Starting a company in Toronto? The public help that costs little or nothing

6.11. Free consultations from the City

The City of Toronto’s “Consultations & Entrepreneur Supports” page offers “free guidance, information and tools” for people starting a business. The list includes “one-to-one consultations,” “business registration assistance,” “reviews of both business plans and expansion plans,” and “business webinars and online training modules.”

When I checked, the page listed in-person times at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Mondays and the North York Civic Centre on Tuesdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a contact address, smallbusiness@toronto.ca.

The province also runs a network now called Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres. Ontario’s location page, updated on September 28, 2026, lists “free consultations with a qualified business consultant” and “review of business plans” among the services. It also notes that the City Hall office is “Not taking appointments at this location,” so check the page for the nearest open centre before you go.

What I would bring to a first consultation: a one-paragraph description of what you sell and to whom, the question you are most stuck on, and a list of anything you are unsure about registering. A focused hour beats a general chat.

6.22. Registering is cheaper than people assume

Ontario publishes its registration fees on one page. Registering a sole proprietorship business name online is listed as “Immediate - $60,” with the same $60 fee by mail, taking 15 business days. Renewal is $60. Incorporating a business corporation is listed at $300.

Which structure suits you is a question for an accountant or the consultations above, not for a blog post. But it helps to know the filing itself is not the expensive part. The cost of choosing the wrong structure comes later, at tax time and when you try to raise money or apply for programmes that require incorporation.

6.33. A library card that opens a workshop

The Toronto Public Library’s Digital Innovation Hubs are one of the city’s least-known resources for founders. The library’s page says: “There is no cost to use the space and equipment, or to attend our programs and classes,” with “minimal printing fees for 3D printers.” The requirement: “All you need is a Toronto Public Library card.”

The page lists thirteen branches with hubs. For a product founder, that means somewhere to prototype a physical object, learn a design tool or edit a launch video without buying the equipment first. For a software founder, it is a quiet place to work with good tools nearby, and classes worth a look when you need a skill fast.

6.44. A small grant, if your business already exists

The City’s Starter Company Plus page describes “a micro-grant of $5,000,” “up to 15 hours of business training,” and “up to three months of advisory and mentoring services.”

Read the eligibility closely before planning around it. Applicants must “be 18 years of age or older,” live in Toronto, have a business “in operation for minimum six months and up to five years,” and have “already invested 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250).” Intakes have deadlines; the page listed one in early October when I read it.

One line matters for technology founders in particular: the list of ineligible businesses includes “tech apps that aren’t ready for market.” This programme is aimed at businesses already operating, not at ideas.

6.55. A startup loan with a mentor attached

Futurpreneur states its offer plainly on its “Get Started” page: “a flexible equity-free startup business loan of up to $75,000,” with “up to $50,000 in additional financing opportunities from BDC” (it adds that conditions apply), and “up to two years of 1:1 hand-matched mentorship.” It is for founders “between the ages of 18-39.”

A loan is still debt, and debt needs a plan to repay. But the mentorship is, to my mind, the more interesting part. A good mentor can spot an expensive mistake before a first-time founder makes it.

6.6What this help is good for, and what it is not

Public programmes are good at three things: answering the basic questions quickly, giving you access to tools you could not justify buying, and connecting you to people who have seen many businesses start.

They are not good at the parts only you can do. No consultation will tell you whether people want what you are making. That answer comes from putting something real in front of real customers and watching what happens. In Toronto, you can do the first version of that cheaply: a simple website, a booking form, a stall at a market, a demo at a meetup.

6.7A first-month plan

1. Book a free consultation with the City or an Ontario advisory centre.
2. Register the business name or incorporate, once you know which.
3. Get a library card and visit a Digital Innovation Hub.
4. If you have been operating for six months, read the Starter Company Plus rules and the next intake date.
5. If you are 18 to 39 and need capital, read Futurpreneur’s requirements.
6. Spend the money you saved on putting your product in front of customers.

Toronto is an expensive city to start in, but some of its most useful help is close to free, and few people use it. I’m Sal Talash, and I write about building a company here at saltalash.vercel.app.