Starting or Expanding your Business

Gravenhurst wants to Welcome your new business to town, need information check out "Your New Business".  This information was developed to assist new businesses, providing information, tips and tricks to opening their new business in town. 

The the Annual Business Survey and Workforce Consultations, the Town of Gravenhurst understands that businesses biggest challenge is the attraction and retention of good employees.  As a way to assist businesses, three programs have been developed.

• Settlement Services – connects a new employee to local property owners and managers or real estate agents to find appropriate housing, whether that be transitional, a long-term rental, or to purchase a permanent residence.
• Community FAM Tour – a personal one-on-one tour of the Town and its history, introducing the new employee to specific places, people and resources depending on their unique interests and needs.
• Trailing Spouses Assistance – This program assists the spouse of the new employee directly to find their own meaningful connections and/or employment. Often those relocating for a new job have a family.

As a business you can nominate new or potential employees for one of three programs: Settlement Services, Trailing Partner Support or Familiarization Support.  Fill the nomination form out here for employees who could potentially use this service. 

Promote Your Business

The Town of Gravenhurst's Community Directory is a FREE resource for local businesses and organizations to promote their products and services to residents and visitors.  Learn how to set up your listing today!

New or expanding businesses can celebrate with Mayor and Council.  Business Celebrations are a great way to introduce your new business or to celebrate growth and business milestones.  Events will be promoted to local media and through the Town's social media channels.

Evaluate Your Customer Experience

The new Gravenhurst Customer Experience Program will assist businesses with evaluating their current customer experience and provide tools and resources to help them make small or big changes to increase satisfaction and traffic.

Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber is a local not-for-profit organization which assists its business membership through various iniatives and support programs and services including, networking and marketing opportunties, business development resources, boardroom and meeting spaces, etc.

Muskoka Small Business Centre

The Muskoka Small Business Centre is your source for business information in Muskoka, additional trained staff provide business consultation services. 

Employment North

Employment North is a non-profit, community based agency, assisting individuals businesses with employment development through employee/employer connections, training, skills development and administer many provincial and federal financial assistance programs for employers.

YMCA Simcoe Muskoka

The YMCA Simcoe Muskoka is a non-profit community organization that offers employer information and support for with employee placement, training, wage subsidies, and more.

Their outplacement and career transition services help displaced employees gain the motivation and drive to find meaningful personal and career direction at a difficult point in their lives.

District of Muskoka - Employment Supports

The District of Muskoka assists employers with placement and training services and incentives.

Muskoka Futures

Muskoka Futures is a community not-for-profit organization that support local businesses through business start-up and development coaching, financing, professional development training and mentorship programs.

Futurepreneur Canada

Futurepreneur Canada is a national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. This program is managed by the Muskoka Small Business Centre. 

Parry Sound Muskoka Community Network

PMCN is a not-for-profit corporation that creates economic value by building information and communications technology capacity through partnerships in the new economy. Provides funding for creating or upgrading a website, content, mobile applications and operational business applications. PMCN also provides links to other related information and resources.

My Biz Account/Service Ontario

My Biz Account is a one stop website that is all about doing business in Ontario. Accessibility compliance, incorporation services, online taxes, regulatory registration and employment standards are just some of the helpful information this site can provide.

Service Canada

Service Canada provides information and resources including registering your business and obtaining HST and business numbers.

Connected North

Connected North helps you stay connected in Northern Ontario. Whether it is checking to see an internet services report for your future hometown or checking what services are available at your home or cottage, Gravenhurst has the infrastructure you need. Stay connected to the office, to your loved ones and the rest of the world all year round!

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is your provincial portal for small business advice, support services and regulations. This includes the e-Business toolkit.

Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) promotes entrepreneurship by providing financing, consulting and venture capital services to Canadian Entrepreneurs, with special focus on small and medium sized enterprises.

Corporations Canada

Corporations Canada can help you incorporate your business? Corporations Canada provides leading-edge resources, tools and information designed to make it easy for entrepreneurs to file for federal incorporation.

Canada Concierge Service

Canada Concierge Services helps Canadian enterprises find and access programs and services that support business innovation. Click for access to industry expert advisors and success stories.

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office grants, registers, and administers intellectual property rights. Intellectual property - patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs - enables creators and innovators to increase the value of their products and services.

Canadian Company Capabilities

Canadian Company Capabilities can assists you exhibit your products and services to a global audience. Each month, 500,000 domestic and international companies browse Canadian Company Capabilities looking for suppliers. Add your company profile to the database.

Ontario Centres of Excellence

The Ontario Centres of Excellence connects entrepreneurs, startups, industry, academia and investors to commercialize innovation and compete globally.

Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION)

Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION) is the Regional Innovation Organization (RIC) that covers the District of Muskoka.  If your business is looking for funding or assistance in bringing product to market or implementing innovate products or processes give IION a call.