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Seminar & Brown Bag Season will be Starting Again Soon
Our new season begins September 7, 2004, packed with "quick to learn, quick to use" information to help you as you start or expand your business. Our economically-priced seminars and FREE brown bag sessions include topics such as: "Business Turnaround: Getting a Fresh Start", an Export Panel featuring the experiences of seasoned exporters, "Keeping the Jingle in Your Jeans" and many more.
If you don't live within the metro Edmonton area, you may still be able to participate in a number of our brown bag sessions. This season, our sessions will be available through video conferencing in Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche, and Medicine Hat. Call or check our web site for the specific locations.
Check out the Fall calendar at www.cbsc.org/alberta/
seminars.cfm and www.cbsc.org/alberta/
brownbag.cfm.
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New Guide for Exporting to the U.S.
A comprehensive new guide that provides vital information on doing business in the vast, complex and competitive American market is now available from Team Canada Inc. Exporting to the United States: A Guide for Canadian Businesses contains the nuts and bolts on exporting to the U.S., along with dozens of references to key sources of information in both Canada and the U.S. The guide examines, for example, product liability litigation in the U.S., cross-border travel to the U.S., border security since 9/11 and its impact on exporters and U.S. Customs procedures and regulations. You can find a copy of the guide on ExportSource at exportsource.ca/
unitedstates.
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New Market Research Tool Available Online
The new Community Profile Search tool available on The Business Link's web site will help you find market information on the communities in Alberta. This kind of market research is key when planning a new business venture or creating a business plan. The market information is made available through www.AlbertaFirst.com.
To check out this new tool go to http://www.cbsc.org/
alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=cm_search
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New Interactive Training Stations Available at The Business Link
A new collection of interactive small business resources are available in the library at The Business Link. The collection of interactive, audio and visual small business tools and resources are all available to help you in every part of your business’ daily operations. The stations were designed by Student Connections as part of the Community Access Program.
For more information on the stations contact the library at 780-422-7780.
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Looking for More Business Events in Alberta?
The Business Events in Alberta section of our web site contains an extensive list of organizations' web sites that contain lists of business events taking place around Alberta.
To find information on events taking place in Alberta, go to http://www.cbsc.org/
alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=calender.
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Meet The Link
Lisa Lam-Cadieux is an export specialist with the Export Link, a specialized service of The Business Link for new and potential exporters. After earning a degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta, Lisa traveled and worked in Asia for two years. Upon returning to Canada, she worked as a Business Coordinator at the Drumheller Regional Business Development Centre providing business counseling and training, coordinating projects, and doing web site design.
With extensive training on exporting and relevant practical experience helping exporters, Lisa assists early-stage exporters assess their export readiness, research new markets and identify key sources of information and assistance for exporters.
Lisa can be reached at 780-415-0377 or by e-mail at lam-cadieux.lisa
@cbsc.ic.gc.ca.
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Welcome to a new issue of E-News! from The Business Link. Whether this is your first time receiving E-News!, or you've been with us from the first issue, we hope you will enjoy this quick monthly
e-newsletter. Our goal is to keep you informed of upcoming events and services at The Business Link and other items of interest to Alberta's small business community.
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It's All About Opportunities 2 - Coming this October
Back by popular demand... The Alberta Aboriginal Business Services, an enhanced service within The Business Link, is once again hosting a Gathering for Aboriginal Entrepreneurs. "It's All About Opportunities 2" will be held in Edmonton on October 25 - 26, 2004.
This two-day gathering provides an opportunity for Aboriginal entrepreneurs to attend educational sessions, network, share ideas and make professional contacts. If you would like to attend, please contact Stephanie Sarjas, Conference Coordinator at: 780-422-7706 or 1-800-272-9675 to pre-register.
Last year's event was a great success and it was sold out, so register early and secure your involvement!
Retail Week . . . Celebrate Retail from September 21 to 23!
This inaugural provincial celebration of retail is intended to bring attention to an industry sector that is the primary employer in the province - retail! For more information on Retail Week or to reserve your tickets, please contact Pat Garniss or Carmen Zukiwsky at
1-800-758-9840. Check the web site for contact information www.retailalberta.ca.
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Small Business Insurance: What You Need and Why You
Need It (excerpts)
By The Business Link
As an entrepreneur, you know you have to be a risk-taker. To be a successful entrepreneur, the risks you take must be calculated. What risks can you afford to take, what losses could you manage, what should you insure?
As owner and operator of your business, it is essential that you have disability insurance. It does not have to be expensive. Because new businesses often fail in their first year (70% of them), insurance companies are reluctant to insure self-employed persons individually. You can get insurance at surprisingly low rates by joining a professional or business association to qualify for group rates. Organizations such as Small Business Resources of Alberta include core insurance with their membership with the option for additional insurance. They know that insurance to cover income if you are temporarily disabled is very important for self-employed persons. The Better Business Bureau also offers insurance at a good rate because it has thousands of members.
