Frequently-Asked Questions

General Questions

• What is the application deadline for Summer Company?
• What are the eligibility criteria for Summer Company?
• Do I need a computer to apply for Summer Company?
• What is required to register for Summer Company online?
• What is a business plan?
• Why do you need a business plan?
• When should a business plan be prepared?
• Who should prepare the business plan?
• What is a Program Provider?
• What if I want to change or adjust my Business Plan?
• What's in this for me?
• Can I print the electronic application form, complete it, and mail it in?
• What if I lose my Internet connection during the application process?
• When will I hear about the status of my application and whether or not I'm going to receive an award?
• Where can I obtain assistance for applying to the program?
• What is a Start-up Budget?
• What happens to the start-up items I enter in the Start-up Budget?
• What is the Ministry's contribution towards the business?

Technical Support Questions

• If I do not have a computer at home, how can I apply to Summer Company using the Internet?
• What are the hardware (system) and software requirements for accessing and submitting a Summer Company application?
• How will I know if my electronic application was received?
• I have submitted my application and made a mistake. I want to make a change. How can I un-submit my application after it has been submitted?
• Does the application system have a time-out feature?
• Can I print a copy of my completed application?
• How do I update my application with my new phone number or personal information?
• What if I forget my application ID #, User ID or Password?

What is the application deadline for Summer Company?

The deadline date for Summer Company varies every year. Refer to the Summer Company Home Page for this year's application deadline date.

In order to have your business start in early spring/summer you must have submitted a full, completed application including a Cash Flow Forecast and a Business Plan. Applications are reviewed as they are received, but there are a limited number of awards. Before you Submit your completed application online you should visit your local Program Provider's office. The application will be reviewed by a business consultant and you may be asked to refine your Business Plan in person or by phone. A good Business Plan is written and refined over a period of time, so start early.

What are the eligibility criteria for Summer Company?

You're eligible if you are:

• between the age of 15-29 years old as of the current Summer Company application deadline
• proposing a new sole proprietorship or corporation in Ontario that operates without any direct control from relatives or existing businesses
• prepared to commit to the business a minimum of 35 hours a week, on average, for a minimum of 8 weeks (not including any planned or unplanned vacations during the summer)
• Currently in school and returning to school full-time in the fall of the current application year
• a Canadian citizen or a Landed Immigrant residing in the province of Ontario
• not a recipient of a previous Summer Company award or have an outstanding My Company loan
• not working more than 12 hours per week at another job during the Summer Company experience
• not proposing a partnership, franchise, a distributorship / commissioned sales organization, an incorporated business controlled directly or indirectly by someone who would not be eligible to Summer Company, multi-level marketing organizations, musical ventures such as bands / DJs / dance-party events, 1-9xx businesses that use phone numbers to process businesses.

NOTE: The Ministry may, at its sole discretion, determine a particular business is inappropriate for the Summer Company program.

Do I need a computer to apply for Summer Company?

Yes, you must have regular access to a computer with an Internet connection to apply for Summer Company. If approved to the program you will need to regularly update your cash flow and business journal throughout the summer. Remember that you can logout and log back in again to continue your application at any time before the application deadline. You will need to remember your email address and selected password to access your application. Note that any application not submitted by the application deadline will be frozen in the system and cannot be submitted online.

What is required to register for Summer Company online?

You will need access to a computer with either a dialup or high speed Internet connection as well as a valid email address that you will use for registration. A confirmation email will be sent to this email address. You must confirm your interest and assign yourself a password to access your application on any computer with access to the Internet. If you do not receive this email please contact us or your local Program Provider. Your email address and password will be used to complete your full application at: https://www.ontariocanada.com/screen. You will need to write a business plan and create a startup cash flow. The Eligibility Checklist is the first step of your online Summer Company application. If you are recommended into the program, you will also need to provide 2 letters of reference from people that are not related to you directly (at arms-length).

