Essential Links

Starting Up

• Federal Incorporation Guide
  • This chapter will help you prepare your incorporation application. However, we remind you that not all provisions of the CBCA are dealt with here.
    Download the file
• Registering your Business
  • As a prospective entrepreneur or new business owner, you are certainly aware of the importance of spreading the word about your new company. In addition to informing potential customers about your business, you must let the government know about your plans.
    Canada Business Services
• Naming your business
  • Choose the name for your business carefully. It will precede you wherever you go!
    Canada Business Services
• NUANS name search
  • NUANS compares your proposed corporate name or trade-mark with those that already exist. It is used when granting new corporate names, with the intent of avoiding confusion in the Canadian marketplace.
    NUANS® Corporate Name Search
• Preparing a Business Plan
  • Find out how to write a sound business plan and access templates and sample business plans.
    Canada Business Services
• Business Model Diagram
  • The business model spells-out how a company makes money by specifying where it is positioned in the value chain. It draws on a multitude on business subjects including entrepreneurship, strategy, economics, finance, operations, and marketing.
    e-Coach
• Guide for Canadian Small Businesses
  • This guide uses plain language to explain the most common situations. We regularly revise our publications to take into account changes in the law.
    Download the file

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License and permits

• Various
  • A collection of various license and permit documents in Canada
    Canada Business Services
• Business Regulations Overview
  • Learn what regulations apply to key business activities, such as importing, exporting, marketing, managing employees, transporting goods, and more.
    Canada Business Services

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Business Law

• Accredited Professional by Province
  • Chartered Accountants and Certified General Accountants, Lawyers, Barristers and Solicitors, Chartered Business Valuators, Certified Auditors and other legal services.
    Industry Canada
• Legal Issues for Small Business
  • Now that you are almost ready to launch your business, you may think that you don't need the additional cost of hiring a lawyer. That may be a big mistake. Read this document to understand why consulting a lawyer is essential for any small business start-up.
    Canada Business Services
• Changing Business Directors/Ownership
  • Depending on the structure of your business, a change of owner could trigger a legal name change or require the registration of a new Business Number (BN) and CRA accounts.
    Canada Revenue Agency
• Selling a Business overview
  • When selling your business or even part of your business, there are things that you need to know. The following questions will help you in the sale of your business.
    Canada Revenue Agency

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Taxes

• Canada Revenue Agency
  • Canada Revenue Agency
    Canada Revenue Agency
• Federal and Provincial overview
  • As an entrepreneur, you're aware that many of your business activities are subject to one form of tax or another. Yet, understanding and managing business taxation doesn't have to be a source of frustration for you.
    Canada Business Services
• Income Tax Calculator
  • There are big savings for filing on time even if you can't pay all your taxes right away. Find out how much income tax you owe in Canada in one easy step.
    Canadian Income Tax Calculator

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HR

• Overview
  • Your employees can be your greatest asset, but being an employer is also complex and requires a lot of care. Read this document to understand your obligations and responsibilities as an employer. Following these rules will help ensure that your employees are treated fairly and kept safe while at work.
    Canada Business Services
• Hiring
  • When you hire a new employee, there are a few things you must do to comply with government requirements.
    Canada Business Services
• Employment Standards
  • To ensure that employees are treated fairly, the federal and provincial governments have established employment standards.
    Canada Business Services
• Employment Equity and Human Rights
  • As an employer, you have the responsibility to create a work environment where employees are treated with respect. That means ensuring that there is no discrimination or harassment in the workplace.
    Canada Business Services
• Workplace Health and Safety
  • You have an obligation to ensure the health and safety of all of your employees while they are working. This requires that you comply with certain regulations and standards for the safety of your workplace.
    Canada Business Services
• Departing Employees
  • When an employee leaves, you must calculate his/her earnings and deductions, prepare a T4 Summary and complete a Record of Employment (ROE). If you dismiss an employee, you will usually have to provide pay in lieu of notice and severance pay.
    Canada Business Services
• Canada Business Job Bank
  • The job postings you advertise in Job Bank will be seen by thousands of job seekers across Canada, giving you a large pool of candidates from which to choose. The service is fast, easy and free!
    Canada Business Services
• Calculating Commission Rates
  • Sales Commission is a standard way of compensating sales people in most businesses. Unlike standard compensation methods such as Hourly Salary or Exempt Salary, where employees are paid either by the hour or on an agreed upon rate per year, Sales Commissions are dynamically calculated based on the performance of the sales person.
    Q-Commission

