Online Resources:

Find step-by-step guides and other resources to start a successful business in British Columbia, from researching your business idea to registering your business: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business

The Business Development Bank of Canada is the financial institution devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs and helps Canadian businesses through financing, advisory services, and capital, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises: https://www.bdc.ca/en

Innovate BC is a one-stop service centre to connect innovators with provincial funding, tools, resources, and support. They help innovators access funding, launch their ideas and connect with experts they need to build great companies: https://innovatebc.ca/

I could use some help with writing a business plan

Contact us a info@cceda.ca to find out if we know of a local professional who is available to help you get your business plan written. You can also get in touch with us if you or someone you know writes business plans professionally, and would like your contact info to be listed here directly. 

Looking for support for an existing business? Head on down to the "I am an existing business" tab below.

I need investment

And, I'm looking to expand.

We would love to hear from you. How are you looking to expand? Are you looking to retire? Do you have a plan for how you want to transition or sell your business?  Are you struggling with the impacts of COVID? Looking for a partner, a bookkeeper, or some mentorship?

Contact us at info@cceda.ca.

Government of Canada Business Benefits Finder

A very useful comprehensive list of government financing programs that shows relevant programs available to your specific business or project. 

Small Business BC’s business plan services

Provides coaching on how to write a successful business plan. Also provides services for business owners starting a business, those writing a business plan for loans or finance, and for established businesses who are planning ahead for growth.

Phone: 604-775-5525

Toll Free in BC: 1-800-667-2272

Email: askus@smallbusinessbc.ca

The Consulting Hive

The Consulting Hive is a Community Futures initiative, working with a group of British Columbia-based business agencies that understand the needs of small to medium sized businesses, not-for-profits, charities and social enterprises and we care deeply about the success and emotional welfare of their owners.

Community Futures Strathcona

A well established and well resourced organization that helps to start and grow successful businesses through a wide variety of community economic development initiatives. Will assist with business loans. To apply you must be unable to obtain all or a portion of the required financing from a bank or credit union, and your business must be located within the Comox Valley or Strathcona Regional District.

Office in Campbell River, BC. Reach them by phone: (250) 830-0999

Futurpreneur

A non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,400 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada offers financing, mentoring, marketing tips, accounting help and much more to make growing your company easier. 

Futurpreneur Canada is able to finance up to $20,000 per business. Our partner the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) can provide additional financing of up to $40,000.

Click here to check out their Business Plan Writer app, including a list of useful business plan examples. 

The Small Business Accelerator

Offers free online access to reliable business information and tools for secondary market research for BC businesses and entrepreneurs.

Click here for their page on business planning, which includes useful advice on creating a business plan, plus sample business plans, and links to general business planning help.

Click here for their resource page specifically geared towards women entrepreneurs.

The Rural Islands Economic Partnership (RIEP)

A grassroots organization created as a means for cultivating enduring rural island-wide economic partnerships, in collaboration with Indigenous communities, to ensure economic resilience and generate long-term prosperity without depleting natural or social resources. They also keep an updated and extensive resource page for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

There are a number of skilled web site designers, photographers, writers, and videographers on Cortes. Contact us at info@cceda.ca if you are looking for someone, or let us know if you would like to be listed on this page. 

Local Web Designers

Dean Warner / dean@moonseed.cloud

Ester Strijbos / strijbosester@gmail.com

Digital Marketing Bootcamp

Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program that aims to prepare your business for the digital marketplace. 

Small Business BC suggests several resources to help you advertise your business for free.

Tourism Funding and Programs

Supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations while investing in services to facilitate their future growth.

BC Tourism Resiliency Network

The BC Tourism Resiliency Network is a long-term resiliency program providing BC tourism businesses with meaningful, one-on-one support to navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, adapt and work towards eventual recovery.

Tourism Business Essentials from Destination BC

From the BC Government, find information to help start or grow your existing tourism business. Review the latest tourism research, learn about funding and connect with industry partners

Do you sell your art? Do you need space and equipment? Looking to start selling your work online? Contact us at info@cceda.ca and we’ll see if we can help.

And, there are also some great resources available for artists working and creating in BC:

Small Business BC's Resources for British Columbia's Creative Industries

Grant programs offered through the BC Arts Council: https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program/

Creative BC Society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. It is created and supported by the provincial government to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries, which are defined as those generating original storytelling content for mass production, global distribution and consumption: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing.

The Business Development Bank of Canada is the financial institution devoted to Canadian entrepreneurs and helps Canadian businesses through financing, advisory services, and capital, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Farm Credit Canada

Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund

Local Food Infrastructure Fund

Small Scale Food Processor Association

To be Canada’s leading support organization for small and medium enterprises in the food processing industry by providing leadership, education, marketing, networking, and advocacy to foster success in a competitive global market.

B.C. Farmers' food donation personal income tax credit

The farmers' food donation tax credit is a non-refundable income tax credit to encourage farmers and farming corporations to donate certain agricultural products that they produce in B.C. to registered charities, such as food banks or school meal programs.

BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program

provides farmers’ market coupons to lower-income families, pregnant people and seniors.

A Food Processing Consultant with the BC Government is available to help determine which government programs you are eligible for and at what stage they may be most beneficial: james.street@gov.bc.ca

See Small Business BC’s 5 considerations for starting a food business: https://smallbusinessbc.ca/article/5-key-considerations-starting-food-business/

Do you have unique skills or expertise? Are you interested in a particular industry or apprenticeship opportunity? Tell us about your goals and we'll try to get you connected with meaningful work opportunities on the island. Reach out to us at kate@cceda.ca

North Island Employment (NIEFS)

Regional job postings, training, and skill development opportunities. Located in Campbell River.

But I could use some funding... and maybe a partner.

Are there other people or organizations on island doing something similar? Could you partner with them? Would you be interested in participating in a training cohort to workshop your idea?

Contact us a info@cceda.ca, or e-mail the Cortes Community Foundation at info@cortesfoundation.ca to find out if there is an existing organization that could help you get started.

BC Union of Municipalities Grant Database

All this talk of grants has me realizing... I could use some help with writing a grant application.

Contact us at kate@cceda.ca to find out if a local professional is available to help you write your grant application. 

British Columbians with disabilities can access a network of business professionals and other resources through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan)'s Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP). The EDP provides business information, training and development, mentoring and one-on-one counselling services.

Other resources:

Small Business BC Resources for People with Disabilities

Persons with Disabilities Training Stream

Under the Persons with Disabilities Training Stream, eligible costs, up to a maximum of $20,000 per participant per fiscal year for training, participant financial supports and training allowances.

Assistive technology and support

This can include hearing aids, assistance with tech support, or ergonomic modifications, etc.

From Small Business BC, the Business Resources page for Indigenous Entrepreneurs is the perfect starting point, with information on programs, grants you can apply for, and inspiration from Indigenous entrepreneurs that have found success.

From the Government of BC, this handout provides the most up-to-date information on small business startup and growth support services tailored to Indigenous entrepreneurs and small business owner needs. The list of services is not exhaustive, but it identifies resources to support all aspects of business startup and growth.

Please also reach out to CCEDA for any questions or requests for assistance by emailing Kate at kate@cceda.ca.

The Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead, and grow their own business. Since 1995, WEC has fuelled the success of women-led businesses by providing business loans, business skills training, personalized business advice, mentoring, practical business resources, and a supportive community to help women business owners gain the skills, mindset, financing, and networks they need to realize their business potential.

Please also reach out to Kate with CCEDA if you have any questions or require assistance with any business related questions: kate@cceda.ca.