To get acquainted with the system you should login with your email address and password and try all the different parts of the system. There is no specific order you need to fill out the application and you do not need to complete everything at one time, but you must at some point before the application deadline:

• Fill out the Cash Flow Calculator
• Attach your business plan and any relating documents
• Complete your Application
• Submit Your Application

What is a business plan ?

A business plan is a recognized management tool widely used by businesses of all sizes to describe business objectives and to propose how these objectives will be attained within a specific period of time. It is a written document, which describes who you are, what you plan to achieve, where your business will be located. It also describes the forecast sales and expenses and how you will overcome the risks involved. More details are available on Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre's description of a business plan.

Why do you need a business plan?

A Business Plan will demonstrate to a Program Provider how you plan to use the award money, and to establish a basis for viability of your project.

When should a business plan be prepared?

The sooner you develop your business plan, the better. You will find that your business plan will be updated, revised and refined as you continue to plan and get feedback on its content. It is important that you examine all the relevant factors now, so that you will be able to deal with any surprises after your business has opened its doors.

Many people will work out their business on paper or in a word processor and spreadsheet before they attempt to fill out this application online. If you have already worked out all the specifics of the application such as a reasonable cash flow, and a well-written business plan, you should be ready to apply online.

Who should prepare the business plan?

The business plan must be prepared by the person who will be implementing the business.

Assistance from consultants, accountants, bookkeepers, your parents and experienced business people can definitely help, but you must draft the initial plan. After all, you are the one that is going to run the business once it is open.

Think through each element of your business plan thoroughly so you have a good understanding of the overall picture and all of the details.

Present your plan to others for constructive criticism and advice, and try to profit from their experience. Your local Program Provider has consultants who can provide help for free and assist you with a review of your Business Plan and make constructive suggestions.

What is a Program Provider?

A Program Provider is a Small Business Enterprise Centre or a Not for Profit organization that provides business services in delivering the Summer Company program.

What if I want to change or adjust my Business Plan?

Recipients of the Award should recognize that one part of assessing successful completion of the experience requires the recipient to implement the project substantially in accordance with the business plan. Although business plans may be flexible, any changes to your business plan should be addressed with the Program Provider throughout the term of your project.

What's in this for me?

If you have never drawn up a business plan before, you may be curious as to what the benefits are for you. First and most important, your plan gives you a guide to follow. Secondly, you must write a complete business plan as part of the Summer Company application process. The quality of your business plan will govern the Program Provider's review process of your application. Finally, your plan will help you develop as a manager by giving you practice in thinking about your competition, promotional opportunities, sources of finance, etc. Your goal is to put the plan into action.

Can I print the electronic application form, complete it, and mail it in?

No, we only accept Summer Company applications online.

What if I lose my Internet connection during the application process?

There are two options available if you lose your Internet connection during the application process:

1. If you have not assigned yourself a password yet, you will need to restart the application.
2. If you have assigned yourself a password, you can continue where you left off when your Internet connection becomes available again.

If you are having difficulties, please contact us by email or call 1-888-562-4769 (JOB-GROW) and in the Toronto area 416-326-5656. The hotline is open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm.

When will I hear about the status of my application and whether or not I'm going to receive an award?

A representative from your selected Program Provider will contact you by phone or email within two weeks of receiving your submitted online application, which includes a cash flow forecast and a business plan. Remember that you must assign yourself a password and put together a start-up budget, cash flow forecast and upload your business plan using the online application system at https://www.ontariocanada.com/screen.

IMPORTANT: To submit your completed application online you must:

• Login with your email address and password at https://www.ontariocanada.com/screen
• Click the "Submit Your Application" link near the bottom of the page. The system will validate your application and ensure all the necessary information including a business plan and a start-up budget have been included. If a piece of information is missing you will be asked to provide it and re-submit your application. The red box below shows the link you must press to submit your application.
• Once the application is complete you will need to agree to the legal terms before your application can be submitted.
  
