Learn More About Compliance Issues

When it comes to starting a business, one of the first decisions you need to make is the legal structure of your business - sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited company. You'll also need to register your business and you'll need to be aware of many municipal, provincial or federal regulations. The websites in this section will help you.

[Insert specific regulatory info from associations or regulatory agencies.]

In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as news, blogs, discussion forums and other informal resources. Industry information is always changing - for the latest news, current issues and popular opinions - try following one or more of these sources. In addition, news, blogs and forums usually give you the opportunity to join the conversation, either by posting comments, questions or opinions of your own. 

Blogs

Enter Blog Here (w/link)

Finding the money that a new business requires is an important step to success. With proper planning and a few resources to guide you on your way, identifying and securing capital to start and grow your business becomes a much smoother and gentler process. Here are a few starting places to help you. 

Survey of Household Spending - Statistics Canada

Raw data in table form from the Survey of Household Spending (SHS). This general resource provides information on household spending by demographics. Report includes detailed information on Canadian spending patterns, household equipment, and housing conditions. Also includes the ability to view data from British Columbia only; click on "Add/Remove Data".

The resources listed in this section will help you identify population characteristics, and help you develop your customer profile. This research will also help you identify geographic areas where the largest number of your potential customers live. This can be very useful when determining a location for your business, and also when formulating your marketing strategy. Don't forget that trade associations and trade journals collect information about customers and can be great information sources for this area of your research.

Conduct Your Customer Research 

• Create your customer analysis
• Identify your target customers
• Demonstrate how your products and services satisfy your customers' needs

Checklist

• Who is going to buy my services (e.g. individuals, businesses)? 
• What is the future outlook of my target market?

Both market size and market share held by competitors are key factors when assessing the competitive environment. Keep in mind that there is no single source of market size and market share data. Market information is usually pieced together from various sources and is not often readily available for niche or emerging industries.

Company Research Tips

An in-depth investigation and analysis of your competition is one of the most important components of a comprehensive market analysis. A competitive analysis allows you to assess your competitors' strengths and weaknesses in the marketplace, and to implement effective strategies to improve your competitive advantage. Here are some research strategies for doing your competitive analysis:

Conduct Your Competitive Research

• Gather and analyze competitive information
• Define your competitive edge
• Use benchmarking tools to create your financial analysis
• Find competitor information for your own organizational plan

Checklist

• Who are my direct or indirect competitors? Where are they located?

Learn More About Compliance Issues

When it comes to starting a business, one of the first decisions you need to make is the legal structure of your business - sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited company. You'll also need to register your business and you'll need to be aware of many municipal, provincial or federal regulations. The websites in this section will help you.

Financial Institutions Commission (FICOM)