step #1: Come Up with Business Ideas

Although some people can have success jumping on the first entrepreneurial idea that comes to mind, we would recommend thinking of several potential ideas. Doing a little research on the business market in Ontario can spark multiple ideas for you.

What Are the Top Industries in Ontario?

Understanding which industries are already successful in Ontario is a good way to come up with business ideas. Ontario offers a mixture of traditional industries like forestry and mining with high-tech industries like green energy and robotics.

The provincial government highlights the 12 most important Ontario industries . Some of these are industries where Ontario is on the cutting edge, and some are industries that generate significant GDP inside the province. These industries include:

What Are the Best Business Ideas for Ontario?

After studying the top industries in the province, you may come up with a few potential Ontario business ideas related to those industries. During your research, it’s important to understand that multiple sub-industries exist within each of the main industries.

Just saying that you want to start a tourism business in Ontario is a good starting point, but it’s probably not quite detailed enough. You may want to focus on a sub-industry of the tourism industry.

Perhaps you want to directly deal with tourists, such as through a bed and breakfast or a restaurant. Maybe you prefer to supply locally made products to retail stores where tourists will visit.

To get you started, we’ve covered some popular types of businesses in Ontario in our step-by-step guides:

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Where Is the Best Place to Start a Business in Ontario?

Finding a great business location is another key consideration when trying to start a new business in Ontario. We’re not saying you have to settle on a particular address at this point in the process, but you can come up with general areas where each of your business ideas may work best.

Technical businesses that require specific skill sets may have more success when located near high population areas.

Ontario’s total population is about 15 million, with a significant percentage of that total located in Toronto at almost 5.7 million. Ottawa also has a large population of almost 1.1 million. Including the large population centers of Hamilton, Kitchener, and London, the majority of the province’s population is in the southeastern area.

As you travel to the north and west in Ontario, you’ll find more rural areas. These may be more advantageous locations for starting businesses related to industries like mining, forestry, and agriculture.

Step #2: Select the Type of Business You Want to Start in Ontario

With a few business ideas in mind, you then can begin to narrow your focus for the business.

Offering Goods or Services

One of the most basic differences among various businesses is whether they offer goods or services. (Some offer both goods and services.)

For a business that offers goods, you would be selling products that you make yourself or that you purchase from a supplier and then resell at a profit. If you make your own products, you would have costs to obtain the raw materials.

For a business that offers services, you would be doing things for other people and businesses. You would need to invest in time and equipment that allows you to provide the services. Many business owners who offer services charge customers by the hour or by the job.

As a service business, you might also offer goods. For example, a business that cuts and styles hair as a service may also sell hair care products as goods.

Running a Business in Person or Online

Traditionally, businesses operate in a retail location where customers visit you in person to obtain goods or to set up services. Modern businesses in Ontario, though, can operate completely online, if desired. You would rarely, if ever, meet your customers face to face with an online business.

If you are operating a business from a location where customers will visit you, you almost certainly will have an online version of the business as well.

As a business that operates “offline,” you may have an area where you interact with customers, as well as an area where employees do their work.

As a business that operates completely “online,” employees would do their work remotely. Employees may visit a customer to perform services at the customer’s location in an online business, but your business probably wouldn’t have a particular space where customers could visit you in person.

If you are running a business with you as the only employee, you will have a far easier time running an online-only business than if you have dozens of employees. With large numbers of employees or if you need to entertain customers, an offline business is far more common.

Important Aspects of an Offline Business

If you are running a brick-and-mortar business, you need a great location in Ontario. If you rely on customers visiting your business to make sales and generate profits, having a remote location that’s too difficult for customers to visit will cost you money.

If customers are visiting your location, you must offer excellent customer service. Whether you or your employees are interacting with your customers, you want your location to feel welcoming and comfortable for customers.

Physical business locations have costs for things like utilities, maintenance, insurance, janitorial services, product storage, inventory tracking systems, and point-of-sale systems.

Offline Business Examples in Ontario

Important aspects of an online business.

When starting an online business, some Ontario entrepreneurs will operate the business out of a spare bedroom or basement at home. When you don’t need to host customers or provide a space for employees to work, you can operate your online business from almost anywhere.

It’s vital to have a strong digital presence when operating an online business. You must invest in a website, in a social media presence, and in a fast and reliable internet connection. You also need to be able to communicate efficiently with your customers via email, telephone, and text, because you won’t see them face to face.

Customer loyalty can be difficult to build with an online business because of the lack of personal interaction. If you are operating a business in a niche area of an industry, though, where you are one of only a few businesses that offer certain products or services, you can keep customers coming back.

Trying to operate an online store that offers a significant number of retail products in a variety of areas makes it tougher for you to stand out from the crowd versus operating as a niche retailer.

Online Business Examples in Ontario

Considerations for developing an online business presence in ontario.

The Building a Digital Ontario website offers multiple resources to help you understand strategies involved in online business development.

Start with a professional-looking website. Multiple subscription services help you with starting, hosting, and designing a website that will look great and will help you serve your customers. Many of these website hosting services also can walk you through the process of creating an online store, including taking payments securely.

You may want to consider email marketing software packages that help you stay at the front of mind for your customers. You can announce special offers or new products and services through email marketing.

Social media marketing is another key factor in running a successful online business. Because you do not meet with your customers face to face, social media gives you an opportunity to show off your personality and to connect with customers in a way that generates brand loyalty. Some tips for using social media with your Ontario business include:

Step #3: Buy an Existing Ontario Business or Start from Scratch

When starting your Ontario business, you have a couple of options. Some people prefer the idea of starting a new business, while others choose to purchase an existing business that’s for sale.

Starting an Ontario Business from Nothing

When most people think of starting a business, they really only consider doing so from scratch. This is a common option for entrepreneurs. If you want to control every aspect of setting up the business, starting a new business is going to be most satisfying for you.

When you start a business from scratch, though, you have to do a lot of work. It takes significant time to handle all the decisions required for a new business. It is not easy to have the skills and interests required to handle every aspect of starting a new business.

However, it can be extremely satisfying to create something from nothing. When you start a new business that ends up being successful, you can create a legacy that you can pass down to your children.

Buying a Franchise

If you would like to start a new business, but you also would like the help of a brand name to give you a leg up in the market, buying the rights to a franchise might be your best option.

With a franchise, you receive the right to operate a known brand name business in a certain area of Ontario. With most franchises, you receive protection from other franchisees opening the same brand name store in your location.

The franchise requires a lot of investment dollars, as you have to find a building for the business and then design it according to the guidelines of the franchise. You also have to pay for the right to hold the franchise.

But this type of business is yours; you own it. You have some limitations on how you can run it, depending on the franchise’s rules, but the franchise helps with advertising and brand awareness, taking those tasks off your plate.

Always thoroughly investigate any franchise opportunity before you buy. Some franchises are scams. Have an attorney look over any franchise agreement to make sure you are receiving the benefits you believe you are receiving.

Buying an Existing Business

Another option that is important to consider for an Ontario entrepreneur is to purchase an existing business. This process cuts down on the preliminary work that you must do to begin running the business, which appeals to some entrepreneurs.

Some people sell their businesses when they are ready to retire or when they simply want to do something new. When someone is selling a business, it doesn’t mean that the business is failing and the seller is trying to bail. You can have success purchasing an existing business.

When purchasing a business, request help from attorneys and CPAs to verify the financials for the business. The current business owner might exaggerate the business’ profit levels, meaning you end up paying more for the business than you should. Professionals can help you develop an accurate value.

To find existing businesses for sale in Ontario, you can check multiple options on the internet, which we’ll discuss next.

Ontario Business Brokers

One of the best ways to purchase an existing business is to make use of a business broker. Brokers have detailed knowledge of the existing business market in the province, helping you find the perfect business for your skills and interests.

Business brokers can even work to find you a business in a certain location or in a certain industry. Because business brokers know the market so well, they may even be able to give you advanced notice when a business could be coming on the market, so you can do some preliminary homework and perhaps make an offer before others.

