"Every seminar and class that I attended was more and more energizing, and the ability to speak with entrepreneurs became a true asset every week."
Marty Petrullo, Great Escapes Candle Company

"Knowing that I wanted to open a photography studio was the easy part, figuring out how to do so successfully was the challenge. The Business Basics program gave me the knowledge, guidance and confidence to take what I had learned and put it into practice."
Rachel Spiewak-Hills, Rachel Spiewak Photography

"The program not only exceeded my expectations, it provided the necessary tools to help us successfully launch Garden Strategies and to grow our business into something we are proud to call our own."
Bob Chrystian, Garden Strategies
 

Resources & Links

This Resource Centre provides listings of alphabetically arranged topics that will be useful to you in starting and operating a small business.

The first section contains a condensed glossary of business terms and articles on various topics created by the staff and advisors at the BDC. Please check back regularly for postings of new articles.

The second section contains listings of: a) excellent small business resources on the Web; b) online resources that provide dictionaries, detailed business glossaries, grammar and style guides and other reference materials.

The third section provides specific information for small business articles on a particular website, arranged by subject. For each article we've provided the title, the URL and the introductory paragraph.

We are constantly updating our links and adding new resources. Visit us regularly!

Visit the links below to access resources and resource topics.

Articles of the Week

Business owners, have fun this summer; you deserve it
Summer is my favorite time of year. But for those of us who own our own businesses it seems like everybody else gets to have fun while we have to keep minding the store. The kids are out of school, the relatives arrive next week, and we have to juggle jobs while our employees are on vacation. As entrepreneurs, no one gives us two or three weeks of vacation time, saying "use it or lose it."

An inside look at a business turnaround
Sales at SeeMore Putter, a Tennessee maker of golf equipment, rose dramatically on new product introductions and clever marketing basics.

How to make the most out of running the family business
When done well, a lasting family business can be a great experience. Not just for both the family members involved, but also the clients doing business with the company. Parents, children, siblings and several generations of family together can create a powerfully successful business model.

How to finance a growing business
We've looked at how you can get your hands on the cash necessary to start your own business. (See related article, "How to Fund a Start-up") But once you've been operating for a few years, you might need another round of cash—this time to expand or improve your business.

Video Camera IconVideo
How I saved my company
Almost every successful small-business owner has survived a near-death business crisis. Today, we are beginning to collect these personal stories in a series of video contributions called How I Saved My Company.

Information Icon

Featured Resource

CanadaBusiness.ca
Free business information to help you succeed:

  • Starting or growing a business
  • Financing options
  • Managing employees
  • Developing business plans
  • Government programs and services
  • Regulations and tax implications
  • Importing and exporting requirements
  • Multilingual business information
  • Research services
  • Community partner network

Available on the CanadaBusiness website or by toll-free phone at 1.888.745.8888

Business Continuity Planning

Your business is your livelihood. In the event of an emergency, are you prepared to be able to operate your business with as little disruption and hardship for yourself, your family and your employees as possible?

Every business should have a Continuity Plan, which covers all the bases needed to ensure your enterprise's survival, avoid health hazards and meet your various obligations. You'll need to identify the components necessary to continue operating: personnel, data/information protection and retrieval, equipment, financial concerns, and protection of your place of business.

We've prepared a general summary about creating a Continuity Plan and identified some resources for additional information.

Emergency Preparedness

 Business Data Protection

Business Insurance

 Workplace Health and Safety

Pandemic Planning

Small Business Resources in the Niagara Region

Local Government Services (through Service Canada)

  

Additional Web Resources

  • Registering Your Business

    1. You can perform a business name search and register your business locally at the Ontario Information Centre - MTO Building, 301 St. Paul St., 1st Floor (905-704-2111)
    2. Online registration is possible directly at the Service Ontario website: Go here to access this service.
       

  •  BizPal

    BizPaL is an online service that allows you, the entrepreneur or business owner, a central place to find all the permit and licence information needed to start or grow your business. Follow the simple question and answer wizard to answer questions about what activities you would like to do to start your business. You will generate a complete list of needed permits and licences from the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government in one place.
     

  • Niagara Region (municipality site)

    Regional Niagara was formed in 1970 by joining two former counties, Lincoln and Welland, to ensure that all of its residents would have access to municipal services so important to our workplace, home and family. We have a dedicated staff of experienced public service professionals who work diligently at delivering on that mandate. We welcome you to our website and encourage you take some time to get to know us.
     

  • Snap St. Catharines

    Welcome to SNAP St. Catharines. We are your definitive monthly source for a captivating view of the many community events, celebrations, business gatherings and general daily life in St. Catharines.
     

  • YourNiagara

    YourNiagara.ca is a community portal for the residents of Niagara. It is the “virtual doorway” through which residents can access information about the Niagara community as well as designated municipal services – all accessible day or night.
  

Reference Resources

For dictionaries, business glossaries, grammar guides, etc. - Go here.