Small Business
Middlesex County is a hive of business activity. Entrepreneurs who start, relocate and grow small to medium-sized enterprises make up the largest percentage of businesses in the Middlesex-London region. The region is home to a variety of business incubators and start-up programs which give entrepreneurs the tools, networks and resources to support them at all stages of growth.
The scale of small business activity here is remarkable. Nationally, 73.8% of Canadian businesses have fewer than 10 employees, and more than half have fewer than four, meaning the vast majority of businesses driving economic activity across Middlesex County are locally owned, locally run, and deeply invested in the community they call home.
Entrepreneurs have identified opportunities in almost every sector, and are using their own skills, innovations, business acumen and work ethic to create products and services to meet a wide variety of needs. Whether it's supplying website and marketing solutions, developing sophisticated tests to help diagnose illness, creating a healthier variety of ice cream or providing high-tech solutions for companies and governments, Middlesex County truly does it all.
Why do business owners and entrepreneurs like operating in the County? There are many reasons including lower land and utility costs, a highly efficient municipal administration that limits red tape, and access to major transportation infrastructure.
Quality of life is also very important. Thanks to its shorter commutes, and easy access to lakes, rivers, trails and greenery, those who choose Middlesex are able to enjoy a more relaxed pace of life that makes the County a desirable place to live and work.
Entrepreneurs and large corporations alike point to the strong work ethic and diverse skill sets that are inherent to the predominantly rural workforce in Middlesex County. High rates of retention, loyalty and great technical skills have all been cited as exceptional qualities of the region's workforce.
Companies in southern Ontario have access to 158 million consumers within one day's drive, and there are now more than 16 million people living in the province itself. In addition, Ontario businesses have access to a marketplace of approximately US$31 trillion under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), just one more reason that businesses of all sizes choose Middlesex County to start, grow and scale.
Explore the Small Business Sector in more depth with our pdf below.