Company
Program

START TO DREAM. START A COMMUNITY.
START A BUSINESS.

Company Program Headquarters

On the Company Program Headquarters, also referred to as Company Program HQ, you will find information and updates on:

Key Dates & the Company Program Calendar
Program Materials
Event Details
Submission Details
Award Information
External Opportunities
Weekly Updates

This page will be updated throughout the Company Program year when we have new information and updates available.

Weekly Updates

Please see below for all current weekly updates for Company Program. This section will be updated regularly, so please check back often!

Upcoming Deadlines

Student Wages

JA Central Ontario Logos

JA Central Ontario Brand Guidelines

Team List with Sponsors

Opening Bank Accounts

Please review this banking overview for details including information regarding different types of accounts you can open.

Once your product has been approved by JA and you have calculated your start up capital, you can start collecting shares and open your bank account.

Request a bank letter:

When you're ready, request a bank letter from JA by emailing the following information to

Mysha at mraida@jacentralontario.org:

Your JA Company Name
Your team number
The full legal names of 1 to 2 advisors who will act as the signing officers and open the bank account

Please note:

While we aim to return the bank letters to you as soon as possible, please kindly avoid last minute requests and plan ahead of time to ensure that we are able to get you your form.
We will not be issuing bank letters while our office is closed for the holidays between December 23 to January 2nd.

Reminders on shares:

Make sure you keep accurate record of who you issue shares to. You can keep track using the record-keeping tool.
Maximum share price is $30 per share this year.
Shares should be collected through e-transfer whenever possible.
It is mandatory for each student in the company to purchase a common (voting) share.
If you have any concerns with making your share payment, please do not hesitate to reach out to JA in confidence at companyprogram@jacentralontario.org for guidance.
To learn more about venture funding and calculating your share price, please review the venture funding and capitalization documents.

Sponsorship Guidelines

As a reminder, JA Company Program teams are not allowed to run or present itself as a not-for-profit charitable organization.

Some JA companies, however, may have a business model where sponsorship is one of the revenue streams. For example, you are an events company that may seek out sponsors who are interested in marketing to your customers.

Please note:

There are specific JA guidelines around sponsorship that you must review and adhere to
You must provide a list of your prospects to JA for review before you reach out
You must use a template disclaimer in your communications to prospects

Updates for this year:

We've updated the guidelines to clarify that sponsorship can refer to both in-kind and cash/monetary sponsorship
We've also updated the guidelines to request that teams who secure a cash/monetary sponsorship of $300 or more inform JA of your agreement

If you have any questions or are unclear as to what constitutes a sponsorship under JA, please reach out to us before proceeding.

Shopify

JA Canada is pleased to once again partner with Shopify's Open Learning Program to offer students across Canada the opportunity to use a Shopify account for Company Program if they choose. More information can be found on the JA Campus.

The account students will have access to will cost $30/per month, which JA Canada will cover for this fiscal year. Any costs outside of this basic platform will be the responsibility of each individual Company Program team (e.g. custom store themes, apps outside of the free ones provided, etc.)

Any account created under the Open Learning Program will be set up and overseen by the charter (i.e., JA Central Ontario). Once it is set up, up to 15 advisors/students can be added as staff to manage.

A few things to note:

This provides the e-commerce platform only - students are still required to source out their own products/services to drop ship. Shopify recommends the "Print On Demand" option for teams who are considering the drop shipping method. Please note that a credit card may be needed for drop shipping. If this is a concern for students who do not have access to a credit card they are comfortable using, please let us know.
Shipping will be set to within Canada only - no international shipping will be allowed.
Taxes will be turned off, and students will not need to charge taxes on their items.
Digital products can be sold through Shopify (i.e. products that require digital downloads).

You can learn more about Shopify below.

● Shopify Learn

● Shopify blog

● Help Center

● Some great examples of really good online stores

If your team is considering using Shopify, please make a note on your Product Approval Form.

Fixed Costs

As a team, you will be required to pay fixed costs, a total of $200 for the entire team split into two instalments (one due in February and the last due in April). These costs are meant to mirror real world costs that companies have to pay (i.e. rent, insurance, admin fees, etc.)

