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How to Start a Small Business in Canada

Canada is a great country for entrepreneurship. There’s a thriving business community, government support, and best of all, consumer demand for all sorts of things. If you are sick of your 9 to 5 job at a boring company, perhaps it’s time to start your own business. However, it’s much easier to decide to start a business than to actually do it. So, here’s a mini guide on how to start a small business in Canada!

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Starting a Small Business in Canada

Starting a small business in Canada can be an exciting and rewarding venture. You might even want to consider starting an ecommerce business. To embark on this journey successfully, there are several important steps to consider.

1. Come up with an Idea Backed by Research

You certainly will need a business idea to start a company of your own. Now, just any idea wouldn’t do. You could decide to start a soda company, but how would you get people to drink your soda instead of Pepsi or Coca Cola? First, you get a generic idea for a business, and then dig deeper by consulting market research. Going back to the soda company idea, you might want to research areas where there might be unmet consumer demand. For example, many people have given up drinking soda because it contains a lot of sugar. So, there’s a demand for sugar-free, healthy soda that a company you create might be able meet. Likewise, do your market research thoroughly.

2. Draw a Business Plan

Once you have a business idea and market research to support that idea, you will need to draw up a good business plan. If you are going to start that healthy soda company, you will need to find scientists, a location for headquarters, a lab to test products and people to like them. Your business plan should include an analysis of the existing industry, research on the competition, a marketing strategy and how to manage and operate the business. Search online for samples of a good business plan. Then, make a small presentation on the basic points of your plan to show for banks and financiers who provide small loans for business start-ups.

3. Find a Source of Funding

Financing your business will be the hardest part. No matter how good your business idea might be, you will encounter a lot of skepticism, ignorance and even bewilderment when you try to pitch your idea to potential investors. There are several ways to finance your business. The most conventional is to seek potential investors, dip into savings or to apply for a business loan at a financial institution or a bank. These days you can also try pitching your idea on a crowd funding platform like Kickstarter.

4. Register Your Business and Get a License

Finally, you will have to officially register your business with the Canadian government. You will need to apply at the municipal, provincial and federal government divisions to get a registered business name, a business number and a GST/HST account that are necessary to conduct business in Canada. Visit the official Government of Canada website for valuable information on starting and running a business in Canada.

Once you have the above basics covered, you will be ready to hire employees and start advertising to market your products countrywide.

Lyne Proulx
Lyne Proulxhttps://ottawamommyclub.ca/
Lyne Proulx is a Certified Professional Wedding Consultant and experienced Event Planner with a strong background in community engagement and large-scale event coordination. For eight years, she led the Annual Infant Information Day/Early Years Expo for the City of Ottawa. From 2013 to 2016, she was the driving force behind the BConnected Conference, Canada’s premier digital influencer and social media conference, held in Ottawa and Toronto. Lyne also served as co-chair of the Navan for Kraft Hockeyville committee from 2009 to 2011, organizing five major community events in just six months. Her leadership helped Navan become one of the top 10 finalists in the national competition. In recognition of her exceptional volunteerism and dedication to community building, she was honored with the City of Ottawa Mayor's City Builder Award in April 2011. In 2025, Lyne brought her passion for weddings and event planning to a new level by organizing the inaugural Tucker House Bridal Fair, showcasing local vendors and creating a unique experience for engaged couples.

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Comments

  1. This advice will come in very handy for those thinking of opening up a small business. It’s not an easy process but it all needs to be done.

  2. I would also suggest acquiring proper Commercial General Liability insurance in the event a third party sues you and your business for some reason; this way your personal assets are partially protected.

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