Frequently Asked Questions
The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is a two-year initiative supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and is administered by Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC).
The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is for entrepreneurs who are interested in immigrating to Canada by establishing a new business or buying and growing an existing business outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is a two-year initiative supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and is administered by Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC).
The Entrepreneur Success Initiative is for entrepreneurs who are interested in immigrating to Canada by establishing a new business or buying and growing an existing business outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Through the Entrepreneur Success Initiative, TBDC provides qualified entrepreneurs with the following services:
– Support to identify business opportunities in Ontario that align with interests and experience (for example: opportunities to create a new business or to purchase an existing business).
– Assistance to apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream, including facilitating access to complimentary legal services to support the process.
Complete applications submitted to the Entrepreneur Stream under the Initiative will be processed on a priority basis.
- City of Toronto
- Durham Region
- Halton Region
- York Region
- Peel Region
- The Entrepreneur Stream under OINP is for international entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business or buy and grow an existing business in Ontario
- Minimum personal investment of $200,000 to establish and operate or buy your business in Ontario
- Verifiable personal net worth of at least $400,000
- At least 24 months of qualifying business experience in the last 60 months
- Commitment to create a new business or purchase an existing business in Ontario outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- Active involvement, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business
- Capital investment is to make a profit, not to derive interest, dividends, or capital gains
- The creation of at least one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- If you are buying an existing business:
- you must make at least one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an expression of interest
- the business being purchased must have been in continuous operation by the same owner(s) for the previous 60 months (proof of ownership and either a letter of intent to purchase the business or sale agreement is required)
- ownership of the business must be completely transferred to the applicant or any business partner
- the previous owner(s) cannot retain any shares of the business
- you must use at least 10% of your personal investment towards improving or expanding the business in Ontario
- you must keep all permanent, full-time jobs in the business prior to the transfer of ownership
- the proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees, including anyone who has received a certificate of nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream or the Opportunities Ontario Investor Component
Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) was selected by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to be the administrator of the Entrepreneur Success Initiative.
Through the Initiative, TBDC will assist international entrepreneurs by helping them identify suitable business opportunities in Ontario, and to apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream.
Entrepreneurs who qualify to participate in the Entrepreneur Success Initiative will receive one-on-one support from TBDC Advisors to explore business opportunities in Ontario.
To learn more, please fill out this form.
Through the Entrepreneur Success Initiative, TBDC will be collecting information about businesses for sale in Ontario. This information will be shared with qualified international entrepreneurs who are interested in purchasing a business in Ontario.
For more information, please contact complete this form.
