diff --git a/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md b/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
index 908ed8d0..41429d87 100644
--- a/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
+++ b/docs/design/companion-process-manager.md
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ No per-companion logic in Arbiter.
 - [x] Reap exited companion processes.
 - [x] Implement `STARTING -> RUNNING` using `startsecs`.
 - [x] Implement `BACKOFF` with fixed `companion_restart_delay`.
-- [ ] Implement `start_process`.
+- [x] Implement `start_process`.
 - [ ] Implement `stop_process`.
 - [ ] Implement `restart_process`.
 - [ ] Preserve and clear `manual_stop` correctly.
diff --git a/gunicorn/companion/manager.py b/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
index 36422a67..c1cf04e7 100644
--- a/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
+++ b/gunicorn/companion/manager.py
@@ -58,6 +58,27 @@ class CompanionManager:
             os._exit(1)
         os._exit(0)
 
+    def start_process(self, name: str):
+        """Start a companion by name (the control ``start`` command).
+
+        Follows the supervisor-style rules: a STOPPED or BACKOFF companion
+        clears its ``manual_stop`` flag, drops any pending retry, and is spawned
+        right away. RUNNING and STARTING are already-up, so they report success
+        without doing anything. STOPPING is rejected so the caller polls status
+        and retries once the old child is gone. Returns ``(ok, message)``.
+        """
+        proc = self.processes.get(name)
+        if proc is None:
+            return False, "unknown companion %s" % name
+        if proc.state in (State.RUNNING, State.STARTING):
+            return True, "%s already %s" % (name, proc.state.lower())
+        if proc.state == State.STOPPING:
+            return False, "%s is stopping; retry" % name
+        proc.manual_stop = False
+        proc.next_retry_at = None
+        self.spawn_process(proc)
+        return True, "%s started" % name
+
     def reap_processes(self) -> list:
         """Reap any companions that have exited and record their exit info.
 
diff --git a/tests/test_companion_manager.py b/tests/test_companion_manager.py
index c4cc6c43..9d8c662f 100644
--- a/tests/test_companion_manager.py
+++ b/tests/test_companion_manager.py
@@ -125,6 +125,49 @@ def test_reap_no_children():
         assert mgr.reap_processes() == []
 
 
+def test_start_process_stopped_spawns():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    proc = mgr.processes["rq"]
+    with mock.patch("os.fork", return_value=70) as fork:
+        ok, _ = mgr.start_process("rq")
+    fork.assert_called_once()
+    assert ok and proc.state == State.STARTING and proc.manual_stop is False
+
+
+def test_start_process_backoff_cancels_retry():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    proc = mgr.processes["rq"]
+    proc.state = State.BACKOFF
+    proc.next_retry_at = 999.0
+    proc.manual_stop = True
+    with mock.patch("os.fork", return_value=71):
+        ok, _ = mgr.start_process("rq")
+    assert ok and proc.state == State.STARTING
+    assert proc.next_retry_at is None and proc.manual_stop is False
+
+
+def test_start_process_running_is_noop():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    mgr.processes["rq"].state = State.RUNNING
+    with mock.patch("os.fork") as fork:
+        ok, _ = mgr.start_process("rq")
+    assert ok
+    fork.assert_not_called()
+
+
+def test_start_process_stopping_rejected():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    mgr.processes["rq"].state = State.STOPPING
+    ok, msg = mgr.start_process("rq")
+    assert not ok and "stopping" in msg
+
+
+def test_start_process_unknown():
+    mgr = make_manager("rq")
+    ok, _ = mgr.start_process("nope")
+    assert not ok
+
+
 def test_handle_exit_unexpected_backoff():
     mgr = make_manager("rq")
     proc = mgr.processes["rq"]