Use your insurance agent as a resource for information. Give your agent the full story of your business, it's the only way he or she can provide the advice you need. Ideally, the agent can present a commercial insurance package that will cover all aspects of the protection you need. This business package should include insurance related to the owner or principals involved in the business, property belonging to the business or used for business purposes, liability insurance for protection against law suits for nonperformance of a contract or product.
Following are descriptions of the various types of insurance, a brief description of what they generally cover, and why you may need them.
Insurance for Owners, Partners and Key Employees
Life Insurance
This protects the family and is especially important in a sole proprietorship because the owner is personally liable for all debts of the company.
Disability Insurance
This insurance is designed to cover income for up to 52 weeks. Because you are self-employed, you do not have a benefit package to cover life and health insurance. As someone whose livelihood depends on your health and ability to run your business, disability insurance is essential.
Critical Illness Insurance
This is a personal insurance policy that provides a tax free lump sum benefit to a business owner if he or she is diagnosed with a critical illness such as a stroke, heart attack, cancer.
Partnership Insurance
Designed to protect a surviving partner and the business by allowing him/her to purchase the shares of the deceased to continue the business and offset the tax liability that would otherwise exist without the buy-sell agreement.
Key Person Insurance
This policy covers the cost of the loss of an integral member of your business team. If the essential person should be unable to work for a period of time, the insurance helps to cover the loss of business as a result of the illness or injury.
Business Property and Liability Insurance
Vehicle Insurance
Your personal vehicle insurance will be inadequate if you use your vehicle for business purposes. It is essential to have a policy that includes the use of your vehicle for business to cover damage to your vehicle and any responsibility you may have to others.
Product or Service Liability Insurance
Protects you in the event you are sued by a client/customer for nonperformance of a contract or a product and any liability arising from the nonperformance.
General Liability
Covers injury to clients and employees on your premises or elsewhere either in the performance of duties for the company or involving activities of the company.
Business Premises and Contents Insurance
Whether your office is in your home or elsewhere this insurance covers damage, loss or theft of property. If you work from home, it is unlikely your basic house and contents insurance will be adequate. Be sure your existing homeowner's policy is not voided by the operation of a business on the premises.
Small Business Insurance packages are available that cover damage or loss to business inventory and can include basic coverage for business liabilities, loss of earnings, and errors and omissions. You need to be sure that the package covers what you need – and not what you don't. Talking to your broker and having a plan specifically for your business may meet your needs better than a generic package. Remember that policies only cover what is in the fine print; be sure to discuss exactly what the policy covers with your agent.
Insurance is an important way to manage risk in your business.
To access the full version of this article including a list of valuable resources, visit The Business Link's web site at: http://www.cbsc.org/alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=bus_insurance.
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Bplans.com
A business plan is an indispensable tool for any business person, especially those who are starting a new business, and a required document when looking for funds to start or expand your business. Bplans.com provides a large searchable directory of sample business plans. These sample business plans can provide inspiration and be a useful reference when creating your own business plan. The sample plans on the site can be searched by keyword or category.
Bplans.com also contains a section with information on writing business plans. This section includes resources on business plan creation and feature articles such as How to Perform SWOT Analysis.
For more useful links to additional sources of business information, visit our web site at: www.cbsc.org/alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=weblinks.
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The Business Link works in partnership with over 35 Regional Access Sites located throughout the province, plus the Calgary Business Information Centre (CBIC), to provide information and resources to Alberta entrepreneurs. To find the closest Regional Access Site in your area, visit our web site at: www.cbsc.org/alberta/regional.cfm.
The East Parkland Community & Business Development Corporation (EPCBDC) serves small business people and potential entrepreneurs in the communities of Alder Flats, Winfield, Millet, Wetaskiwin, Hobbema, Ponoka, Lacombe, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Bentley, Rimbey, Alix, Mirror, Bashaw, Rosalind, Stettler, Elnora, Big Valley, and Castor. A full range of business seminars covering topics such as loans, community service, self employment programs, success at business and economic development are available through the centre. The EPCBDC also offers several programs for youth including Fortune Hunters and Alberta Young Entrepreneurs Camp. The EPCBDC's web site also contains links to business resources and small business guides. A self employment program available to people who have an active E.I. claim or have had a claim in the past five years is also available through the centre.
The EPCBDC offers financing to people who have not been able to obtain financing for their business through conventional means. Financing of up to $125,000 is available through the CF General Loan Fund and Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Lending Programs.
As well as offering assistance and financing to small business people and entrepreneurs, the EPBDC is also involved in economic development in its community.
Address
East Parkland CBDC
Box 250
Mirror, AB
TOB 3C0
Phone: 403-788-2212
Toll Free: 1-888-788-2829
e-mail: info@eastparkland.com
web: http://www.eastparkland.com
Your feedback is welcome at any time to help us improve and enhance our services for Alberta entrepreneurs. Simply use the "Feedback" function located on the toolbar at the top of E-News! to send us your views.
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The
Business Link Business
Service Centre
100-10237 104 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 1B1
Business Info Line: 780-422-7722 or 1-800-272-9675
Fax: 780-422-0055 |
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www.cbsc.org/alberta |
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