Once you decide to purchase an existing business, business brokers can help to negotiate the deal. If the negotiations seem to be stalled, a broker may be able to step in and find common ground between you as the buyer and the seller.

Multiple trusted business brokers operate in Ontario, including:

Ontario Online Business Marketplace Websites

Ontario real estate brokerages with business listings, ontario businesses for sale by owner classified ads, step #4: pay attention to government requirements.

Operating a business in Ontario – or anywhere in Canada – requires you to submit to some government oversight. This can be a frustrating aspect of owning a business, but it is a necessary one.

Determining Your Business’ Operational Structure

In Ontario, the most common business structures you will use are:

Selecting the right legal structure for the business is important, as this determines the taxes you owe and the liability you personally have for the business, among other things. Simple, one-person businesses often will be sole proprietorships. Complex businesses with multiple shareholders will register as corporations.

Creating a Legal Name for Your Ontario Business

You then can select a legal name for the business. You must have a name that differs from any other business name in use in Ontario.

Use the Ontario Business Registry to search for existing names. We’d suggest coming up with several potential names.

If your business name is available, then check social media and the internet to make sure you can create a website and social media accounts to match your desired business name. If a matching website is not available, you may want to cross that name off your list.

Registering Your Ontario Business

Once you have a legal structure and name in mind, you are ready to register the business with Ontario . You will have to create an account with ServiceOntario to be able to register online.

If you’re uncertain about how to get started, the easiest way to register your business is with an established business registration service like Ownr , which is owned by the bank RBC (you can check out Ownr here and get 15% off ).

Obtaining Permits and Licences for Your Ontario Business

To see if you need licences and permits that match the type of business you are running in Ontario, you should use BizPaL . Select your province and type of business at the BizPaL website, and BizPaL will return a list of permits and licences.

You also may want to check with your local city government for any particular licences or permits required locally. Even small cities may require certain permits, so always check.

Regulations for Ontario Businesses

Depending on the type of business you are running, you may need to follow a number of regulations, including:

You also may need to follow various workplace laws, including:

You may want to have your attorney give you advice on which regulations your particular business must follow.

Step #5: Estimate Your Potential Business Costs

Although the steps we’ve discussed so far may seem challenging to complete, perhaps the toughest aspect of starting a business is finding the start-up money to cover the costs you have for your particular type of business.

Not only do you need money to perform the tasks required before you can open your business’ doors, but you also need some money to help you ride out what could be some slow times in the early days and weeks of the business until you can begin making regular sales and – hopefully – turning a profit.

Estimated Costs to Start an Ontario Business

Different types of businesses have different start-up costs. Here are some estimates for various businesses. (These are broad estimates, and your actual start-up costs could differ.)

One-Time Costs for New Ontario Businesses

As a new business in Ontario, you may have several different start-up costs that you have to pay before you can open your doors to customers, including:

Ongoing Costs to Operate New Ontario Businesses

After your business is in operation, you will have additional costs to keep the business running from day to day. These can include:

Step #6: Create Your Business Plan

Although some people may attempt to start a business without a business plan, this rarely is a good idea. The business plan outlines your vision for your business and can give other people an idea of what you are trying to accomplish.

A business plan forces you to take a realistic look at your business idea. You have to clearly state what the business will do, and you need to think about realistic goals that you would like to accomplish with the business.

If you are seeking investment money in the form of a loan, from a venture capitalist, or from a business partner, such people may require you to put together a business plan before they will consider giving you any money. Some business insurance providers also want to see a business plan.

Explaining how your business idea will work can be difficult to do verbally. The business plan forces you to put your ideas in writing. This can help others see your vision for the business and perhaps want to share in it.

How to Write a Business Plan in Ontario

Do not feel like you have to create your business plan without any guidance. Resources like the federal government offer guidelines for creating your business plan.

Ultimately, your business plan should contain several pieces of pertinent information, including:

Step #7: Find Startup Financing

Finding the money you need to start running your business is extremely important. Without enough start-up financing, your business may run out of money before you are able to develop a strong customer base. You have a few different options for seeking financing for your business.

Using Your Own Financing Money

When starting a new business, you are going to have to place some of your own money into the financing process. Some sources of your own money that you can put into your business include:

Without having some money at risk in the business, you may have a difficult time finding others who are willing to give you money for your business. Other financiers want to see that you have enough faith in your business idea that you are willing to place some of your own assets into the business venture.

Finding “Free” Money

If you can find money to sink into your business that doesn’t require you to pay it back, this is the best type of business financing to use. (It’s also some of the most difficult money to obtain, unfortunately.)

Finding at least some “free” money can be the difference in having a successful business venture and a business that goes bankrupt after several months, so it’s worth taking the time to try to find sources of no-strings-attached money. Some options include:

Loans and Debt Financing

Most new entrepreneurs probably think that loans will be the primary financing option available to them. And while loans often are important, you may find that they are difficult to obtain, especially for a business owner with no track record of success.

Chances are high that loans will only represent a portion of the money you need to start your Ontario business.

Additionally, the types of loans you obtain probably will go well beyond calling your local bank and seeking a new business loan. Some of the options for obtaining loans and debt financing for your new Ontario business include:

Equity Financing

Another option you may want to explore involves seeking equity financing. This means you sell a percentage of the ownership in your business in exchange for funding you can use to start or operate the business.

Although equity financing works nicely, it will not fit the needs of every entrepreneur. Often, someone who purchases a portion of your business is going to want to have a say in how the business operates. If you are starting a business in Ontario because you want to have full control, giving up some of that control to obtain start-up money may frustrate you.

Before agreeing to accept any equity financing from an investor, you will want to have a clear understanding – preferably in writing – about what the equity investor expects to receive as a part owner of the business. Options for finding equity financing include:

Step #8: Seek Professional Help with Legal Items and Accounting

As a new business owner, you are going to be wearing a lot of different hats. You need to have expertise in several different areas to be able to run the business successfully.

However, it’s also important to understand exactly when you are in over your head. For example, unless you have a legal background, we would not recommend tackling legal issues related to your business on your own.

Instead, hire a lawyer who can make sure you are operating the business in a legal manner, who can review any agreements and contracts you need to sign, or who can advise you on what kinds of governmental regulations you need to follow.

Along those same lines, consider hiring an accountant or a CPA to ensure that you are tracking your finances properly. Having an insurance agent or a banker that you can trust is a good idea, too.

Some new business owners may want to hire a mentor to help them work through some difficult aspects of starting a business in Ontario.

Step #9: Find Advice for Starting Your Ontario Business

When you need advice about starting your new business, you have a number of different options available to you in the province.

Ontario Resources for Business Start-Ups

Some of the resources you can use as an Ontario business start-up include:

Ontario Business Networking Options

Consider speaking with other small business entrepreneurs in Ontario to gain some insight and advice for your own business venture. Try investigating organizations that allow you to network with other business owners who may have been starting their own businesses a few years ago – sitting in the exact same position you are in now.

Ontario Business Directories

A business directory is a website that collects information about individual businesses. The directory will list your contact information and some basic information about what your business does, along with many other similar businesses.

Some business directories may collect information about your business and automatically add it. Others may require that you request to be included on the website.

Either way, it’s important that you keep an eye on your business directory entries, ensuring all contact information is up to date and accurate. If a potential customer tries to contact you through a business directory but encounters inaccurate information, the customer probably will immediately move on to one of your competitors who are also part of the business directory.

Some business owners occasionally visit business directory websites themselves to check for accurate information. Others rely on local SEO service software to monitor business directories on a regular basis.

Ontario Business Associations and Organizations

If you want to gain legitimacy in the eyes of potential customers and fellow business owners in Ontario, consider joining local business associations and organizations. You can showcase signage indicating these memberships at your brick-and-mortar store, so customers can see them, or on your website if you run a digital business.