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Market Research

• Statistics Canada
  • Statistics Canada
    Statistics Canada
• Industry Canada
  • Industry Canada
    Industry Canada
• SME Benchmarking Tool
  • SME Benchmarking Tool (formerly Performance Plus) offers industry-specific income statement and balance sheet data for small and medium sized businesses.
    Industry Canada
• GD Sourcing
  • This group of sites is designed to help Canadian entrepreneurs with limited research budgets locate free and low cost Canadian data for their small business market research.
    GD Sourcing
• Canada 411
  • Canada 411
    Canada 411
• Canadian Business Directory (Can-pages)
  • Canadian Business Directory
    Canadian Business Directory
• Canadian Associations
  • The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) collects, organizes, and distributes information, and acts as a national clearing house and referral service to support the recognition and portability of Canadian and international educational and occupational qualifications.
    Canadian Associations
• Business Broker
  • Search to buy a business or sell a business on CanadaBizMart - specialists dedicated to the advertising of businesses for sale in Canada. View small business for sale listings, franchises for sale, and business opportunities. Business brokers, private sellers - list a business for sale.
    Canada Biz Mart
    Business Sell Canada
• Survey Design and Implementation
  • Knowing what the client wants is the key factor to success in any type of business. News media, government agencies and political candidates need to know what the public thinks. Associations need to know what their members want. Large companies need to measure the attitudes of their employees. The best way to find this information is to conduct a survey.
    Creative Research Systems
• Sample Size Calculator
  • Random sample calculator
    Custom Insights

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Marketing

• Advertising and Promotion overview
  • Attracting new customers to your business is essential. But you need to follow a few rules along the way. This document provides an overview of the key regulations, permits and licences related to marketing, advertising and sales.
    Canada Business Services
• Signage
  • Have you considered the impact that your sign has on your business? Find out what signs do for your business, and how to use them to your advantage.
    Canada Business Services
• Signage Permit and License Search
  • A list of permits and licences you may need.
    Canada Business Services
• Online Marketing
  • If you are new to website optimization, or just new to Google's Website Optimizer, these videos will help get you up to speed.
    Google
• Website Optimization
  • Website optimization produces highly competitive web sites that out-perform on every measure; traffic, speed, conversion rates, sell-throughs, and, most importantly, return on your investment.
    Website Optimization

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International Marketing

• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
  • Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) supports Canadians abroad, works towards a more peaceful and secure world, and promotes our culture and values internationally.
    Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Trade Offices
  • A list of trade office in Canada and around the world.
    Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Market Reports
  • The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service's market reports provide a detailed analysis of industry sectors that enable businesses to take advantage of the right opportunities abroad.
    Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
• Canadexport Magazine
  • The official e-magazine of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
    Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

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Funding

• Business Development Bank of Canada
  • BDC is Canada's business development bank. We provide Canadian businesses with flexible financing, venture capital and consulting services.
    Business Development Bank of Canada
• Debt vs. Equity Financing
  • Find out about the financial services and assistance available for your business needs. Browse and locate members of these private sector associations whose members provide debt and equity financing to businesses.
    Canada Business Services
• Guide to Angel Investors
  • If your company is the kind that interests investors, then this document can help you find equity investment for your company.
    Canada Business Services
• International Funding Opportunities
  • The Global Commerce Support Program (GCSP) is a contribution program that amalgamates three funding programs for Canadian national associations, communities, companies and researchers.
    Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

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Intellectual Property

• Guide to Patents
  • A patent is a right, granted by government, to exclude others from making, using, or selling your invention in Canada.
    Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Guide to Trade-marks
  • This guide explores what trade-marks are, how they can benefit you and your organization, and why registration is important.
    Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Trade-mark Application
  • The Office of the Registrar will process your application according to the steps outlined below, which include details about when you will be notified of the status of your application, and any associated fees.
    Canadian Intellectual Property Office
• Steps to Submit Trade-mark application
  • Preparing and following through on a trade-mark application can be a complex task, particularly if a third party challenges your right to the mark.
    Canadian Intellectual Property Office

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Franchising

• Canadian Franchise Association
  • With almost 500 corporate members nation-wide, representing many of Canada's best-known brands, the Canadian Franchise Association is the national voice of franchising in Canada and works with all levels of government to develop industry-made solutions. CFA promotes excellence in franchising and educates Canadians about franchising, specific franchise opportunities and proper due diligence through its many events, programs and publications.
    Canadian Franchise Association

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