Small Business Resources, BC, Vancouver, Canada

www.gov.bc.ca 

smallbusiness.yahoo/TelecomServices   
Secondary Research  Includes existing statistics about your industry and customers (like geographic location, population), gathered from sources such as Statistics Canada, BC Stats, Small Business BC, libraries, government and economic development agencies, local Community Futures offices, Chambers of Commerce, Universities and publications.
www.biztown.ca  Market Research for Small Business
smallbusinessbc.ca/research   Small Business BC
e-bc.ca . E-business Connection
bcstats.gov.bc.ca  BC Stats
statcan.ca . Statistics Canada
businessgateway.ca Business Gateway
strategis.gc.ca Strategis Guides: "Researching Markets"
 
Credit Rating Check Equifax Canada at 1-800-465-7166 to order a free credit assessment or visit www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/consumer_information_centre . 
Budgets and Bookkeeping "Simply Essential Personal Budgeting" Sylvia S. Lim CFP, CGA. Self-Counsel Press, 2002.
  "Balancing act: a Canadian woman's financial success guide" (revised and updated), Joanne Thomas Yaccato. Penguin, 2003.
  "Basic Bookkeeping," Canada Business Service Centres, www.cbsc.org. Select "Popular Business Topics," then "General Management."
  "Bookkeepers" Boot Camp: Get a Grip on Accounting Basics,"  Angie Mohr. Self-Counsel Press, 2003.
  "Financial Understanding for Small Business" Self Study Guide, www. bbtb.ca
 
Financing Women's Enterprise Society of BC Loans Program, www.wes.bc.ca. Select "Financing."
  Small Business BC, www.smallbusinessbc.ca/financing .
  Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development Programs to help small business access capital: www.equitycapital.gov.bc.ca or 1-800-665-6597.
  Western Economic Diversification Canada, www.wd.gc.ca.  Select "Business Tools and Guides, "then "Sources of Financing."
  First Citizens Fund - Business Loan Program & Business Loan Aftercare Program, www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/fcfund or 250-356-5276.
  Industry Canada's Strategis site, www.strategis.gc.ca  (see Business Support/Financing).
  Business Development Bank of Canada, www.bdc.ca .
  ABLED Business Loan Program for persons with disabilities, www.wd.gc.ca/finance/programs/microABLED_e.asp .
  Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, www.hrsdc.gc.ca . See "Individuals," then "Persons with Disabilities."
  Community Futures Development Corporation Growthstart Fund, www.communityfutures.ca .  Select "British Columbia".
 
Business Plan Competition Promotion for Small Business BC's annual province-wide business plan competition.
 
Official Making Choose your business name and get it approved. This is the first step in registering or incorporating your business. For instructions, see www.bcbusinessregistry.ca .
  Register your Company: Next you register your proprietorship or partnership, or incorporate your company.. For instructions, see  www.bcbusinessregistry.ca .
  Get a Business Licence: Contact your municipality or district to obtain a business licence and to ensure you are meeting land use and zoning bylaws.  See "Municipalities" on www.bcbusinessregistry.ca or look in the Blue Pages Section of your phone book.
  Choose and register a Domain Name for your website. (optional).
  Register for provincial taxes, including sales tax:  if you buy goods for wholesales or retail sale, or provide taxable services, apply for a social service tax registration certificate.  See www.rev.gov.bc.ca/ctb or call 1-877-388-4440, 604-660-4524 (Vancouver) or 250-387-0636 (Victoria).
  Obtain a Federal Business Number (BN):  You need a Business Number if you are incorporated, if you import or export, if you have employees, or if you charge GST.  See http://businessgateway.ca or call 1-800-959-5525. 

If you earn more than 30,000 a year, its mandatory to charge it to your customers.   But if you earn less, you have a choice to opt out (information current as of 2004).  The advantage of charging GST  is that you can also claim any GST you pay on business-related expenses - from a box of staples to a new laptop computer.
  Register with Workers' Compensation Board (WCB):  if you plan to hire employees, you need a BN (see above) and must register with the Workers' Compensation Board.  You should also be familiar with Employment Standards.  If you're incorporated, you must register with WCB at www.worksafebc.com .
  Set up your business records:  You will need an orderly record and accounting system, and are required to keep records for at least seven years.  See the Keeping Records section in "Guide for Canadian Small Businesses", online at www.cra-arc.gc.ca .
  Review British Columbia regulations: Talk to your lawyer or business counselor to find out about any regulatory bodies that govern your business and any relevant legislation.
 
Loan and Grants Financial Institutions:  Chartered Banks, Credit Unions and Trust Companies.
  Government-sponsored loan programs: industry, economic and regional development loans, and loans for specific populations.
  Private Capital Sources: including angel investors.
  Corporate sources: Some corporations offer grants or awards for entrepreneurs.
  Grants and Tax Credits:  These can help reduce the cost of operating your business.
  Term Loans are longer-term, used to cover expensive items such as capital equipment, real estate or renovations.  They have established monthly payments, so it's easy to budget.  The lender will ask you for security for the loan (equity in your home, cash, equipment, etc.)  Shop around for competitive interest rates for term loans.  If you miss a payment, the lender has a right to demand immediate repayment.
  Equity Investors provide financing in exchange for a share of ownership, or equity, in your business, or simply a repayment of their investment.  They can be public or private, and are often family or close personal contacts. Because of that, interest is often nominal or non-existent, and they may also be flexible in the repayment schedule.  However, borrowing money from friends and family  can sometimes put a strain on the relationship.  Public equity investors generally only consider very large investments with large returns.
  Venture capital comes from a pool of investors who are looking for higher return.  While they are usually interested in more established companies, they will consider start-ups if the potential is good.  They generally seek a very high rate of return for their investment.
  Angel Investors look for higher risk investments with good growth potential.  They can be difficult to find, are generally attracted to technology-related companies and often have very specific requirements that must be met. Angel investors usually are interested in long-term, high-return investments.
Grants Grants do not require repayment.  The criteria are usually very specific, and the application procedure can be long and time-consuming.  Grants are more readily available for specialized and high-tech industries.