The Starter Company Plus program is funded by the government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, access to valuable training and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grants.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with this fall.
Meet Robert Curran and Mobicare Advanced Foot Care
Robert Curran is a Registered Practical Nurse, and the inspiration behind MobiCare Advanced Foot Care. This mobile service provides advanced foot and nail care services to men and women living in Long Term Care, Retirement Living, and Group Homes throughout Simcoe County, and is the culmination of two decades of experience delivering quality and affordable primary care. MobiCare Advanced Foot Care nurses are trained to help identify early signs of diabetes, infection, disease, and wound development and follow best practices established by the College of Nurses of Ontario and Health Canada for relaxing and therapeutic routine foot care and maintenance.
Put Your Best Foot Forward with Mobicare Advanced Foot Care
- What is your favourite part about being an entrepreneur?
Mark Twain said, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” My favourite part of being an entrepreneur is having the opportunity to build a brand by doing what I enjoy.
- What inspired you to start a business?
I have been providing advanced foot care for over two decades. It wasn’t until the COVID Pandemic that I saw on a massive scale how seniors struggle to access basic health care services.
- What services/ products do you offer?
Mobicare Advanced Foot Care provides friendly, routine clinical services to men and women living in long-term care, retirement living, and group homes throughout Simcoe County.
- Who do you look up to for inspiration when it comes to either being an entrepreneur or your business?
I have been fortunate to have mentors supporting me and my business throughout my journey. The owner of a healthcare agency in the GTA offers business advice. My wife gives me strength and inspiration.
- How did you come up with your business name?
I chose a name that would represent both the “mobile” nature of my service and reflect the “caring” quality of the service. I did a website search for the name to see if it was already being used. When I found out it was free to use, I registered it with the Province of Ontario.
- What is unique about your business?
- MobiCare Advanced Foot Care provides a mobile service
- MobiCare Advanced Foot Care is a registered service provider with the Metis Nation of Ontario | Diabetes Awareness Strategy
- MobiCare Advanced Foot Care works with care facility management to customize services based on real-time feedback from clients
- What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through your entrepreneurial journey?
They say, “It takes a village…” What surprised me most was just how much technical support and small business guidance is available through the Small Business Centre, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Barrie. And it’s absolutely FREE.
- What’s the best piece of advice you would give to another entrepreneur?
My advice to someone with a dream or an idea is to take the next step. Go from thinking about it to writing it down and describing it. Don’t worry about what other people think right away. It doesn’t matter, because the final version will not look anything like the original idea that inspired you.
- What do you hope to achieve through the Starter Company Plus program?
The Starter Company Plus program will help me take my small business to the next stage. This opportunity will give me the tools I need to prepare a sound business plan to be successful and manage growth.
Explore Mobicare Advanced Foot Care Today
To learn more about Robert Curran and Mobicare Advanced Foot Care, you can reach out via email at mobicarefootcare@gmail.com or head to their website: https://mobicarefootcare.ca.
Learn More About the Starter Company Plus Program
To learn more about the Starter Company Plus program, reach out to the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County & Orillia today at smallbusiness@barrie.ca or 705-720-2445.