Such memberships can help you learn more about how to run a business in Ontario, while also finding fellow entrepreneurs who may be willing to provide advice for you. You may have to pay annual or monthly fees to be a member of some of these Ontario associations and organizations, including:

Depending on the type of business you are running, you might consider joining local professional organizations that fit your particular skill set and industry. CIPS Ontario serves local IT professionals, for example.

Ontario Business Awards

Many local associations and organizations in the province provide awards to entrepreneurs and businesses. With some of these awards, you must be a member of the organization to have a chance to win. Other awards are available to any business owner in the local area. You may have to request a nomination form to receive consideration.

When you receive a nomination or – better yet – win an award, you can make note of this accomplishment on your website and in your physical location, letting customers, clients, and employees know about your successes. Some business awards available in Ontario include:

Ontario Immigration Entrepreneurs

If you are considering immigrating to Ontario with the idea of starting a business, the OINP Entrepreneur Stream provides a number of resources.

Step #10: Avoid Common Pitfalls of Starting a Business

As you take the steps required to start your own business, you almost certainly are going to make some mistakes. No one wants to make an error, but when you are making so many decisions, you’ll probably end up regretting at least a few of them.

If you would like to reduce the number of potential mistakes you make, here are 10 common errors that new entrepreneurs in Ontario make. Avoid these, and you’ll have a better chance of keeping your new business moving forward smoothly.

• Not seeking help: Starting a business takes some preliminary work and plenty of research. The Ontario provincial government has a step-by-step guide to help you find the resources you need.
• Skipping a business plan: Although business plans are optional when starting a new business, writing a business plan helps you narrow your focus and helps you take a realistic look at the business idea.
• Not researching all potential funding options: Ontario’s provincial government has numerous funding resources for new businesses . Take the time to research these options to see if you qualify, as seed money is highly important for giving your business the best chance to succeed.
• Not considering the competition: Starting your new business in an area where local existing businesses already have an established presence can make things very difficult for you. Consider focusing on a niche area, rather than a general area, as you likely will have fewer competitors in the niche area.
• Trying to do too much on your own: Although one of the appeals of starting a new business is being your own boss, don’t be afraid to ask for advice and help. No new entrepreneur has all the answers. Toronto and Ontario have multiple business mentorship options available.
• Overspending too early: It takes a lot of time and money to start a new business. However, being careful with how you spend your money, especially in the early days of the business, can give you a financial cushion to weather any problems.
• Not buying insurance: With all the costs involved in starting a business, finding a way to cut costs is always welcome. However, do not skip buying insurance. Not having property coverage and liability coverage could cause your business to go under after one unexpected catastrophic event.
• Not considering buying an existing business: Although starting a business from scratch is highly satisfying and is a popular choice among new entrepreneurs, consider buying an existing business, too. You may find that taking over someone else’s business is far more appealing to you, because it requires less pre-opening work.
• Not paying attention to government market research: You should do significant market research before jumping into the world of business in Ontario, ensuring your business idea is workable. The provincial government in Ontario has several resources available that can help you do this research.
• Not being patient: Any new entrepreneur would like to be up and running as quickly as possible. However, do not cut corners in preparing for the opening. Being impatient and rushing the process will almost certainly lead to multiple mistakes … including some errors that we didn’t include on this list!

Checklist for Starting a Business in Ontario

• Come Up with Business Ideas – Think of a few ideas for businesses within industries and sub-industries that interest you.
• Select Your Desired Type of Business – Pick between a digital or brick-and-mortar business, as well as between offering goods or services.
• Choose How to Enter the Business Market – Decide whether you want to buy an existing business or start a new business from scratch.
• Pay Attention to Government Regulations – Have a firm handle on any permits, licences, and registration requirements you have for the business.
• Estimate Your Potential Business Costs – Figure out how much start-up money you may need, based on the type of business you want to start.
• Create Your Business Plan – Perform research on the market for the type of business you want to start and create goals for your business.
• Find Startup Funding – Every new business needs money before it can open, and you may need to tap into multiple sources of funding.
• Seek Professional Help When Needed – Have lawyers and accountants look over your business documents and financials to ensure you are on the right track.
• Find Advice for Starting a Business in Ontario – Seek out professional organizations and associations to join to find advice from other entrepreneurs.
• Avoid Common Mistakes – Learn from mistakes other new entrepreneurs in Ontario made and then avoid those errors.

About the author

Maurice (Moe) Muise learned the ins-and-outs of government while an employee of the Government of Canada in Ottawa for 10 years. His current focus is helping small businesses in Ontario to identify and maximize government grants to grow their business. Click here to learn more about Moe’s background and how he can help your business.

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The Essential Guide to Starting A Small Business

Originally Published: Nov 5, 2019

You have a great idea for a business, and you’ve made the decision to start your business to become an entrepreneur – that’s great news, but where do you even get started?

Taking the step towards becoming your own boss can sometimes feel like a leap of faith and can involve some trials and error before you can narrow down what works best for you. But, there are some things that you can do to help ensure you’re starting off on the right track, and leading yourself and your business down the path of success.

Let’s take a look at a few essential things you will want to do while you establish and grow your new business:

1. Choosing your business name

The name you choose for your business helps create your brand identity and can have a major impact on the success you see. You will want a business name that’s memorable and makes your business stand apart from the competition, but you will also want it to be a name that lets your customer base know what your business does.

You will generally want to have both a distinctive and descriptive element to your business name. The distinctive element is what gives your business name its uniqueness, where the descriptive element tells people what you do.

Before you complete your business registration, you have the opportunity to pre-search the business name you’ve chosen to see if anyone else has already registered the name or something similar.

When you include a name search with your small business registration, Ontario Business Central searches for different variations of the business name for any existing businesses, corporations and Trademarks that are similar. This gives you the chance to make changes to the business name before registering it.

2. Getting your business registered

After finalizing what your business will be called, it’s time to determine the business structure and get the business registered. There are two options for the type of business you are able to register. You can register your business as either a small business or a corporation, and before you decide, you’ll want to understand the differences between these two types of business structure setups.

A corporation is considered a separate entity from those who own it, so there is limited liability for the owners and income tax for the corporation is filed separately. With a small business registration, individuals file business tax together with their personal tax returns. Corporations also have name protection , where small businesses, such as Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships , do not. If name protection for your business is important to you, you may want to consider incorporating.

Whether you want to proceed with a small business registration or incorporate, Ontario Business Central can help you get started in the following Provinces:

SMALL BUSINESSES

ALBERTA REGISTRATION

BRITISH COLUMBIA REGISTRATION

MANITOBA REGISTRATION

ONTARIO BUSINESS REGISTRATION

SASKATCHEWAN REGISTRATION

INCORPORATIONS

ALBERTA INCORPORATION

BRITISH COLUMBIA INCORPORATION

MANITOBA INCORPORATION

ONTARIO INCORPORATION

SASKATCHEWAN INCORPORATION

FEDERAL INCORPORATION

3. Figuring out the licences and permits you might need

Each town, city and province will have different requirements for business licenses and permits, and depending on the type of business you’re doing, there might be different requirements. You can either contact the municipality where your business is located directly, or you can check out BizPal to get a better idea of what you might need to get in order to operate business within the requirements of your specific area.

Any license or permit issued by cities and towns are different than the Business Registrations or Incorporation issued by the Province, and may have different renewal dates, so it’s important to know the difference and understand when each requires renewal.

4. Creating your business accounts

You might find that your small business will benefit from having accounts separate from your own personal accounts. This includes business loans , line of credit, business bank accounts and credit cards that can help you keep better track of your business expenses and revenues. The bank will likely want to see a copy of your Business Registration or Articles of Incorporation before they create a business account for you. The business owners names on all business documents should match what is listed on your personal ID.

You may also want to consider creating any accounts with Revenue Canada that might be required. These include HST, Import/Export and Payroll. You can either create these accounts from the start, or contact Revenue Canada to register the accounts when they are needed. Keep in mind that if you are registering the accounts, you will have to begin submitting returns to Revenue Canada, even if there is nothing to declare. For instance, if you create an HST account, but do not have any tax obligations to report, the “$0” returns will still need to be submitted at the required reporting period.

