An entrepreneur is someone who owns their own business. Entrepreneurship can be both rewarding and challenging. There are many opportunities to start a business in Windsor-Essex County. We have many local supports to help you if you are interested in starting your own business.
- The Small Business Centre offers small business owners and entrepreneurs many different supports including:
- Small Business Information
- Consultations
- Business Plan Support
- Access to Professionals
- Business Resource Centre
- Research Assistance
- Workshops/Seminars and Networking Opportunities
- The Downtown Windsor Business Accelerator was designed to help accelerate the growth of start-up and emerging businesses. They offer office space, business seminars, on-site mentoring and business plan development.
- The St. Clair Employment Centre offers the Ontario Self Employment Benefit, which helps people who are eligible for Employment Insurance in starting their own business. They offer services including:
- Information Sessions
- Business Planning
- Business Administration Training
- Business Consulting Assistance
- EPICentre is hosted by the University of Windsor and offers entrepreneurship classes, workshops, activities, competitions and an internship program.
- The Essex Community Futures Development Corporation works to keep and create jobs. Through an investment fund, they offer loans to small and medium-sized businesses that can be used for equipment, expansion of product lines, increased working capital, etc. Businesses must be located in the County (Windsor businesses cannot take part).
- WEtech Alliance helps technology companies succeed through offering a variety of programs and services.
- The Government of Canada has a Business Guide for Newcomers that will provide you with some of the basic requirements for starting your business in Ontario.