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Start Your Own Summer Company

Bruce County is proud to help young entrepreneurs through Summer Company - a training, mentorship, and grant program for students to run their own company. In partnership with the Province of Ontario, the program is available for youth between the ages of 15 and 29 who are returning to school in the fall.
Bruce County Summer Company Poster. Work for the best boss ever. You!

Learning how to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to be your own boss while learning what it takes to manage a business. Sales, marketing, invoicing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management - these are just a few of the highly useful skills you will develop.

Summer Company is an Ontario government program that provides young people with the resources and knowledge they need to start a new summer business.

Applications for the Summer 2024 Company are now open.

How It Works

As a Summer Company entrepreneur, you get:

  • Start-up money to kick-off a new summer business
  • Hands-on business training, advice and mentorship from local business leaders
  • An award of up to $3,000, with $1,500 up front to help with any start-up costs

Could you be a Summer Company entrepreneur?

You can apply to the Summer Company program if you're an Ontario resident aged 15 to 29, are a full-time high school, college, or university student and will be returning to school in the fall.

If you are on social assistance (Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program) you can still apply to Summer Company. Payments from the program may be exempt as income and assets under social assistance, so your monthly social assistance payment may not be affected. Call your local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office for more information.

Dates and hours

Start date: usually May to July.
End date: Labour Day (but you can choose to keep running your summer business while in school).

Over the summer program period, be prepared to commit:

  • a minimum of 280 hours for high school students
  • a minimum of 420 hours for post-secondary students

What kind of business

Do you have a hobby or interest you would love to pursue while making some money this summer? Would you like to to be your own boss and set your own hours?

You can choose to start almost any type of business, as long as it:

  • is a sole proprietorship or corporation
  • is an independent business venture (not a part of an existing or family business)
  • qualifies as “self-employed” for income tax purposes
  • operates in Ontario on a full-time basis

 

How to Apply for Summer Company

To learn more about the Summer company program visit the Government of Ontario's website. Please be aware that applying for the Summer Company Program is a competitive process.

The Application Process

  1. Check your eligibility and submit your contact information.
  2. Submit an application, which includes a business plan and cash flow. We will provide you with templates and are happy to walk you through your application, if required.
  3. Bruce County will review your application.
  4. If your application meets the program’s requirements, Bruce County will let you know if you’ve been approved.
  5. After you are accepted, Bruce County will provide payment of up to $1,500 for start-up costs related to your business.