Other accounts you may want to look into are supplier or wholesaler accounts, where you may be able to take advantage of special pricing or other deals.

5. Determining a business plan

It helps to get where you’re going if you have a plan for getting there. Of course, business plans can take detours or be entirely changed, but it’s always a good idea to map out your route to success. If you have a goal in mind, create a timeline for achieving it along with milestones to mark your progress along the way. Your plan should also include a budget, so you can have a financial plan to anticipate your startup cost, any expenses along the way and what your sales need to be in order to hit your milestones. Entrepreneur Magazine outlines the 7 Steps to a Perfectly Written Business Plan to help get you started.

6. Establishing a strong online presence

Let’s face it – the internet has become the go-to resource for pretty much everything anyone is looking for. Not establishing your online presence can have a serious impact on your business, even if you’re just running a small local shop. Customers want to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily, so you want them to find you and know that you are able to offer what they are looking for. Your marketing plan should include how you plan on establishing, maintaining and expanding your online presence.

Much of your online presence can be established at little or no cost. This includes:

• Website – You can hire a company or individual to do this for you, but if you’re starting out on a limited budget, there are some amazing website builders that you can use for free.
• Facebook – This continues to be one of the strongest social media platforms out there. It allows customers to easily contact you, see your reviews and browse images of your products.
• Google My Business – Keeping your business information updated with Google My Business gives customers all of your essential information in one spot – contact info, hours of operation, website and directions right to your location.

The easier it is to find you and interact with you, the better experience the customer will have and the better opportunity you will have to grow and expand your success. If you’ve established yourself online on multiple platforms, you will want to ensure you’re regularly updating, maintaining and monitoring each of those. The last thing you will want is a customer reaching out to you and not getting a timely response. Social media management software like Buffer or Hootsuite can help make managing your different accounts much easier.

7. Finding the perfect business location

Determining your business location is another factor that can have a tremendous impact on the success you have with selling your product or service. The nature of your business may allow you to operate as an online business or home based business. If this is the case, there is no need to find a separate location for your business startup. But, if you require a retail storefront or office space, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind before settling on your business location , including real estate costs, other competitors and the area demographics of your target customer base. If your business location changes at any point, you will want to ensure you update all relevant licenses and permits to reflect this. Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships can be updated through an amendment , and Corporations can be updated through a Notice of Change . Business bank accounts and other accounts may also need to be updated, so you don’t miss any important mail.

8. Delegating what you don’t need to do yourself

Every person has the same amount of hours each day. There is so much that will need to be done to create, establish and grow your business, and you will have to realize that you can’t do it all yourself with the 24 hours you’re given each day. Figure out where your time and talents are best spent and see what tasks can be delegated . Although you might want to have control over every aspect of your business, it might not be feasible, and you may be taking time away from the parts of your business where it’s better spent. It may also be more beneficial to have professionals completing certain tasks, such as income tax filings, to ensure that these are done properly, especially if you aren’t very savvy with filing income tax or business tax returns. Finding capable individuals or companies to take over certain tasks lets you focus on other things, without worrying about those tasks being done properly.

9. Download apps that can help make running your business easier

There are a number of incredibly helpful apps that you can download to help keep you organized and let your business run smoothly. Some of the apps are available for free, and others do have fees. When you’re weighing the costs of different software or apps, consider the benefits you’ll be getting – for example, keeping your meetings and appointments scheduled, so you don’t overbook or miss anything. Sometimes, even though there is a cost associated, the benefits can far outweigh the fees.

10. Don’t forget about yourself!

You may want to throw yourself entirely into your new business and dedicate all of your waking hours to building that business. It’s important to remember that you are only one individual and still need to take time for yourself so you don’t burn out. It is still possible to create and grow your business while still taking time away from the business for yourself. Enlisting the help of friends and family, as well as working on building your team can give you more opportunity to take this necessary time.

When you’re ready to get started, Ontario Business Central can help you in registering or incorporating your business quickly and easily.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our staff for additional information and assistance.

inquiries@ontariobusinesscentral.ca Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913 Local: 1-416-599-9009 Fax: 1-866-294-4363 Office Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday E.S.T.

Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended, when you have legal or accounting questions that you speak to a qualified professional.

Lisa was one of the corporate specialists at Ontario Business Central. She joined the team in 2018 and specialized in Non Profit/Charitable organizations, Western Provinces registrations and incorporations, foreign corporations registering in Ontario, and much more.

Throughout her time with us, Lisa provided valuable insights and helpful tips for entrepreneurs looking to register and grow their businesses. Her goal was to raise awareness, share business ideas, and offer how-to guides.

After completing her B.A. in Communications and Sociology at York University, Lisa started her own online business and transitioned her passion for writing into the freelance world of sports writing for over a decade. With her unique perspective as a business owner, she understood the challenges and successes of starting and running a business. Lisa always strived to deliver the highest level of service to every client she worked with.

We wish Lisa the best in her future endeavours and are grateful for the contributions she made during her time with us.

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Site Readiness Program Guide

Read the full program guidelines for submitting an application to the Site Readiness Program.

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Program overview.

The Site Readiness Program (the “program”) supports investment attraction and business expansion opportunities in Ontario. The program responds to the new reality of shortened timelines for site selection for companies looking for their first or next location in Ontario. The program provides funding assistance to successful Applicants to help prepare their eligible industrial properties for potential buyers and investment. The program is provided through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade ( MEDJCT ) and with support from other Ministries involved in land development in Ontario.

The program provides partial reimbursement to property owners who complete the work plan for an eligible industrial property. The work plan that is funded under the Program is intended to include items most required by companies making site selection decisions for investment and expansion projects.

Upon completion of the work plan, participants of the program qualify for reimbursement of 50% of eligible costs - to a maximum of $25,000 - per site. Eligible costs include costs associated with the application and completion of the work plan.

The program is a discretionary, non-entitlement funding program. Acceptance into the program is based on the merits of the application and available program funding. Even if an application meets all program objective and eligibility criteria, there is no guarantee that the Applicant will be awarded funding under this program. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Applicant acknowledges that if an Applicant submits an application, the Province of Ontario is under no obligation to approve funding.

Please note that the Province of Ontario will not represent or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by Applicants in the application form and any other information submitted by Applicants or by third parties that may be made available to any agents, prospective purchasers or other parties. Capitalized terms have the meaning set out in the glossary which can be found at the bottom of this Guide.

Minimum eligibility requirements

The mandatory requirements that must be met for a site to be eligible for the program are identified below (the “minimum eligibility requirements”):

Application submission

An application may be submitted for one (1) Site that could consist of multiple lots.

The site must be vacant with no existing buildings or structures.

Site ownership

The program is open to publicly-owned and privately-owned land.

The Applicant must be the registered owner of the site.

If the site is a combination of multiple Lots, the Lots must have the same registered owner on title. Registered owner(s) must be willing to enter into a contract with the Province of Ontario to participate in the program.

Official plan and zoning

The site must be located within an area designated for employment or industrial development uses in an in-effect official plan and zoned to permit a wide range of industrial uses.

Applicant eligibility

Applications must be submitted by the registered owner(s) of the site.

Applications must be sponsored/endorsed by either the municipality or regional economic development organization and by the municipal Chief Planning Official or their delegate.

Applicants are limited to submitting five (5) applications for reimbursement per year. Sites that are current participants in the Investment Ready: Certified Site program are not eligible.

Applicants who have been previously accepted to the Investment Ready: Certified Site program but are no longer actively certified in the program (for example: certifications have expired or Applicants have withdrawn from the program), are eligible to apply.

Commitment to make the site available for sale/lease

The Applicant(s) must agree to make the site available for sale/lease for at least one (1) year following the date of completion of the program, unless sold.

Minimum property size

The site must consist of at least five (5) acres or two (2) hectares of vacant, contiguous net developable area.

