Small Business Information Centre

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Gene Lewis On FinancialPost.com (18:30)
In the Leaders Series, Gene discusses Intuit's recent survey of Canadian entrepreneur attitudes in the current economy.

Barb Anderson On FinancialPost.com (23:49)
Barb discusses the key financial info you need for business success in Canada - and the payoff of centralizing your financial data.

NEW! Resources for Managing HST

What Does HST Mean For You?
March 27, 2010. Includes what you should do in advance of the HST transition and special areas for consideration. Read the article

HST Demystified: Transitional Rules
March 25, 2010. Includes HST rules of thumb - regardless of where you're located in Canada - and HST impact on consumers. Read the article

BC & ON Businesses Prepare for HST
March 14, 2010. An overview of what HST is, how it affects busineses & what steps to take to prepare for it. Read the article

Starting Your Business in Canada

Business Startup Help: Don't Worry. Take Comfort. And Take Action!
August 19, 2010. 130,000 small businesses start up in Canada each year – are you one of them? If so, you might be familiar with the insecurities of taking the entrepreneurial challenge. Read the article

Small Business Financing: How Start-Ups Can Find Financing
June 02, 2010. Tech start-ups and new businesses with real operating costs - like buying inventory or leasing a building - may find themselves in need of funding. See some options for Canadian small businesses. Read the article

Strapped For Family Time & Funds? Start A Home Business
February 21, 2010. Raising a family and running a business are both full-time jobs. Moreover, many Canadians struggle with finances in this period of downturn and office space can be one of the most costly expenses for a newly started business. Read the article

Starting A Business? Discover The 3-Step Formula For Success
February 14, 2010. Have you always dreamed about owning your own business? Maybe you see yourself starting up a book shop, or you might be more of a tech buff who wants an online company. Read the article

Managing Your Small Business Finances

Managing Cash Flow Made Simple: 3 Top Tips To Keep Track Of Cash
February 28, 2010. Start a new business recently? Or maybe you've been running a company for years. Either way, cash flow issues could hold you back from the level of success you deserve - or, worse, put you out of business entirely. Read the article

Growing Your Small Business, Marketing/PR & Managing Customers

Business-to-Business Networking: Can your Chamber of Commerce help you grow your business?
May 31, 2010. The Chamber of Commerce can be a valuable resource for making business contacts, getting known within the community, and realizing your business’s growth potential. Read the article

Attention Seasonal Businesses: You Too Can Have a 12 Month Growing Cycle
May 10, 2010. There are challenges to earning the bulk of your profits at key times of the year. But with innovation and foresight you can get the most out of quiet times while capitalizing on peak periods. Read the article

Women Entrepreneurs, Work-Life Balance: Here Are 8 Steps to Equalize Work and Life
May 3, 2010. According to Stats Canada, women entrepreneurs are a growing economic force. Balancing work & life can be difficult for women who continue to run their homes, as well. Here are a few steps to get what you want. Read the article

Small Business Marketing Tips: Your Small Business Just Got Bigger!
April 29, 2010. Tried-and-tested marketing choices are the best bet for small Canadian businesses. Here are five effective ways to promote yourself and get results. Read the article

PR Tips - Get Small Business Press
April 24, 2010. Your local news media can be an invaluable way to promote your small business. A press release, properly written and formatted, can catch an editor’s attention and earn you some publicity – for free. Read the article

How To Grow A Successful Business: 3 Tips For Expansion
March 12, 2010. With recent economic turmoil, some entrepreneurs worry it will be hard to keep small businesses from receding, too. But failing to capitalize on opportunities to grow your company into a successful business might be a greater threat. Read the article

Got Cash Flow Issues? Get Paid Faster With These 4 Fool-Proof Tips
February 7, 2010. Need to get paid? You're not alone. Late customer payments are an ongoing challenge for many Canadian businesses. But your small business doesn't have to accept it - especially if late payments are impacting your liquidity. Read the article

Recruiting, Managing & Hiring Employees

Best Practices in Retention: Hiring for the Long Term
April 19, 2010. Smart HR practices are essential for small business owners. Good help can be hard to find - and what about help that sticks around? Read the article

_{All of the following articles are written by ClearFit (2010), creators of software that makes hiring easy for small businesses in Canada & the US.}

Sifting Through The Resume Avalanche

Disastrous Hires - How To Avoid Them... And What To Do If You Don't

10 Strategies For Getting The Most Out Of Your Employees