Business Assistance
Self Employment Benefits Program
(SEB)
This program is offered by Services Canada and coordinated by CFDC.
The program is designed to offer financial assistance to eligible candidates that
are starting a new business.
To qualify for the SEB program clients must meet the following criteria:
Currently on Employment Insurance Benefits (EI)
- Or have been on EI within the preceding three years or five years if a
maternity/parental leave was within that time frame and clients remained out
of the labour market.
- Legally entitled to work in Canada.
- Proposing to start a new business within the area administered by the SEB
program (confirm with your local HRDC office which area you are in).
- No participation within the SEB program for the preceding five years.
- Will provide an acceptable business plan to the coordinator establishing
the potential for a viable business.
- Agree to work full time at the business while receiving financial assistance
from (HRDC).
- In the event that a client is taking over an existing business they cannot
have had any prior ownership of that business.
- Be available for the training offered by the coordinator.
Application Process
Contact the local SERVICES CANADA office and establish eligibility.
(Bancroft Office: 332-2528)
Once eligibility is established, clients are given a package of information.
The "eligibility certificate" is then returned to the CFDC and the
coordinator will conduct an interview and provide the client with the SEB application
for them to complete. The completed application is then returned to the CFDC
and the coordinator in conjunction with Services Canada will determine the validity
of the proposal. If the business idea appears sound, the client would then start
the mandatory business training at the CFDC office. During training, the client
completes a business plan for assessment by the coordinator and the Services
Canada representative to establish if the client is approved to start their
business under the SEB program.
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