Starting
your new business
There is a wealth of information to assist every business person. We have
written or gathered a number of Articles you should
read. However, we are not the only, or necessarily the best, source for new
information. We would like you to be aware of others detailed below. This page
is divided into two sections. The first section is our Canadian Sources
and the second is our American Sources.
We have added both a "Marketing Tips"
section and a "Business Tools "
section to our site. The intent is to provide you with both ideas and tools to
help you promote your web site as well as run your business.
Canadian Sites Providing
Assistance.
Canadian Governments have adopted
and are using the Internet in a big way. It has never been easier to contact a
government department or source information. Each Province operates its own web
site with information specific to the Province. General Information applicable
to all Canadians is sourced from
Industry Canada's web site. We have a separate page to allow you to Visit Corporate Registry
- Province by Province.
If you are considering
"Starting a Small Business", or currently operating an existing one,
then you should visit and bookmark Industry Canada's Small Business Section,
Microsoft's Small Biz Canada and Yahoo Small Business
as sites to visit often.
If you are under 21 and looking
to start a business then there is a web site dedicated to your needs. Visit Canadian Youth Business Foundation
for details. Here you will find information specific to your unique needs.
There are also sections of the
Internet devoted to Canadian Women in Business as
well as resources for same. We invite men to spend some time here as well.
Remember statistically women operate more successful new businesses then men.
Learn how they do it.
Other Government Sites
Here is a list of other Provincial Government
sites you may wish to visit.
Organizations BY PROVINCE
Numerous Canadian Organizations
are also prepared to assist new or existing business. Each of them offers a
wealth of information from there web sites as well as promotional material on
why you should join. If you want to be successful in your business then consider
the networking advantages in joining some of these associations.
Organizations by Type
Here is a small collection of
Organizations offering specific assistance to business persons. Not all services
are free. However, if you believe that you only get what you pay for then
perhaps you should consider that money spent with these groups is money well
spent.
Starting Your Business
Starting a business takes a lot
of energy. It seems like everyone is an expert on the subject. We have conduced
a number of searches on the web site in the hopes of finding resources we feel
are of value. Many people claim to have knowledge but not all knowledge is
useful. Both American Express
and Nolo Press offer
some excellent commentary. We have included links and descriptions to sections
of there websites we feel are of value. If you can not find an answer then you
can send questions to American Express's Small Business Advisor
or to Arvic. You will find our e-mail address at the bottom of the page.
Small Business: Organization and Operations
Topics on this page
Before You Start Your Business
Small Business Legal Structures
Home-Based Businesses
Hiring Employees
No matter what type of business
you're thinking of starting, there are some practical and legal issues you'll
face right away, including choosing a name and location for your business,
deciding whether or not to hire employees, writing a business plan, choosing a
legal structure, establishing a system for reporting and paying taxes, and
adopting policies to deal with your customers. As you think about all this,
don't be discouraged by the details. If you have chosen a business that you will
truly enjoy, and after creating a tight business plan, are confident you'll make
a decent profit, your biggest jobs are done.
There is no one legal structure
that's best for all small businesses. Whether you're better off starting as a
sole proprietor or choosing one of the more complicated organizational
structures, such as a partnership, or corporation usually depends on several
factors, including the size and profitability of your business, how many people
will own it and whether it will entail liability risks not covered by insurance.
With the rapid advances in
communications technology, it becomes more and more efficient and economical to
operate a business from home. Depending on local zoning rules, as long as the
business is small, quiet and doesn't create traffic or parking problems, it's
usually legal to do so. But as with any other business endeavor, it pays to
know the rules before you begin.
Hiring Employees
Most large companies maintain
human resource departments and in-house lawyers to lead them through the
intricacies of employment law. But if you run a small or mid-sized company, this
is an unaffordable luxury. More likely, you keep a close eye on legal expenses
and call a lawyer only when absolutely necessary. The guidelines offered in this
section should reduce your need for outside legal help when dealing with
employees.
Getting Started
Buying and Selling a Business
Financing
Franchising & Biz Opportunities
Incorporation
Insurance
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