Resources

Explore our free resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs in Big Country.

Small Business Start-up Guide

Simplify your start-up "to do's" with this helpful guide. Join us and our partners at Business Link as we walk you through all the steps involved to turn your business idea into reality.

Small Business Financial Guide

This guide will help you take charge of your financials by guiding you on:

• Financial Fundamentals
• Accounting Software
• Breakeven Analysis
• Financial Statements 101
• Guide to Financial Terms
• Hiring an Accountant
• Balance Sheet Template
• Income Statement Template

Small Business Basics Video:

Financial Management

Small Business Marketing Guide

Life as an Entrepreneur

Small business ownership can be an exciting career choice. This video covers the basics of what to expect on each step of your entrepreneurial journey. You’ll learn about the 3 key roles you will play in your business along with the challenges and rewards of each role. Discover how to identify when you’ve outgrown a role and how to build a business that works for you.

Business Financing

Finding financing for your business can be challenging. Learn how the process of securing financing works so you can increase your chances of success. This video outlines the 5 C’s of lending and how you can prepare to meet as many of them as possible. Growing your business by accessing outside sources of funding (traditional sources like banks, and non-traditional sources like non-profits and government programs) is an important process for every business owner to understand.

First Steps in Business

Are you starting a new business but aren’t sure how to begin? Learn about the basic steps involved in starting and running a small business so you can feel confident turning your business idea into a reality. This video explains business basics like operations, finances, marketing, and sales so that you can locate resources for your business quickly, and is accompanied by a downloadable resource so you can start getting organized today.

Steps to Starting a Business as an Indigenous Entrepreneur

Starting your Indigenous small business is exciting and rewarding, but the start-up process can be overwhelming. This video will walk you through the steps to starting a business as an Indigenous entrepreneur to help you get your new business venture up and running!

Finding Contract Opportunities as an Indigenous Business

When a company, organization, or government needs a specific job to be competed, they’ll often post an RFP (Request for Proposal) online. These are great opportunities for your Indigenous small business! Learn what an RFP is, how to write a winning proposal, and how to find opportunities from Governments and other organizations.

Resources:

• Business Plan Outline

Useful Links:

General Business

• SME Direct - Gain access to a wealth of small business information available through Industry Canada.
• Bplans.com Small Business Planning Centre - In-depth site of how to start a business.
• ENTERWeb - Quality source of information on small business, finance, community development, international trade, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and the economy.
• The Go Forth Institute For Entrepreneurial Skills Development - If you're looking to bolster your understanding of how to start, run or grow a successful and profitable business, learn GoForth Institute's 100 Essential Small Business Skills™ in only 10 hours conveniently delivered to your computer through streaming video and an option 400+ page resource curriculum book.
• Workink - An online career development AND employment portal for Canadians with disabilities.

 Alberta Employment

• Alberta Works - offers employment and career resources, training supports, Alberta job & career fairs, income support, and health benefits
• Alberta/Canada Job Grant - Train the workers you need. The Alberta-Canada job grant can help fund training for your new or current employees
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Express Entry Information for Employers - You can fill labour market shortages permanently with skilled foreign nationals.

Youth Entrepreneurship

• BDC Entrepreneurs First - Business Development Bank of Canada's entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Futurpreneur - Assisting young entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground, Youth Business offers programs and services that allow them to achieve economic independence, develop self-confidence, and fulfill their goals of self-employment.
• The Youth Entrepreneur's Network - An online community that supports the needs of young entrepreneurs from around the world as they attempt to build and thrive in their own businesses
• Youth Café - Government of Canada website for youth seeking employment opportunities.

Indigenous Resources

• Aboriginal Youth Business Council
• Business Link Indigenous Services
• BDC Indigenous Entrepreneur
• Indigenous Services Canada
• Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Government of Alberta

• Government of Alberta
• Alberta Grants & Funding
• Alberta Investor Tax Credit (AITC)
• Alberta Small Business Resources
• Business and Economy
• Canada-Alberta Job Grant
• Community (Local) Economic Development
• Agriculture & Forestry
• Economic Development & Trade
• BizPal Alberta
• Corporate Registries
• Advanced Education
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Community and Regional Economic Development Funding Opportunities

 Government of Canada

• Government of Canada
• Agriculture & Agrifood Canada
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Canada Business Network - General Links
• Canada Business Service Centre
• Canadian Industry Statistics
• The Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN)
• Canada Revenue Agency
• Global Affairs Canada
• Employment & Social Development Canada
• Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada
• Service Canada
• Statistics Canada
• Trade Commissioner Service Canada
• Western Canada Economic Diversification

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

• Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program
• Workink

Francophone Economic Development Organization

• CDEA

Business Education & Other Resources

• Agriculture Financial Services
• Alberta Innovates
• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
• Business Link
• Canadian Commercial Corporation
• Dun and Bradstreet Business Information Services
• Entrepreneur's Organization
• Farm Credit Canada
• The Go Forth Institute For Entrepreneurial Skills Development
• The World Bank

Starting a business in a city (Calgary/Edmonton)

Business Link operates walk-in centres in Edmonton and Calgary. They offer information and advice about everything from start-up, regulations, financing and loan programs to marketing, product sourcing, e-business and government programs and services. They can also be reached via a toll-free business information line: 1-800-272-9675.