Please note: All teams are required to pay the first instalment of $100 in February but in recognition that there are higher costs overall for teams this year, if teams do not make more than $200 in profit by end of year, the second instalment of $100 will be waived.

Student Management Training - PowerPoints

Student Orientation

Calendar & Due Dates

See below for important dates and deadlines for the Company Program Year. This will be updated throughout the year as needed. The Company Program calendar can be found at the bottom of the page.

Company Program Meetings

Start: Week of November 7-10 (depending on the day of the week your team meets)

End: Week of April 11-16 *Monday programs end on April 17^th due to Easter

Note: Interview Night and ventureON will take place after the program ends in April and May

Breaks

Events

Deadlines

Submissions

Social Media Challenge Week

Social Media Challenge Week is a week-long chance for your team to collect bonus points for the team challenge.

Each day of the week will be a new challenge. We are giving each challenge in advance, so teams have time to prepare them. More details can be found here.

Submissions must be made by completing two steps to receive the points.

Upload to the Dropbox link we provide for each challenge . You will have until 11:59 PM the day of the challenge to submit your entry on Dropbox. For example, Monday's challenge will be due by Monday at 11:59 PM. Dropbox links can be found here.
Posting and tagging us on social media @jacocompanyprogram (you must tag the correct JACO Company Program account) - posts should be made through your student company social media account! You must post the challenge on Instagram (+any other channels) by 11:59 PM on the day of the challenge.

*10 points will be awarded for each challenge completed. One entry per challenge per team is allowed.

Only those who complete both steps indicated above will receive the points. On some days, there will be bonus points for additional efforts.

Submit your social media challenges here

Team Promotion Form

Team Promotion forms are due February 19

*10 Team Challenge Points* for submitting on time

The information will be used to feature your company on our JA social media accounts. and allow us to promote our JA student companies as well.

Submit Your Team Promotion Form

Business Plan

Business Plans are due January 22nd

*10 Team Challenge Points* for submitting on time

Teams are required to complete the Lean Business Plan.

Download the Lean Business Plan template

Submit Your Business Plan Here

Event Updates

CP Social Hour for Students

Date: Friday, January 13th

Time: 4 to 5 p.m. on Virtual on Zoom

During this hour, you will have the opportunity to:

• Network with your peers enrolled in this year's Company Program

• Share ideas and best practices within your different departments

• Hear about recent updates and upcoming events

• Speak to a Company Program team member (we'll be available to answer any general or specific to your team questions)

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtc-2vrT0rH9J4XUmr7msjXUgFkNjIsPkL

Company Program Awards

Every year, JA Central Ontario recognizes outstanding Company Program students through individual and group awards.

Award submission will open in 2023.

See Company Program Student Award Details

National Scholarship & Award Applications

The JA national awards and scholarships will be open for applications starting on January 23, 2023.

National scholarship applications are due March 31st, 2023.

See Award Details

JA Campus

See the link below to connect to the JA Campus. The JA Campus houses the tools and curriculum for the Company Program weekly sessions.

Go to the JA Campus

For Students: If you need instructions to find the student Company Program materials, please follow the instructions found here:

Accessing the JA Campus

Company Program Student Welcome Package

See the link below for the complete JA Central Ontario Company Program Welcome Package. This resource will give you everything you need before your first Company Program Meeting.

See Company Program Student Welcome Pacakge

Company Program Student Participation Policies & Guidelines

The following policies and guidelines are designed to help everybody get on the same page and make the most of Company Program

Student Participation Policies & Guidelines

Company
Program

Company Program Headquarters

Weekly Updates

Calendar & Due Dates

Company Program Meetings

Winter Break

Exam Break (Optional)

March Break

Submissions

Social Media Challenge Week

Team Promotion Form

Business Plan

Event Updates

CP Social Hour for Students

Company Program Awards

National Scholarship & Award Applications

JA Campus

Company Program Student Welcome Package

Company Program Student Participation Policies & Guidelines

CompanyProgram

Company Program Headquarters

Weekly Updates

Calendar & Due Dates

Company Program Meetings

Submissions

Social Media Challenge Week

Team Promotion Form

Business Plan

Event Updates

CP Social Hour for Students

Company Program Awards

National Scholarship & Award Applications

JA Campus

Company Program Student Welcome Package

Company Program Student Participation Policies & Guidelines

Company
Program