Existing public road access

The site must have existing frontage and access from a public right-of-way.

Minimum servicing requirements

The site must have a minimum of two (2) of the five (5) services listed below, at the lot line or within 500 meters of the lot line at the time of acceptance into the program. Supporting documents must be provided as confirmation of service location.

Municipal water

A letter from the municipality’s public works department and/or public utilities commission. This letter should confirm services are at the lot line or within 500 meters of the lot line and outline service capacity at the time of acceptance into the program.

Municipal wastewater

Electricity.

The Province of Ontario will acquire these letters on behalf of the Applicant.

Natural gas

Telecommunications.

A letter from the local telecommunications provider. This letter should indicate that telecommunications services and infrastructure are onsite or within 500 meters of the lot line. This letter should also outline the type and capacity of the service.

The letter must be provided on corporate letterhead and be signed by a staff person within the telecommunication provider’s provisioning department who has the authority to provide such information.

Remaining utility services

Supporting documents required:

• providing the Municipality’s servicing plan and demonstrating that the site is within the municipality’s urban boundary
• public utilities commission modelling
• development or servicing agreements
• a letter of confirmation from utility service providers

Dry industrial sites

Sites zoned specifically for dry industrial uses, which are not serviced by municipal water and/or wastewater, must demonstrate that there is sufficient water capacity to support permitted uses under the respective municipality’s zoning by-law, with a Hydrogeological Study prepared by a qualified professional.

• hydrogeological study and if available
• confirmation/modelling from municipality’s public works department and/or public utilities commission

Major development constraints

The property must not be subject to significant development restrictions that could impact the building lot or the various industrial and other permitted uses of the site(s). Possible restrictions would be restrictions on title, known flood zones and the presence of features of provincial natural or cultural heritage interest, species at risk, deferred use symbols on the site(s) listed in the municipal zoning by-law, easements, road projects or existing rights-of-way.

How the Site Readiness Program works

Step 1: pre-application consultation.

The complimentary pre-application consultation is the required first step in the application process.

Pre-application consultations are used to determine if a proposed site meets the minimum eligibility requirements. Pre-application consultations are also an opportunity to discuss projected timing, the work plan and budget and to strengthen a prospective Applicant’s application. Applications cannot be submitted without completing a pre-application consultation.

A recommendation to apply or applying to the program does not guarantee acceptance into the program or funding.

To arrange a pre-application consultation, Applicants should contact the program staff at  Toll-free: 1-855-585-0475  or [email protected] .

Step 2: Application submission

Following the pre-application consultation, a prospective Applicant will receive a written invitation to submit an application package that consists of a completed application form and supporting documentation through Transfer Payment Ontario ( TPON ).

The information provided on the application form and supporting documentation will be used by review committees to evaluate the application package in greater detail.

The application package must consist of the items listed in Table 1: Application package below, unless stated otherwise.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Table 1: Application package

Application form.

A signed, completed application form through Transfer Payment Ontario .

Signed application sponsorship form from an Economic Development Officer and Chief Planning Official

Completed form signed by the municipality’s Economic Development Officer and Chief Planning Official.

Site Readiness Program Application Sponsorship

Supporting documentation

Aerial photo.

An aerial photo of the Site with parcel boundary clearly shown.

Context map

A context map of the Site with parcel boundary clearly shown, including:

• infrastructure elements (e.g., roads and railways, provincial and national parks, place names, municipal and township boundaries, lots and concessions)
• natural elements (e.g., lakes and rivers, falls, rapids and rocks, wooded areas, wetlands)
• surrounding uses within approximately 1-5 km radius

Topographic map

A detailed, accurate graphic representation of features of the Site that appear on the earth's surface, using contour lines at a scale of 1:50,000.

Net developable area map

A map showing the net developable area of the site in accordance with the in-force zoning by-law.

Excerpts of the in-effect municipal official plan and applicable zoning by-law which include the date the official plan and zoning by-law that came into effect.

Property survey that includes all Lots that forms the site.

Parcel register

Parcel register report and the index map from the Ontario Land Registry Office.

Utility servicing support documents

Supporting documents that confirms the site’s utility servicing locations and serviceability as identified in “ Minimum Servicing Requirements ” section.

Title search opinion/certificate (if applicable, as directed by program administrators)

Title Search or a Certificate of Title prepared by a solicitor for the site. This should include any information for encumbrances, land claims and sub-surface/mineral rights if applicable as well as other legally relevant information such as encumbrances, encroachments and/or easements.

Land and division (for properties located in the business/industrial parks)

A draft approved plan of subdivision that clearly identifies each Lot that forms part of the application.

Step 3: Application evaluation and notice of acceptance

Complete applications will be evaluated based on the program’s criteria for acceptance into the program.

The Site will be assessed based on the information provided about each lot that makes up the site. One approval does not guarantee that all lots will be approved to proceed to complete the program.

Applicants will receive a written notification if the site has been accepted into the program within 45 business days.

Applicants whose site has been accepted will be offered an agreement contract to formalize their participation in the program.

Step 4: Completion of work plan

Once the Applicant has been issued a Notification of Acceptance and formalized their participation into the program, the Applicant may complete the work as outlined in the work plan.

The work plan must be completed within one (1) year of the notification of acceptance.

Step 5: Completion of the program

Program staff will review the completeness of the submitted work as outlined in the work plan.

Once the work plan has been deemed complete by the program staff, the Applicant can submit expenses for reimbursement.

The Applicant can submit invoices to receive reimbursement of eligible costs. Program staff calculates the actual grant payment amount based on approved eligible costs. Applicants are entitled to be reimbursed 50% of the total eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000 per application .

Internal inventory for site selection inquiries

Once the work plan has been fully completed, the Applicant has the option to include the site into the Province of Ontario’s listing of sites used to help attract potential investors.

Eligible costs and reimbursements

A maximum grant of 50% of eligible costs, up to $25,000 per site, will be paid as a reimbursement of eligible costs provided the following conditions have been met:

• applications have been accepted into the Site Readiness Program through the application process
• the activities identified in the work plan has been completed and its completeness confirmed by program staff
• the Applicant has entered into and agreed to the terms of a funding Agreement with the Province of Ontario
• to receive reimbursement, invoices for each eligible cost are required and must be submitted after the completion of the work plan. All invoices must itemize the work completed for the program. Please ask your service provider to include on all invoices, the references to the site (i.e. legal description or municipal address) for which the work is being completed

Definition of eligible costs :

• Eligible costs must be costs incurred by the Applicant.
• Eligible costs can include costs incurred from the pre-application consultation date for the site.
• Eligible costs must be directly related to the project and be in accordance with the terms of the agreement and be actual cash outlays to third parties that are documented through paid invoices and proofs of payment and are not to exceed fair market value.
• In the event of any interpretation issues regarding expenditures and valuations, the decision of the Ministry is final and determinative.

Eligible reports

The list below outlines due diligence and site preparation work that is often requested by site selection advisors and typically required as part of site preparation or certification programs in North America. If due diligence work has already been carried out for the site, it is recommended to provide proof of this as an annex to the application, so that the program team can review it during the assessment.

