"Every seminar and class that I attended was more and more energizing, and the ability to speak with entrepreneurs became a true asset every week."
Marty Petrullo, Great Escapes Candle Company

"Knowing that I wanted to open a photography studio was the easy part, figuring out how to do so successfully was the challenge. The Business Basics program gave me the knowledge, guidance and confidence to take what I had learned and put it into practice."
Rachel Spiewak-Hills, Rachel Spiewak Photography

"The program not only exceeded my expectations, it provided the necessary tools to help us successfully launch Garden Strategies and to grow our business into something we are proud to call our own."
Bob Chrystian, Garden Strategies

 
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This Resource Centre provides listings of alphabetically arranged topics that will be useful to you in starting and operating a small business.

The first section contains a condensed glossary of business terms and articles on various topics created by the staff and advisors at the BDC. Please check back regularly for postings of new articles.

The second section contains listings of: a) excellent small business resources on the Web; b) online resources that provide dictionaries, detailed business glossaries, grammar and style guides and other reference materials.

The third section provides specific information for small business articles on a particular website, arranged by subject. For each article we've provided the title, the URL and the introductory paragraph.

We are constantly updating our links and adding new resources. Visit us regularly!

Click on the links below to access resources and resource topics.

BDC Newsletter: Spring 2008 - Fall 2008 - Winter 2008/9 - Spring 2009 - Summer 2009 - Fall 2009


Articles of the Week

Teaching your business to market itself
For so many small business owners generating leads, converting customers and creating a predictable flow of business is a constant battle. The best way to generate more leads is to create a customer experience that makes people talk. More...

Google Buzz: 5 opportunities for small businesses
Just when you thought you had social media figured out, Google has shaken things up with a new entrant into the market: Google Buzz. It’s integrated into Gmail, which means right out of the gate it potentially has an audience of tens of millions of people. As such, it could eventually prove as important to your business as the other services we’ve seen prosper in the past few years. More...

Improved productivity: a 12-step program
Productivity can seem so elusive at times. It can be hard to prioritize, manage the workload and stay focused, but with a few simple steps and a good dose of discipline, you can be on your way to more control over your days. More...

The 5 biggest retail customer experience stories of 2009
If there was anybody more nervous than shoppers this year, it was retailers. The industry had just gone through a devastating holiday season and found itself staring down the new year with fear and trembling. Customer relationships with the brands they buy changed in 2009, and the coming months will demonstrate whether or not those relationships will change back or are fixed in new patterns for good. Here are a few of the notable stories that caught our attention in 2009. More...
Video/Slide Show
 Six steps to a successful small business
Learn how to think like an entrepreneur, take advantage of ideas and opportunity, and explore whether owning your own business is for you. USA TODAY small business columnist Rhonda Abrams, CEO of The Planning Shop, introduces a video series that will inspire you to take the first steps to starting your own business. More...
Podcast
Self-promotion for introverts
 Not everyone is naturally good at sales and self-promotion. Nancy Ancowitz, author of "Self-Promotion for Introverts," talks about how introverts can rely on strengths such as writing, listening, and research to sell themselves and their businesses. More...

Featured Resource
 What is the HST?
 As announced in the 2009 Ontario Budget, the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will be replaced with a more modern, value-added tax that will be combined with the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) to create a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for Ontario, effective July 1, 2010. More...


Business Continuity Planning
Your business is your livelihood. In the event of an emergency, are you prepared to be able to operate your business with as little disruption and hardship for yourself, your family and your employees as possible? Every business should have a Continuity Plan, which covers all the bases needed to ensure your enterprise's survival, avoid health hazards and meet your various obligations. You'll need to identify the components necessary to continue operating: personnel, data/information protection and retrieval, equipment, financial concerns, and protection of your place of business. We've prepared a general summary about creating a Continuity Plan and identified some resources for additional information.
Summary
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Continuity Planning Guide for Canadian Business
Public Safety Canada Guide to business continuity planning Getting Back to Business
Business Dev Bank of Canada guide to continuity planning
 
Emergency Preparedness
Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness - Small Business Preparedness
Gov. of Canada Emergency Preparedness for Your Business
Open for Business Disaster Planning Toolkit
FEMA Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry
FEMA Standard Checklist for Business Recovery
FEMA Protect Your Property or Business from Disaster
Employee Fire and Life Safety Preparedness

 

Business Data Protection
Article: Data Backup is the Best Data Protection
Business IT Guide (click on "Technology Area", then "Security & data")
Article: Protecting Your Data, Protecting Your Business
Dell Data Archiving Tips

 

Business Insurance
 
Article: Do You Have the Business Insurance You Need?
Insurance Bureau of Canada - Business Insurance
Insurance Canada - small business

 
Workplace Health and Safety
 
First Aid Requirements
WSIB Employer Information
Registering with the WSIB
"In Case of Injury at Work" poster
Occupational Health and Safety Act
WSIB List of Approved First Aid Trainers with contact information
SafeCanada - Workplace Safety
Gov. of Canada Labour dept. - Workplace Health and Safety
Canadian Red Cross Workplace First Aid & CPR
Emergency Care and Safety Institute

 

Pandemic Planning:
 
Ontario Ministry of Health Influenza Pandemic Resources
U.S. Department of Labor Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic
Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist from Flu.gov
WSIB Influenza and Pandemic Planning Information for Workplaces
Business Dev Bank of Canada Business Continuity Planning Guide for Influenza Pandemic

 

Small Business Resources in the Niagara Region
Adult Learning & Resource Centres
Business Education Council of Niagara
Business Development Centre of Greater Fort Erie
Employment Ontario
Institute for Enterprise Education
My Network Latino
Niagara College Continuing Education
Niagara Economic Development Corporation
Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
Niagara Falls Area Small Business Enterprise Centre
Niagara Training and Adjustment Board (NTAB)
Niagara Training and Employment Agency
Ontario Office Works
Payroll Information for New Employers Seminars - N. Falls
Port Cares
PST/GST Seminars - Niagara Falls
PST/GST Seminars - St. Catharines
St. Catharines Business Development Bank (BDC)
St. Catharines & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre
St. Catharines eBusiness Directory
Small Business Club Niagara
South Niagara Community Futures Development Corporation

Local Government Services (through Service Canada)
 
Niagara Falls Centre
St. Catharines Centre
Welland Centre

Web Resources
Registering Your Business
 a) You can perform a business name search and register your business locally at the Ontario Information Centre - MTO Building, 301 St. Paul St., 1st Floor (905-704-2111)
b) Online registration is possible directly at the Service Ontario website: click here to access this service.
BizPal
 BizPaL is an online service that allows you, the entrepreneur or business owner, a central place to find all the permit and licence information needed to start or grow your business. Follow the simple question and answer wizard to answer questions about what activities you would like to do to start your business. You will generate a complete list of needed permits and licences from the municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government in one place.
 
Niagara Region (municipality site)
Regional Niagara was formed in 1970 by joining two former counties, Lincoln and Welland, to ensure that all of its residents would have access to municipal services so important to our workplace, home and family. We have a dedicated staff of experienced public service professionals who work diligently at delivering on that mandate. We welcome you to our website and encourage you take some time to get to know us.
 
Snap St. Catharines
Welcome to SNAP St. Catharines. We are your definitive monthly source for a captivating view of the many community events, celebrations, business gatherings and general daily life in St. Catharines.
 
YourNiagara
YourNiagara.ca is a community portal for the residents of Niagara. It is the “virtual doorway” through which residents can access information about the Niagara community as well as designated municipal services – all accessible day or night.