Resources

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 our 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 Marketing Guide

Discover the strategies and processes that go into driving eager customers to your doorstep including:

• Marketing Guide
• Different by Design
• Idea Client Worksheet
• Marketing Channels
• 12 Golden Rules for your Website

Tools:

• Application for Credit
• Personal Statement of Affairs
• Cash Flow Template
• Business Plan Template
• Strategyzer Business Model Canvas template
• Community Futures Business Model Canvas Template

Resources:

• Small Business Alberta: A directory of business resources for new and established entrepreneurs.
• BDC eBook: Social Media: Comprehensive walk through of Social Media.
• Hootsuite Academy: Social Media training from one of the top social media management tools in the industry.
• Social Media Examiner: Social Media training taken to the next level.
• Facebook Business Resources
• Twitter for Business
• Instagram for Business
• Snapchat for Business
• Linkedin for Business

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.
• GoForth Institute - 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.

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

Regional Links

• Palliser Economic Partnership
• Medicine Hat College
• Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta
• Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce
• Brooks and District Chamber of Commerce
• Bow Island Chamber of Commerce
• City of Medicine Hat
• Town of Redcliff
• City of Brooks
• Cypress County
• Town of Bow Island

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
• Alberta Canada
• BizPal Alberta
• Business in Alberta
• Corporate Registries
• Advanced Education
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Service Alberta
• Working in Alberta
• Community and Regional Economic Development Funding Opportunities

Government of Canada

• The 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

• Disability Resource Guide
• 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
• Women's Enterprise Centre