Invest

Online Resources

The following links are full of useful information and resources.

BUSINESS PLANNING

Business Profiles

ACOA’s Small Business Profiles - A collection of small business profiles by industry.
Nova Scotia Business Idea Explorer - A project of CEED, this site has an extensive collection of business profiles including a resource centre and many links.
Performance Plus - Performance Plus provides detailed financial and employment data on more than 600 business sectors across Canada, including more than 30 performance benchmarks to help small businesses determine how they measure up against their competitors

Entrepreneurship Education

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development - An innovation centre that assists governments, organizations and communities in helping people achieve their potential through entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial education.
Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education - This web page is for teachers, instructors, program developers and others who help students of all ages find their own entrepreneurial opportunities.
Youngbiz - A US organization that specializes in youth entrepreneurship education. They collaborate with schools, youth agencies, colleges, teachers, and corporations to help bring entrepreneurship education into their communities.

Environmental Entrepreneurship

Greenleaf Publishing - Is a fully independent publisher specialising in the rapidly growing subject area of business and sustainable development.

Exporting

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in conjunction with Team Canada Inc. and Industry Canada have many programs designed to help young entrepreneurs develop and build their businesses. In particular the detailed Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting and a Roadmap to Exporting. These documents are tools to help exporters or potential exporters locate the best sources of export
services.

Financing

GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund - A venture capital fund focused on helping Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs accelerate the growth of their businesses and build shareholder value through equity investment.
Business Development Bank of Canada - The Business Development Bank of Canada is a financial institution wholly owned by the government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on technology and exporting.
Community Business Development Corporation - Assisting in the creation of small businesses and in the expansion and modernization of existing businesses by providing financial and technical services to entrepreneurs.
Start Your Own Business - Saint John Community Loan Fund, in partnership with the YM-YWCA offers "Start Your Own Business" a ten week, 30 hour intensive business planning course. We also offer loans & business plan assistance to entrepreneurs of any age.

Franchising

Canadian Business Franchise Magazine - As a bi-monthly publication that features articles on franchise advice from bankers, lawyers and franchise specialists.
Canadian Franchise Association - Represents over 350 franchise companies and the professionals who support this way of doing business.
FranNet - This site helps you explore franchising opportunities.  It’s easy to use and has practical business information, including a self-assessment test.

Government

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) - ACOA is the chief agency involved in helping small businesses in Atlantic Canada. Check out the Atlantic Canadian success stories, ACOA programs and links to sites with information on opportunities in tourism, education and other fields.
Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre - In addition to various small business resources, this site has a database of information on federal and provincial programs, services and selected regulations pertaining to your business.

Legal

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office - Responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of Intellectual Property in Canada.

Local Business Support Organizations

Enterprise Saint John
SJ Board of Trade - The principal voice for businesses in Greater Saint John, dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances growth, prosperity and an improved quality of life in the community.
The Saint John Waterfront Development Corporation
Uptown Saint John - The non-profit business corporation entrusted with the duty of promoting the uptown area and encouraging economic development.

Miscellaneous

Farmer’s Market Online - Rent a virtual booth or explore new ideas for products.
Service Corps of Retired Executives - Have your questions answered by experienced business professionals.
The National Dialogue on Entreprenership - Active entrepreneurship policy group on Capital Hill sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation.

On-Line Business Magazines

Canada One - The CanadaOne website includes an online magazine, a Canadian business directory, Canadian specific business resources, a technology centre, and several other promotional tools designed to help Canadians grow their businesses.
Enterprise Magazine - Enterprise Magazine is written for current small and mid-sized enterprises, focusing on issues and topics with the everyday operation of your business in mind.
Entrepreneur Magazine - Entrepreneur magazine is devoted to solutions for starting and growing businesses.
Inc. Magazine Online - Useful content and resources for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Pandecta Magazine - An in-depth monthly publication specifically for Internet entrepreneurs.
CBO Entrepreneur - From Canadian Business Online, offers opinion and analysis about and for growth companies and SME’s.

Research Sites

Canada411 - Canadian telephone directory, featuring a database of phone numbers in Canada.
Canadian Business Directory - A directory of business-related organizations across the country.
Canada Yellow Pages - Comprehensive list of over 3.3 million business listings.
Statistics Canada - Stats Can provides data and statistical information used for market research.
Strategis - Industry Canada’s site provides information on many different industries and includes statistics.

Small Business Ideas

Open for Business (OFB) - Is a network of community owned organizations, based in Nova Scotia devoted to starting, improving, and expanding businesses.

Small Business Information Sites

Business Owner’s Idea Cafe - Resources and activities for entrepreneurs.
Canada Business Service Centres - The Canada Business Service Centres Network provides accurate, comprehensive and timely business information to help you develop, launch and expand on your ideas.
Canadian Innovation Centre - The Canadian Innovation Centre (CIC) is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to assisting inventors and innovative companies. Our range of services include invention evaluation, technology due diligence, market research, and education programs.
The Entrepreneurship Resource Center - How-to-articles, interviews, courses, and audio for entrepreneurs at all levels. This web site is an excellent resource for accessing business information on a wide array of topics as well as a site for on-line discussion and advice.
EntreWorld - A premier online resource for small business owners delivering useful information, guidance and contacts.
Allbusiness Small Business Resource - Our mission is to provide quality information, products, services, and solutions to small and growing businesses. Through the AllBusiness Web site entrepreneurs, businesses, consultants, and business professionals are able to access a comprehensive set of information, tools, and services on how to start to grow a business, solve business problems, raise capital, enhance sales and marketing, obtain strategic advice, and leverage the business community.

Social Entrepreneurship

"EO" The Entrepreneurs Orginazation - The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a global community of business owners.

Youth Owned Businesses and Success Stores

International Directory of Young Entrepreneurs (IDYE) - The Young Entrepreneurs Network provides access to business resources, directory of young entrepreneurs, and global contacts.
Inventive Kids -This page summarises fun resources that deal with invention and innovation. The Inventive Kids site contains challenging games to stimulate young minds such as - What If?, Are You Inventive?, Name That Invention and Journey Across Canada.
Open for Business - A network designed to provide assistance to young entrepreneurs and profiles young successful entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia.

Youth Specific Entrepreneurial Sites

The Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE) - An international non-profit organization dedicated to servicing the needs of students interested in business ownership.
Canadian Youth Business Foundation - This organization administers a loan fund for young entrepreneurs, and has a host of small business resources.
Junior Achievement Saint John - An organization devoted to inspiring and educating young Canadians to value free enterprise, understand business and economics and develop entrepreneurial and leadership skills.
Planet Entrepreneur - Is a site based out of Nova Scotia devoted to youth programming.
Shad Intenational - Shad International excels in the advancement of the scientific and technological capabilities of youth, integrated with the development of their entrepreneurial spirit.
YoungBiz - Devoted to profiling young entrepreneurs and providing information relevant to young people starting and running small businesses.
YoungEntrepreneur.com - Articles and information for entrepreneurs aged 0-40.
Young and Successful - Content for entrepreneurs and database of thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide.
Young Entrepreneurs Association - Tools and resources that young entrepreneurs need most to help ensure their businesses succeed.
Young Entrepreneurs Organization - A global, non-profit educational organization for young business owners striving to help its members build upon their successes through an array of learning and networking opportunities.