Small Business BC Resources

This dedicated page is for Small Business BC's community partners across the province.  

Below we have provided a collection of popular checklists, resource handouts and information on our tools and services which can be distributed to your clients. 

Business Resources

Start Up

• Starting Your Business Checklist: provides the steps recommended for starting a sole proprietorship or partnership.
• Starting Your Corporation Checklist: provides the steps recommended for starting a corporation.
• Step-By-Step Registration Sheet: provides detailed instructions on how to register your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.
• Business Structures Information Sheet: provides an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the most common business structures.
• Evaluate Your Business Idea: twenty steps as a guide to help you determine if your business idea is viable.

Business Planning

• How to Write a Business Plan: provides the eight key core components of a business plan and advice on the information you should include.
• Business Planning Resources: provides references for sample business plans, guides and interactive business planners

Market Research

• How to Research Your Market: take these nine steps to understand your target market, competitors, trends and operations.
• Internet Resources for Market Research: a more comprehensive listing of useful websites to visit when researching your business concept.

Tax Requirements

• How to Register for GST and HST: a step by step guide to help you register your business for GST and HST.

Import / Export

• How to Register a Business for Import: a step by step guide to help you register your business for import.
• How to Register a Business for Export:  a step by step guide to help you register your business for export. 
• How to Import Goods to Canada: a step by step guide to help you import goods to Canada
• How to Export Goods from Canada: a step by step guide to help you export goods from Canada

Marketing & Sales

• Effective Marketing and Sales Basics: find out how to create a marketing and sales strategy for your business.
• Tradeshow Directory: A listing by city of the tradeshow events occurring throughout BC.

Legal Requirements

• Lawyer & Accountant Referral Services Information Sheet: will help you find a professional in the accounting or legal field.
• Municipal & Registration Contacts List: provides a list of city hall license offices in the Lower Mainland, as well as contacts for the Corporate Registry.

 Financing

• Overview of Government Financing: A great information source for federal and provincial government business loan and financial assistance programs designed to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Get Involved

• Write for Us: a new program which offers small business owners, industry experts and members of the public the opportunity to submit articles which relates to start-up, growth, purchase or sale of business, or deal with information that's relevant to the success of a business. 
• Blog for Us: we are looking for regular contributors for our business blog. Blog posts should be first person opinion pieces from entrepreneurs at all levels of business, based on personal knowledge and experience. The blog will encompass a wide range of topics. 
• Success Profiles: created to share with the small business community how like minded business owners and entrepreneurs have grown their business to be the success it is today.
• Events Listing: An events listing for business events across British Columbia.  Content is submitted through a form by business, government partners, organizations and small business owners.

Useful Publications

• Around BC: A collection of Small Business BC's success stories from around the province. 

About Small Business BC

• 2011 Fall Seminar Catalogue: Small Business BC is undergoing some exciting renovations to move the Education Centre in to the main floor office in Vancouver.  Because of the move, we have unfortunately cut back on our seminars over the summer months, but check back soon for a Fall catalogue.
• Advisory Services: provides a list of advisory services provided by Small Business BC.
• Press Releases: find out what has been happening in the world of Small Business BC.

 Logos

• Media Library: download the Small Business BC logo in a variety of formats and find out the print and web hex colours for use in additional collateral or newsletters.

 Contact

Please contact Sara Couper at feedback@smallbusinessbc.ca or on 604 775 5525 for any additional queries.

Have You Heard the News?

Nominations for the Small Business BC Successful You Awards are now open.  Nominate your business for one of the six categories and pitch your way to success.

Last year's winners received over $200,000 in media coverage.  So why not nominate your small business today?