Eligible costs for completion of the work plan include assessments and documentation prepared by qualified professionals and meet municipal or provincial standards for the following services:

• Arborist Report/Tree Survey
• Archaeological Study (Stage 1,2,3 and/or 4)
• Conservation Authority studies/drawings
• Drainage Plan
• Environmental Impact Study ( EIS )
• Environmental Site Assessment Phase I, II (ESA)
• Erosion/ Sediment Control Plan
• Geotechnical Study/ Slope Stability Study
• Grading Plan
• Groundwater Impact Study
• Heritage Impact Assessment
• Hydrogeological Study
• Hydrological Report
• Natural Heritage Impact Study
• Noise Impact Study
• Pedestrian Level Wind Study
• Planning Rationale Report
• Servicing Options Report
• Soil Management Report
• Species At Risk Assessments/Mitigation Report
• Stormwater Management Report
• Topographic Survey Plan
• Tree Preservation Plan
• Transportation Impact Study
• Utility Plan
• Vibration Study
• Other (as approved by program staff)

Additional eligible costs

The following list outlines additional eligible costs that may be incurred as a result of applying to the program or completing the project:

• mapping (e.g. topographic map, environmental context maps)
• aerial photograph or video of site with parcel boundary clearly shown
• parcel register, Title Opinions, and Property Index Map
• plan of survey
• legal fees (including contract and fees associated with updating site description information)
• surveyor’s real property report
• property assessment/valuation reports

Types of ineligible costs

Applicants will not be entitled to reimbursement by the Ministry for any of the following:

• costs incurred prior to the pre-application consultation date
• infrastructure or capital costs related to bringing the site up to eligibility and property standards, site preparation, maintenance and property taxes
• capital costs: infrastructure development, capital expenditures to acquire or enhance assets, software licenses, electronics (computers, fax, machines, digital cameras, etc.), and demonstration aids. Capital costs include the direct costs of acquisition, construction, expansion, modification, conversion, transportation, installation and insurance (during construction) of fixed assets, as well as the cost of licensing and franchising fees
• costs paid to an Ontario Ministry, Ontario Agency or Crown Corporation
• travel costs and accommodations incurred by the Applicant, agent or third-party consultants as a result of the preparation of the application or completion of activities related to the work plan
• ongoing operational expenses including labour costs, office and overhead expenses e.g. salaries, wages, including those of staff working on the application
• costs not incurred in Ontario, except when the only supplier(s) of services are outside of Ontario with proof and/or prior written approval
• entertainment expenses, meals or alcoholic beverages
• in-kind contributions
• costs, including taxes, for which the Applicant has received, will receive or is eligible to receive a rebate, credit or refund
• consultant fees are ineligible where there is an indication of an employer-employee relationship to be determined by the Ministry in its sole discretion
• project management consultant fees
• miscellaneous: activities for which one or more partners expect to receive compensation in the form of a commission, finder's fee
• fees associated with municipal planning applications unless required and pre-approved by the program
• activities related to remediation of the site

Stacking of funds

Stacking of Provincial support will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Stacking of funding from complementary programs may be acceptable to the Ministry in its sole discretion for eligible costs that:

• are ineligible costs in such complementary programs; and
• will not be reimbursed by the Province of Ontario under such programs.

The Site Readiness Program Guide contain a number of “standard” words and phrases throughout the document. The following is a list of some of those terms together with an explanation of their meaning, which will help you interpret the application form and the Site Readiness Program Guide.

The agreement entered into between the Province of Ontario and the Applicant formalizing the Applicant’s participation in the Site Readiness Program including all of the schedules and any amending and license agreements entered into.

All Ontario airports, including designated lands for future airports, with Noise Exposure Forecast ( NEF )/Noise Exposure Projection ( NEP ) mapping. For the purposes of this program the term airport refers to nationally-significant, regional and local airports that are governed by the Federal government's National Airports Policy ( NAP ).

Nationally-significant airports are defined as airports that link the country from coast to coast and internationally. Regional/Local airports are airports:

• with scheduled passenger traffic that is less than 200,000 a year for three consecutive years
• not classified as Arctic or remote airports
• where there is currently some form of ongoing federal financial involvement relating to the ownership or operation of the airport

Any professional that the Applicant appoints to act on its/his/her behalf in relation to this application.

An individual(s) or corporation who has legal ownership of a site (registered owner) and who has made an application to the Province of Ontario’s Site Readiness Program.

Application

The completion and submission to the Ministry of a Site Readiness Program application form together with all requisite work plan, technical studies and any supporting documents deemed necessary by the Ministry.

Application sponsor

A municipal economic development officer ( EDO ) or a planning official who has been delegated authority to assist the Applicant with obtaining the necessary Site-specific information to complete a Site Readiness Program application, review the application for accuracy of municipal information and support the Applicant’s participation in the program.

Archaeological assessment

Identifies and evaluates in stages, the presence of archaeological resources and assesses the degree to which a development proposal may disturb or alter an archaeological landscape. These resources may include physical remains and contextual settings of any structure, event, place, feature or object which because of the passing of time, is on or below the surface of the land or water.

Archaeological resources

Includes artifacts, archaeological sites, marine archaeological sites, as defined under the Ontario Heritage Act . The identification and evaluation of such resources are based upon archaeological fieldwork undertaken in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act .

Areas of natural and scientific interest ( ANSI )

Areas of land and water containing natural landscapes or features that have been identified as having life science or earth science values related to protection, scientific study or education.

Built heritage resource

A building, structure, monument, installation or any manufactured remnant that contributes to a property’s cultural heritage value or interest as identified by a community, including an Indigenous community. Built heritage resources are generally located on property that has been designated under Parts IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act , or included on local, provincial and/or federal registers.

Business/industrial park

For the purposes of this program, means an area of a municipality specially designated and zoned to accommodate business offices, warehouses and industrial uses.

Certificate of Consent

A certificate issued by the Deputy-Secretary Treasurers of the Committee of Adjustment stating that the city has approved a Consent for Severance. The certificate includes details such as the date of the committee’s decision, the nature of the application and a legal description of the lands that were the subject of the consent. The certificate is conclusive evidence that any conditions of approval have been satisfied and that all provisions of the Planning Act relating to the granting of the Consent have been complied with.

Certificate of Title

A government-issued document that identifies the owner or owners of personal or real property. A Certificate of Title provides documentary evidence of the right of ownership. When issued for real property (such as land or a house) by a title insurance company, the certificate of title is a statement of opinion on the status of the title, based on a thorough examination of specified public records.

Certified Site

A site that has satisfied the requirements to be certified under the Investment Ready: Certified Site Program and received the designation from the Province of Ontario.

Class 1 industry

Small scale, self-contained plant, no outside storage, low probability of fugitive emissions and daytime operations only.

Class 2 industry

Medium scale processing and manufacturing with outdoor storage, periodic output of emissions, shift operations and daytime truck traffic.

Class 3 industry

Processing and manufacturing with frequent and intense off-site impacts and a high probability of fugitive emissions.

Contaminated site assessment

A document that identifies and evaluates the degree of air, water and soil contamination in relation to a property or within a specific area. The document also outlines and recommends methods and measures of remediation to secure public health and safety.

Committee of Adjustment

The Planning Act grants authority to committees appointed by Municipal Councils to approve a number of minor applications. Called Committees of Adjustment, these bodies are empowered to make decisions on minor variances from the zoning by-law. Permission to alter or change a lawful non-conforming use of land. Consent (consent means “approval”) to sever land (divide a parcel of land into more than one lot). Consent to register a mortgage over part of a property. Consent to register a lease over part of a lot for more than 21 years. Validation of land title where an error exists in the description of land.

Complete application

An application will be deemed complete if it is accompanied by the required information identified in this Site Readiness Program Guide and identified through pre-application consultation discussions.

Consent for severance

A municipality must grant consent for the following types of land transactions: divide land (sever) into new lots, and/or add land to an abutting lot (lot additions, lot adjustments, lot extensions, corrections to deeds or property descriptions), and/or establish easements or rights-of-way, and/or lease land or register a mortgage in excess of 21 years.

Municipal council can delegate the approval authority for the creation of new lots to the Committee of Adjustment. Approval authority for all other types of consents has been delegated to the Deputy-Secretary Treasurers of the Committee.

Cultural heritage landscape

A defined geographical area that may have been modified by human activity and is identified as having cultural heritage value or interest by a community, including an Indigenous community. The area may involve features such as structures, spaces, archaeological sites or natural elements that are valued together for their interrelationship, meaning or association. Examples may include, but are not limited to, heritage conservation districts designated under the Ontario Heritage Act ; villages, parks, gardens, battlefields, main streets and neighbourhoods, cemeteries, trailways, viewsheds, natural areas and industrial complexes of heritage significance; and areas recognized by federal or international designation authorities (e.g. a National Historic Site or District designation, or a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Project completion date

The date on which the program staff has deemed the Applicant’s work plan as complete.