  If your business plan meets the program guidelines, you may be invited to an interview. Do not hesitate to contact the Program Provider directly to inquire about your application.

Where can I obtain assistance for applying to the program?

If you have questions about the program please contact your local Program Provider, e-mail us or call the JOB GROW hotline at 1-888 JOB GROW (1-888-562-4769) or in the Greater Toronto Area call 416-326-5656. The hotline is open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm.

What is a Start-up Budget?

A Start-up Budget is the amount of money you will need to start a business during the first month of operation. Once you login to the Summer Company application you will be able to complete your Start-up Budget and Cash Flow Forecast.

What happens to the start-up items I enter in the Start-up Budget?

All of your Start-up items will be transferred to your Cash Flow Forecast automatically into the first month of operation.

What is the Ministry's contribution towards the business?

The Ministry will contribute up to $1,500 into your business Start-up Budget. During the review and recommendation process the Program Provider contact will attach a recommended award against each Start-up item described in the Start-up Budget.

If I do not have a computer at home, how can I apply to Summer Company using the Internet?

Check with your local Program Provider, library, community centre, or family/friends for an available computer with Internet access.

What are the hardware (system) and software requirements for accessing and submitting a Summer Company application?

This application is supported with Internet Explorer 5.x and 6.x as well as Firefox 1.0.x on PC. No other browsers and platforms have been tested and are not supported.

We further recommend a minimum Pentium III and 128 mb of RAM running Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

For monitors, we recommend an XVGA (1024 X 768) or higher resolution monitor with 256 colours. You may require a printer that prints on 11"x17" paper as well in order to print out certain parts of the online application.

How will I know if my electronic application was received?

Once you have assigned yourself a password, you will immediately receive a Confirmation Email with the subject "Summer Company Registration Information". It will contain your selected Program Provider and your password. Please make sure that you look for this email in any Bulk or Junk Mail folders as it may get automatically filed in one of these folders, especially if you are using a web-based email system like Hotmail.

As an example, the screen shot to the left shows the location of the Junk E-Mail folder in Hotmail.

After assigning your password, you may login to the Summer Company application as many times as necessary to complete your application, fill out your cash flow forecast and attach your business plan. You can then submit electronically to the selected Program Provider.

I have submitted my completed application online and made a mistake. I want to make a change. How can I un-submit my application after it has been submitted?

Once you application is submitted, you cannot change any data unless you call your selected Program Provider for assistance. At the Program Provider's discretion the application can be un-submitted and make the changes and re-submit electronically.

Does the application system have a time-out feature?

Yes. The Summer Company system has a 20 minutes time-out feature as a security measure. After 20 minutes of inactivity (no mouse or keyboard activity) the system will log you out and any information you have not explicitly saved will be lost. Any information that you entered after logging in with a password at https://www.ontariocanada.com/screen will be saved as long as you continue to use the "update" or "save changes" buttons available in the application.

If you are having difficulties, please contact us by email or call 1-888-562-4769 (JOB-GROW) and in the Toronto area 416-326-5656. The hotline is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

Can I print a copy of my completed application?

Several parts of the application can be printed on your printer for review. The full application, though, must be submitted online by logging in with your email address and password. If you'd like to print out any part of the application process the recommended settings for "Page Setup..." are:

• print in "Landscape" mode
• margins set to 0.25" for top, bottom, left and right
• use 11x17 paper for the cash flow

How do I update my application with my new phone number or personal information?

You may login with your email address and password and update any part of your application at any point before you submit your full application. Once you submit your application you will not be able to change anything in your application. If you require a change after submitting your application you must contact your selected local Program Provider.

What if I forget my application ID #, User ID or password?

Your Application ID Number is displayed on your Startup Cash Flow Forecast. It is a 4 or 5 digit number unique to your application. If you forget your User ID or password you must get in touch with your selected local Program Provider and have the password reset by a consultant.