Starting a Business?
Here is a list of guides, programs and services that might be of interest to you!
| Request for Assistance |
| If you own a business in Dryden or are looking to start up and need some help, don't hesitate to email our Economic Development Department - we're here to help! |
| Ontario Business, Workplace and Economy Hub |
| Information for entrepreneurs who want to start and run a business in Ontario. Learn how to register your business, apply for funding and tax credits, and get free, personalized help to start your business. Click here to access the hub. |
| Business during COVID-19 |
Here are a few tips and tricks to stay busy and keep your business moving forward during the pandemic.1. The biggest thing would be to really plan for how things will look once this is over. How will you respond to the upturn and not do so in a hectic or frenzied manner. Take the time now to plan. 2. Time to explore product ventures. Remember that side project that you never had time to experiment on or that new recipe? 3. Website enhancements. Go through your website with a fine toothed comb. Are the product photos up to date? Is your contact information current? Is it time to simplify or condense? Are there grants available for me to make improvements? - BDC has a great tool to assess your website: https://websiteassessment.bdc.ca/en_GB 4. Put together some marketing materials. Whether it’s your Google AdWords blurbs, posters for Canada Post Smart Mail or new menus. Tools like Canva and Pixlr let you play and create. Talk with the marketing outlets about rates and seeing if you can pre-book for when things are back to some normalcy. Make sure you are prepared and that you’re good to go at the flick of a switch. 5. Stay connected with your customers, staff, landlord, financial advisors and stay informed. There are resources like the government websites (www.canada.ca/coronavirus | ontario.ca/coronavirus ) Keep your staff up to date on what’s happening, what’s changing and do what you can to help ease their minds. Check in on them, ask them how their family is coping. People will remember kindness. Post on your social media, or newsletters your updates. Even if it’s something light hearted and funny, I think we can all use a good smile at all times. Additionally, stay connected with your landlord, financers, etc… check with them. What are the options available? Check with your accountant to get the most up to date financial snapshot of your business. How does your financial health check look? Continuing your business, is it possible, are there delivery or pick up options that limit interactions? Is it possible to sell gift certificates now for later? 6. Stay in touch with your colleagues, whether that’s your business neighbour, your Chamber of Commerce or industry associations they can also have resources on how they’re suggesting you weather the storm. They can also provide specific information on your industry or supply chains. 7. Can you work remotely? Meetings via Skype, Webex, Teams, Google Meet or Zoom. There are plenty of options to meet with clients/customers that are not face to face. 8. Business Plan – when was the last time you read yours? Is it still up to date? A plan should be a living document. If you haven’t even started one yet, now’s a good time. Futurpreneur has a really good online template to look through: https://bpw.futurpreneur.ca |
| Business Plan |
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A business plan is a formal document that explains a business's viability and plans for success. The business plan sets out a business's objectives as well as strategies for achieving them. Visit the Futurpreneur Canada Business Plan Writer for help with your business plan. |
| Register Your Business |
| Register a business name or limited partnership with the Ontario government. The registration is effective for 5 years. Then it must be renewed. |
| Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) |
| Visit the Canada Revenue Agency website to learn about payroll accounts, deductions and contributions, summaries and slips. As well as information on HST and Import/Export. |
| Study Entrepreneurship |
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Here are a list of books worth reading about entrepreneurship. Want to lend one out? Contact the Dryden Public Library to see if it is available. Profit First Get Growing: Keys to Unlocking the Potential of Your Small Business - David Wilton & Kyle McNamara Customer Satisfaction is WORTHLESS, Customer Loyalty is Priceless - Jeffrey Gitomer Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us Relationship ROI: How Associations, Charities, and Entrepreneurs Hit Financial Targets Grapevine: The New Art of Word-of-Mouth Marketing - Dave Balter & John Butman Duct Tape Marketing Small Business Marketing for Dummies Advertising for Dummies The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding: How to Build a Product or Service into a World-Class Brand The Beermat Entrepreneur: Turn your good idea into a great business You Need to be a Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses The Mom Test: How to talk to customers and learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you. Wise Words: Lessons in Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Starting From Scratch: Secrets from 21 Ordinary People Who Made the Entrepreneurial Leap Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System Social Enterprise: How to Successfully Set Up and Grow a Social Enterprise Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports |
| Business Podcasts |
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Here are a few popular business podcasts worth tuning into: |
| Guide to Starting a Business |
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Starting your own business can be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience, however it is also time consuming and labour-intensive. Before you start, the Government of Canada has put together a number of excellent resources for you to take advantage of. There are also a number of resources that you can access through the Government of Ontario's website. |
| Starter Company Plus |
| The Northwest Business Centre supports the Starter Company Plus program. Find it here. |
| Summer Company |
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Summer Company is the Government of Ontario's flagship youth entrepreneurship program. It provides entrepreneurial young people (ages 15 to 29) with the opportunity to start and run their own summer businesses. If you are accepted into the program, you will receive an award of up to $3,000, hands-on business coaching, and mentoring from local community business leaders who will work with you to make your Summer Company a reality |
| Futurpreneur Canada |
| Futurpreneur Canada has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for 20 years. We are the only national non-profit organization that provides support tools, mentoring and financing of up to $45,000 to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week. |
| Patricia Area Community Endeavours (PACE) |
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Patricia Area Community Endeavours Inc. (PACE) is a Community Futures Development Corporation committed to encouraging local community and economic development by assisting community groups and entrepreneurs. Through small business loans, non-profit funding, business counseling, and support, PACE provides the tools required to build a brighter economic future in the Patricia Region. PACE serves communities and businesses within the Patricia Region. This area includes Dryden, Eagle Lake First Nation, Ignace, Lac Seul First Nation, Machin, Pickle Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation; and all areas in between. PACE provides community groups and business owners with services designed to help them succeed. These services include:
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| Dryden District Chamber of Commerce |
| Visit the Dryden District Chamber of Commerce site for more information on how to get plugged in to the business community here in Dryden! |
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Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure |
| The Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure encourages and supports businesses of all sizes, and help them innovate and compete in today's fast-changing global economy. |
| NOHFC - The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation |
| The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) was established in 1988 with a mandate to promote and stimulate economic development initiatives in Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify and foster the economic growth and diversification of the region. |
| FedNor - Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario |
| FedNor is the Government of Canada's economic development organization for Northern Ontario. Through its programs and services, and through its financial support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works with businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario. |
| NOA - Northern Ontario Angels |
| Northern Ontario Angels (NOA) is the #1 Angel Organization in North America for Northern Ontario entrepreneurs (looking for growth capital) and angel investors (looking for investments). The creative concept and foundation of this network was developed to take Northern Ontario businesses to the next level. NOA is continually growing, developing and updating it’s Angel Investment Groups throughout the North and around the World. Presently, NOA supports Angel Investment Groups in Sudbury, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins/Kapuskasing and Kenora. |
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L'association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario (l'AFNOO) |
| The association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario (AFNOO) has developed a directory of French-language services to promote bilingualism and the French language as an asset in business. |
| Industry Canada's Small Business Statistics |
| Key Small Business Statistics is an annual publication that provides baseline data on the small business sector in Canada. |
Additional Resources
Check out this list of topics that will help you start, grow or move a business, or just view more information about economic development in Dryden:
Business applications, licences and permits
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