Organizations for Small Business
Starting A New Business |
Small Business Associations |
Industry Associations |
Other Useful Organizations |
Starting A New Business
Canada/British Columbia Business Centre
http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/
User-friendly means to make business information easily accessible to the small business community in British Columbia.
Community Futures Development Association of BC
http://www.communityfutures.ca/provincial/bc/index.html
Represents 33 individual Community Future Development Corporations (CFDCs) located throughout rural British Columbia. The CFDCs foster local entrepreneurship, promote, coordinate and implement a variety of community development initiatives within their respective communities. The CFDCs offer a variety of entrepreneurial programs, business counseling, loan programs and business information to community members interested in expanding or starting their own businesses.
BCIT Venture Development Centre
http://www.bcit.ca/business/venture/
The BCIT Venture Development Centre has provided "hands on" entrepreneurial skills training to BC residents since 1989 - helping individuals turn their dreams into reality.
British Columbia OneStop Business Registry
http://www.bcbusinessregistry.ca/introduction/index.htm
The OneStop Business Registry is a public sector partnership offering integrated Business Registration and Business Address Change services based on the Business Number.
Junior Achievement British Columbia
http://www.jabc.org/
To inspire and educate young Canadians to value free enterprise, understand business and economics, and develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, Government of BC
http://www.growingyourbusiness.bc.ca/
Growing Your Business (A Guide to Resources for BC Women)
British Columbia has almost 360,000 small businesses, and women own or operate almost 36 percent of them -- the highest rate in Canada. From drafting a business plan to finding the start-up money, this new guide helps explain what you need to know and where you can find the information.
Small Business Associations
British Columbia Chamber of Commerce
http://www.bcchamber.org/
B.C. Chamber, through local member chambers and corporate members, represents over 25,000 businesses throughout British Columbia.
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/index.html
Continuing advocacy role for small business.
Vancouver Board of Trade
http://www.boardoftrade.com/
For more than 100 years, The Vancouver Board of Trade has helped businesses of all sizes to grow and prosper.
Industry Associations
SOHO Business Group
http://www.soho.ca/
"SOHO Business Group is a membership-based, marketing organization in the business of developing unique programs, benefits, savings, incentives, group-buying systems, and association management opportunities for business success and growth."
Shelfspace
http://www.shelfspace.ca/About.aspx
The Shelfspace story began nearly a century ago (as Retail Merchants Association of BC and Retail Merchants Association of Alberta also known as Retail BC and Retail Alberta) meeting the needs of a select group of professional retailers. Over the years, the association has become stronger and expanded to serve those with an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for retail.
British Columbia Restaurant & Foodservices Association
http://www.bcrfa.com/
The British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association represents the concerns of the restaurant and foodservices industry at all levels of government. It also enhances the image and integrity of the industry through education, communication, industry development and overall professionalism.
Retail Council of Canada
http://www.retailcouncil.org/
Founded in 1963, Retail Council of Canada is the Voice of Retail. RCC is a not-for-profit association whose more than 9,000 members represent all retail formats, including national and regional department stores, mass merchants, specialty chains, independent stores and online merchants.
The British Columbia Wine Institute
http://www.winebc.com/
The British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) was created by an act of the provihttp://www.winebc.com/ncial legislature in 1990. It functions as a component of a strategic plan developed by the industry and government to create an internationally competitive wine industry.
BC Landscaping & Nursery Association
http://www.bclna.com/bclna_awards.htm
The BCLNA has over 600 member companies, representing nursery, landscape, retail, education, supply, service and government organizations working in the landscape horticultural industry.
Canadian Restaurant & Foodservices Association
http://www.crfa.ca/
The association creates a favourable business environment and delivers tangible value to its members in all sectors of Canada's foodservice industry.
National Restaurant Association
http://www.restaurant.org/
The U.S.-based National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry. Its 43,000 member companies represent more than 220,000 restaurant establishments. Its membership base consists of many different facets of the industry.
Other Useful Organizations
Employers' Advisers Offices
http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/eao/
With work centers throughout the province to assist small employers with WCB matters, the Employers' Advisers are independent of the WCB and are available to provide impartial advice on assessment, prevention, and claims matters.
British Columbia Safety Council
http://www.safetycouncil.bc.ca/
"The British Columbia Safety Council is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to reducing injuries and accidents in our province. We have been working with the public and private sector since 1945 to upgrade the levels of safety in all walks of life. The Council offers training courses in occupational safety, including outdoor worker safety."
Canada Safety Council
http://safety-council.org/
The Canada Safety Council is a national, non-government, charitable organization dedicated to safety.
Service Canada - BC/Yukon Region
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/bc-yk/59/jwtc/lmi/menu.shtml
Information about our local economy, trends in the labour market and the worker-employer marketplace in the BC/Yukon Region.
BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue
http://www.gov.bc.ca/sbr/index.html
The Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development is the primary provincial agency for creating a strong, prosperous and diverse provincial economy.
BC Stats - Ministry of Management Services
http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/
BC Stats is the central statistical agency of the Province of British Columbia. They have the provincial government's largest concentration of statistical products, services and expertise.
Industry Canada
http://www.ic.gc.ca/ic_wp-pa.htm
This site is all about Industry Canada. Through its programs and services, the department is helping to build a dynamic and innovative economy where all Canadians have the opportunity to benefit from more and better-paying jobs, stronger business growth, and a marketplace that is fair, efficient and competitive.