Date of pre-application consultation

The date on which the Applicant completes a formal consultation with the program staff regarding the eligibility of the proposed Site.

Deep water port

Any fixed or floating man-made structure other than a vessel, or any group of such structures, usually made up for the usage of very large and heavily loaded ships which may require the water to be 30 feet deep or more. Deep water ports are also defined to be any port which has the capability to accommodate a fully laden Panamax ship, which is determined principally by the dimensions of the Panama Canal’s lock chambers.

Delegated approval authority

The decision-making authority passed down to an alternate, in accordance with Provincial/program statutes.

Deposits of mineral aggregate resources

An area of identified mineral aggregate resources, as delineated in Aggregate Resource Inventory Papers or comprehensive studies prepared using evaluation procedures established by the Province of Ontario for surficial and bedrock resources, as amended from time to time, that has a sufficient quantity and quality to warrant present or future extraction.

Designated and available

For the purposes of this program, lands designated in a municipal official plan for employment, business offices, warehouses, industrial development but which have not yet been developed.

Development

For the purposes of this program, means the construction of buildings and structures requiring approval under the Planning Act .

Dry industrial

Those uses in which only the disposal of the domestic waste of employees is permitted and treated. No industrial liquid wastes, wash or cooling water or process wastes are permitted.

Employment area

Areas designated in an official plan for clusters of business and economic activities including, but not limited to, manufacturing, warehousing, offices, and associated retail and ancillary facilities.

Endangered species

A species that is listed or categorized as an “Endangered Species” on the Ministry of  the Environment, Conservation and Parks official Species at Risk list , as updated and amended from time to time.

Environmental impact study

Identifies and evaluates the possible impact a proposed development may have on the social and natural environment and provide measures to alleviate any negative impacts.

Environmental assessment

A decision-making process used to promote good environmental planning by assessing the potential effects of certain activities on the natural and human environment. In Ontario, this process is defined and finds its authority in the Environmental Assessment Act ( EAA ) and its associated regulations. The EAA applies to undertakings (enterprises, activities, proposals, plans or programs) by provincial ministries, municipalities and prescribed public bodies such as conservation authorities.

Areas designated in a municipal official plan for a cluster of businesses and economic activities including, but not limited to, manufacturing, warehousing, offices, and associated retail and ancillary facilities.

Environmental site assessment

An assessment of the environmental integrity of a site and may be required in order for a Record of Site Condition to be filed with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Erosion hazard

The loss of land, due to human or natural processes, that poses a threat to life and property. The erosion hazard limit is determined using considerations that include the 100 year erosion rate (the average annual rate of recession extended over a one hundred year time span), an allowance for slope stability, and an erosion/erosion access allowance.

Fish habitat

As defined in the Fisheries Act , Fish habitat means water frequented by fish and any other areas on which fish depend directly or indirectly to carry out their life processes, including spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas.

Flood plain

For river, stream and small inland lake systems, means the area, usually low lands adjoining a watercourse, which has been or may be subject to flooding hazards.

Habitat of endangered species and threatened species

As defined in the Endangered Species Act , 2007 , species listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an endangered or threatened species for which a regulation made under clause 55(1)(a) of the act is in force, the area prescribed by that and Forestry regulation as the habitat of the species.

Any other species listed on the Species at Risk in Ontario List as an endangered or threatened species, an area on which the species depends, directly or indirectly, to carry on its life processes, including life processes such as reproduction, rearing, hibernation, migration or feeding, as approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks .

Any places in the areas described in clause 55(1)(a) or (55(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act , 2007 , whichever is applicable, that are used by members of the species as dens, nests, hibernacula or other residences.

Hazardous forest types for wildland fire

Forest types assessed as being associated with the risk of high to extreme wildland fire using risk assessment tools established by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources , as amended from time to time.

Hazardous sites

Property or lands that could be unsafe for development or alteration due to naturally occurring hazard. These hazards may include unstable soils or unstable bedrock.

Heritage impact statement (conservation strategy)

A document that provides relevant information on the nature and significance of a heritage property. It outlines the policy framework in which such properties can be conserved and identifies practical options to inform decisions and directions for the development of a conservation plan for the heritage resource.

Incomplete application

An application for this program that does not comply with the information and material submission requirements set out in the application form and Site Readiness Program Guide.

Intermodal transit hub/facility

Stations or centres where different transit modes come together and allow for easy transfers from one mode to another. They can also facilitate transfers at different scales: local, regional and intercity.

Intermodal facilities enable the efficient and convenient transfer of goods between different modes of transport and include specialized equipment that moves commodities from rail to truck and vice-versa. The CN intermodal facility in Brampton and the CP intermodal facility in Vaughan are the largest CN and CP facilities in all of North America.

Note: Multi-modal shipment transfers are not limited to intermodal facilities. Rail spurs and other facilities allow carriers to transfer goods between rail and truck.

Legal description

The written words within a document that defines a parcel of land either by metes and bounds or by reference to a survey plan or registered plan.

A recognized subdivision of property with a written legal description that addresses permissions or constraints upon its development.

Metes and bounds

That part of a deed or transfer of land in which the boundaries of the property are described only in words without a plan or map. The description will start at a defined point on the ground (e.g., “the North West corner of Lot 1, Concession 1”) and continue around the parcel giving directions and distances or other identifiers and finishing up at the same point as the start.

The metes normally refer to the direction and distance of a boundary segment, such as “Thence N35°44’E, 245 meters to a point”. The bounds would normally refer to a natural feature, such as “Thence along the centre line of Jolly Creek”. Written descriptions are rarely used in current documents, in favour of a graphical representation of the boundary with reference to a plan or a map.

Mineral aggregate operation

Lands under license or permit, other than for wayside pits and quarries, issued in accordance with the Aggregate Resources Act .

For lands not designated under the Aggregate Resources Act , established pits and quarries that are not in contravention of municipal zoning by-laws and including adjacent land under agreement with or owned by the operator, to permit continuation of the operation.

Associated facilities used in extraction, transport, beneficiation, processing or recycling of mineral aggregate resources and derived products such as asphalt and concrete, or the production of secondary related products.

Mineral aggregate resources

Gravel, sand, clay, earth, shale, stone, limestone, dolostone, sandstone, marble, granite, rock or other material prescribed under the Aggregate Resources Act suitable for construction, industrial, manufacturing and maintenance purposes but does not include metallic ores, asbestos, graphite, kyanite, mica, nepheline syenite, salt, talc, wollastonite, mine tailings or other material prescribed under the Mining Act .

Minor variance

Small changes or exceptions to existing land use or development restrictions contained in the zoning by-law are called minor variances. Variances are obtained by making an application to the Committee of Adjustment. Larger changes to the zoning by-law require a zoning by-law amendment. Advice as to whether the proposal may be considered minor, and thus dealt with by the Committee of Adjustment, is provided by planning staff.

Multimodal transportation system

A transportation system which may include several forms of transportation such as automobiles, walking, trucks, cycling, buses, rapid transit, rail (such as commuter and freight), air and marine.

Municipal sewage services

A sewage works within the meaning of section 1 of the Ontario Water Resources Act that is owned or operated by a municipality.

Municipal water services

A municipal drinking-water system within the meaning of section 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Act , 2002 .

Natural heritage features and areas

Features and areas, including significant wetlands, significant coastal wetlands, other coastal wetlands in ecoregions 5E, 6E and 7E, fish habitat, significant woodlands and significant valleylands in ecoregions 6E and 7E (excluding islands in Lake Huron and the St. Marys River), habitat of endangered species and threatened species, significant wildlife habitat, and significant Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest ( ANSI ), which are important for their environmental and social values as a legacy of the natural landscapes of an area.

Natural heritage impact study

A study that identifies natural features and areas including, wetlands, woodlands, valley lands and significant wildlife areas, highlighting a proposed development’s potential impact on the natural heritage system. The study will also provide ways to mitigate negative impacts on and/or improve the natural heritage system.

