Starting a small business is challenging and there is so much information out there it can be difficult to know where to start. These are our pick of key BC websites and organizations that provide the best tools, resources and events for entrepreneurs. All of our choices are deliberately budget friendly and the majority of them are free.
1. Small Business BC offer a broad range of seminars covering all the practicalities of starting and running your own business. Some events are free and most cost from $49 - $119. They also have an excellent blog and resources centre.
- Don’t miss: Complimentary 30 Minute Business Consult
2. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada provide a host of services and information about setting up a business in Canada, including grants and financing, business structure, permits, regulations and much more. They also provide step-by-step guides for certain industries.
- Don’t miss: Starting a business, the steps to consider before operating a business in Canada
3. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) offers financing solutions for entrepreneurs for projects and working capital. Even if you don’t need them for financing the free tools and resources on their website are great for business planning.
- Don’t miss: The ‘Start your business’ section of their website
4. The Small Business Accelerator - that’s us! - assists with secondary market research by offering curated access to credible information vetted by business librarians for entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses across BC. The site includes a Business Basics section, which has links to free and low cost resources such as business plan templates. The SBA also features more than 100 industry market research guides, offering step-by-step research tips. We are also available to provide email reference support and referrals to UBC services.
- Don’t miss: The Business Research Basics video tutorial series
5. Futurpreneur Canada provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39.
- Don’t miss: Their free Rock your Business Plan workshop series
6. Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization created to help BC women launch, lead and scale their own businesses. They offer a variety of resources, training and advice as well as business loans.
- Don’t miss: twice monthly phone in sessions for Business Loans Information and Starting a Business Information
7. entrepreneurship@UBC provide incubator and accelerator programs for UBC-related startups*, they also host workshops and events and can provide general advice on how to get your venture started.
- Don’t miss: sign up to their monthly newsletter to make sure you never miss a thing!
*“UBC-related” means at least one of the founders of the startup must be a UBC student, faculty, staff, or recent alumna/alumnus (up to 5 years from graduation).”
Check out our BC directory to find even more!