Create your own job this summer
Take a minute to think: what are you good at? Are you a master landscaper? A fierce copyeditor? A dazzling jewelry designer? Do you have a passion for growing local, organic food? Teaching kids to swim? Running a day camp?
You just might be able to make your passion or talent into a lucrative business this summer, with a little help from the Small Business Centre and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
The Summer Company program is a joint venture between the two organizations. It is available to students aged 15 to 29 (as of April 30, 2011) who will be returning to school in September.
Part of the program is a grant is worth up to $1,500. This amount depends on how much start-up money is estimated to be required in the business proposal, which is submitted as part of the application process. The entrepreneurs may have to come up with the rest of the money themselves, added John Anagnostou, business advisor at the Small Business Centre in London.
At the end of the summer, students are awarded an additional amount of money — the same amount they were given at the beginning of the summer — if they have met all eligibility requirements, including keeping detailed logs and attending one-on-one and roundtable sessions at the centre.
The application deadline is May 9, 2011, or earlier if the program reaches capacity. "I encourage students not to wait until the last minute," cautioned Anagnostou. "I encourage them to put in their application inquiry as soon as possible."
Since it began in 2000, over 2,500 entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the program. "Last year, 500 to 600 student businesses were started in Ontario," said Anagnostou. Sixteen of these businesses sprouted up around London — the most that ever had — and Anagnostou said he hopes this number will continue to increase.
These summer businesses can be quite lucrative, and students get to keep all of the money they make. "Last year, we had a student who generated more than $70,000 in revenue," remembered Anagnostou. Three other students made more than $40,000. "That's not the norm, but it's do-able."
Though students may only receive the grant once, it can help to launch companies and careers.
"The beauty of this program is that you're set up for the next summer," Anagnostou said. "You can create a database of clientele that you can work with summer after summer after summer." One student did this for five years; it's now his full-time business, he added.
"What's really cool is seeing these students who don't need a business background … they just have an interest in self-employment and they have an idea that they are really passionate about and want to make it work. The program provides the start-up funds to help them do that."
Not only does the program provide some start-up cash, it also gives young entrepreneurs the resources and knowledge to help make their businesses successful. "The hands-on training that we provide at the centre starts with a series of 12 hours of seminars, including bookkeeping, sales and marketing, networking, meeting people, creating and building relationships."
To apply online, visit sbcentre.ca/summer_company.htm and click "Check your eligibility and apply online" to answer a short questionnaire to find out if you are a good candidate for the program. All applicants be Canadian Citizens or Landed Immigrants living in Ontario; must be prepared to work on this job for at least 35 hours a week; must be proposing a new business idea; and the business must be operated in Ontario.
You just might be able to make your passion or talent into a lucrative business this summer, with a little help from the Small Business Centre and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
The Summer Company program is a joint venture between the two organizations. It is available to students aged 15 to 29 (as of April 30, 2011) who will be returning to school in September.
Part of the program is a grant is worth up to $1,500. This amount depends on how much start-up money is estimated to be required in the business proposal, which is submitted as part of the application process. The entrepreneurs may have to come up with the rest of the money themselves, added John Anagnostou, business advisor at the Small Business Centre in London.
At the end of the summer, students are awarded an additional amount of money — the same amount they were given at the beginning of the summer — if they have met all eligibility requirements, including keeping detailed logs and attending one-on-one and roundtable sessions at the centre.
The application deadline is May 9, 2011, or earlier if the program reaches capacity. "I encourage students not to wait until the last minute," cautioned Anagnostou. "I encourage them to put in their application inquiry as soon as possible."
Since it began in 2000, over 2,500 entrepreneurs have taken advantage of the program. "Last year, 500 to 600 student businesses were started in Ontario," said Anagnostou. Sixteen of these businesses sprouted up around London — the most that ever had — and Anagnostou said he hopes this number will continue to increase.
These summer businesses can be quite lucrative, and students get to keep all of the money they make. "Last year, we had a student who generated more than $70,000 in revenue," remembered Anagnostou. Three other students made more than $40,000. "That's not the norm, but it's do-able."
Though students may only receive the grant once, it can help to launch companies and careers.
"The beauty of this program is that you're set up for the next summer," Anagnostou said. "You can create a database of clientele that you can work with summer after summer after summer." One student did this for five years; it's now his full-time business, he added.
"What's really cool is seeing these students who don't need a business background … they just have an interest in self-employment and they have an idea that they are really passionate about and want to make it work. The program provides the start-up funds to help them do that."
Not only does the program provide some start-up cash, it also gives young entrepreneurs the resources and knowledge to help make their businesses successful. "The hands-on training that we provide at the centre starts with a series of 12 hours of seminars, including bookkeeping, sales and marketing, networking, meeting people, creating and building relationships."
To apply online, visit sbcentre.ca/summer_company.htm and click "Check your eligibility and apply online" to answer a short questionnaire to find out if you are a good candidate for the program. All applicants be Canadian Citizens or Landed Immigrants living in Ontario; must be prepared to work on this job for at least 35 hours a week; must be proposing a new business idea; and the business must be operated in Ontario.