Net developable area

Net developable area refers to the total area of land available for new development, not necessarily the total area of a property itself. It does not include lands needed for open space, wetlands, floodplain, significant woodlands drainage land, regional roads and land used for other public facilities such as hydro corridors, railway right of ways provincial highways etc.

Net developable area includes local access roads, parking areas, footpaths and local open space such as children’s play areas and amenity space.

Notification of acceptance

A letter issued to the Applicants formally stating acceptance of the site into the program.

Official plan

The Planning Act requires each municipality in Ontario to have an official plan. The official plan is a legal document approved by municipal Council/planning board that describes policies and objectives for future land uses. The official plan is prepared in consultation with municipal residents and reflects a community vision for future change and development. The official plan is a blueprint for how a municipality will grow over the next 30 years. It describes the location for new housing, industry, parks, office and retail areas, community services and other land uses. The pfficial plan also establishes policies for the built environment, for improvements to the municipality’s hard services (such as transit, roads, sewers, etc.) and for the protection of the municipality’s natural environment.

Official plan amendment

A site-specific amendment to alter or develop your property in a way that does not conform with the official plan. An official plan amendment must be approved by the municipal council, other local authority exercising any power with respect to municipal affairs or the Ontario Municipal Board.

Oil, gas and salt hazards

Any feature of a well or work as defined under the Oil, Gas and Salt Resources Act , or any related disturbance of the ground that has not been rehabilitated.

Ontario Land Surveyor

An Ontario Land Surveyor ( OLS ) is a professional member of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors ( AOLS ). They are required to maintain the necessary theoretical, practical and ethical standards set by legislation and the profession. More information about the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors. Information about the Surveyors Act .

Ontario Land Tribunal

One of the functions of the Ontario Land Tribunal is to hear appeals from planning decisions of municipal Council and the Committee of Adjustment. It is an independent and impartial adjudicative tribunal. It is made up of a Chair, Vice-Chairs and Members. The Ontario Government appoints all board members who have diverse backgrounds and come from different parts of the province. For more information, see the Ontario Land Tribunal .

A unit of land that is registered in the Land Registry Office and identified as such for taxation purposes.

Petroleum resources

Oil, gas, and salt (extracted by solution mining method) and formation water resources which have been identified through exploration and verified by preliminary drilling or other forms of investigation. This may include sites of former operations where resources are still present or former sites that may be converted to underground storage for natural gas or other hydrocarbons.

Plan of subdivision

The Planning Act grants the municipality the authority to regulate the division of land through the registration of Plans of Subdivision. This authority is used to provide for the orderly servicing and development of large parcels of land in accordance with appropriate municipal regulations and standards. Plans of subdivision will typically include information on new municipal infrastructure (i.e., water and sewer servicing and new roads), lot and block patterns and any park and/or school sites. Plans of subdivision are also typically used to create public rights-of-way for municipal services.

Plan of survey

A legal plan of lands outlining the location and dimension of its boundaries and associated encumbrances, prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor.

A survey plan is a graphic representation showing the true (accurate and precise) location of legal boundaries. It is created from actual field measurements and can be used to accurately locate boundaries on the ground.

Planning Act

The Province of Ontario sets out rules and regulations in the Planning Act which describe how planning processes should be dealt with, how land uses may be controlled and by whom. The Planning Act gives municipalities the power to create official plans and zoning by-laws which in turn provide direction to the various officials, staff members and other authorities involved in the planning and development decision making process.

Pre-application consultation

A formal consultation process which is held before the submission of an application; typically in the form of a meeting arranged with the program staff. This meeting is intended to determine site eligibility, identify issues of concern, guides the content of the application submission (reports, studies, drawings, etc.) and identifies the need for any further applications or approvals.

Property identification number

Each property or parcel of land in Ontario is assigned a unique 9-digit number (e.g., 49876-0123)

Protected heritage property

Property designated under Parts IV, V or VI of the Ontario Heritage Act ; property subject to a heritage conservation easement under Parts II or IV of the Ontario Heritage Act ; property identified by the Province of Ontario and prescribed public bodies as provincial heritage property under the Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Provincial Heritage Properties; property protected under federal legislation, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Provincial plan

A provincial plan within the meaning of section 1 of the Planning Act .

Rail facilities

Rail corridors, rail sidings, train stations, inter-modal facilities, rail yards and associated uses, including designated lands for future rail facilities.

Record of site condition

A Record of site condition summarizes the environmental condition of a property, based on the completion of environmental site assessments.

Each record of site condition:

• is based on the results of one or more environmental site assessments
• is conducted by a qualified person
• may involve the completion of a risk assessment and the development of property specific standards
• a qualified person must certify that the property meets the applicable site condition standard or a standard specified in a risk assessment for the intended use
• is filed to the Environmental Registry once regulatory requirements are met

Reference plan

A plan deposited under Section 150 of the Land Titles Act or Sections 80 or 81 of the Registry Act . It shows the boundaries of the parcel of land, the location of easements and can be used to describe the pieces of land forming part of a severance application (shown as parts on the reference plan). The reference plan is a convenient tool used to describe specific lands, it does not create any easements or severances. Once deposited in the land registry office it is given a numerical reference number generally 66R-. Prepared by an Ontario Land Surveyor, it must meet the requirements of the Registry Act .

Registered owner

The legal owner of the site.

If you wish to use, alter or develop your property in a way that does not conform with the zoning by-law, you must apply for a site-specific amendment to the By-law. You can do this through either a zoning by-law amendment application (commonly called a rezoning) or a minor variance application. Rezonings are used for major revisions to the by-law such as land use changes or significant increases in permitted building heights and development densities. minor variances are used for issues such as small changes to building setback or parking requirements.

Right-of-way permit

A permit required if a landowner intends to undertake any work or occupation within the public right-of-way. Permit must be obtained from the municipal Transportation Services Division or the Ontario Ministry of Transportation .

Road network

Network of roads comprising of Provincial highways, parkways, major arterial roads, minor arterial roads, collector roads and local roads.

Sensitive land uses

A building, amenity area, or outdoor space where routine or normal activities occurring at reasonably expected times would experience one or more adverse effect(s) from contaminant discharges generated by a nearby major facility. The sensitive land use may be a part of the natural or built environment. Depending on the particular facility involved, a sensitive land use and associated activities may include one or a combination of:

• residences or facilities where people sleep (e.g. single and multi-unit dwellings, long term care facilities, hospitals, trailer parks, campgrounds, etc.). These uses are considered to be sensitive 24 hours a day
• a permanent structure for non-facility related use, particularly of an institutional nature (e.g. schools, churches, community centres, day care centres)
• certain outdoor recreational uses deemed by a municipality or other level of government to be sensitive (e.g. trailer park, picnic area, etc.)
• certain agricultural operations (e.g. cattle raising, mink farming, cash crops and orchards)
• bird/wildlife habitats or sanctuaries. ( MECP Guidelines, Procedure D-1-3, amended)

The land that is under consideration for acceptance into the Site Readiness program. A site may be an assemblage of multiple Lots.

Species at risk

Species at risk means an extirpated, endangered or threatened species or a species of special concern.

Wayside pits and quarries

A temporary pit or quarry opened and used by or for a public authority solely for the purpose of a particular project or contract of road construction and not located on the road right-of-way.

Lands that are seasonally or permanently covered by shallow water, as well as lands where the water table is close to or at the surface. In either case the presence of abundant water has caused the formation of hydric soils and has favoured the dominance of either hydrophytic plants or water tolerant plants. The four major types of wetlands are swamps, marshes, bogs and fens.

Periodically soaked or wetlands being used for agricultural purposes which no longer exhibit wetland characteristics are not considered to be wetlands for the purposes of this definition.

Section E in the Site Readiness application form that outline a detailed description of the project, including which eligible report(s) the Applicant plans to undertake, and the costs associated with each eligible report selected.