• Upcoming Events
• Business Article
• Feature Web Site
• Regional Access Sites in the Spotlight

New Resource Available at The Business Link Library

If you are already in business, or are considering starting a business, wouldn't it be useful to know what your neighbours and customers think (psychographics)?

What Canadians Think … About Almost Everything tells you about what stresses them out, what helps them relax, what they like about their jobs, and how they like to spend free time, not to mention how they like to spend their money.

Here's something to think about: 35% of millionaires are self-employed and 40% are retired (what do they do with all that time and money?!).

Maybe you have a product or service that they could use. What Canadians Think.. will get you thinking.

To access this resource, visit our library or request this book through our Regional Lending Library.

New Language Industry Grant Program

Does your company work in either translation, language training, or language technologies?

Do you require financial assistance for marketing projects, trade fair participation, or communication plans?

Your company may be eligible for assistance through the Language Industry Program (LIP).

For more detailed information, refer to the LIP website at http://strategis.gc.ca/lip

Small Business Week is Quickly Approaching

Small Business Week, a national celebration of the accomplishments and fortitude of the small business community, is fast approaching.

Every year, The Business Link works with the Alberta Chambers of Commerce to bring you the Small Business Week in Alberta website.

This year, Small Business Week will be held from October 16 to 22. We are now gathering information from across the province to provide you with this central source of information on events and activities for Small Business Week 2005.

If your organization is holding an event for Small Business Week, you can now register the event information with us at our Small Business Week website. Watch for the public portion of the site to go live in mid-September.

For information on the national celebration, go to the Business Development Bank of Canada website.

Organization for Financial Education and Assistance

Edmonton Community Loan Fund (ECLF) is a not-for-profit society that was formed 10 years ago and is now situated in The Business Link premises.

The Community Loan Fund program is a micro enterprise lending fund for low-income people in the greater Edmonton area who have been declined by a bank, and also provides business coaching and support services.

The Financial Literacy Course covers Financial Literacy Education and Credit Management. This course is designed to re-educate members of the community to learn to assess their values and attitudes about finances and spending.

ECLF also runs a monthly Games Night, where individuals can come and play the highly acclaimed and patented CASHFLOW® 101 game. Contact co-ordinator Barbilee Hemmings at barbilee@canada.com for more details.

ECLF is developing the Financial Literacy course on a pay-per-person basis, available in the fall, for more information, please email Harry Wong at harrywong@
EdmontonCLF.org and request to be put on their mailing list.

If you need further assistance, please call ECLF at (780) 944-1558, e-mail Executive Director - Nigel Kidd at nigelkidd@
EdmontonCLF.org or visit the website at www.edmontoncommunity
loanfund.org.

Meet the Link

Kathy Kolody is a Client Service Representative here at The Business Link, your first point of contact when you visit us in person.

Kathy joined The Business Link four months ago and is responsible for booking meeting rooms, setting them up, and administering our front desk daily event schedule.

Kathy also administers our seminar registration, and video conferencing scheduling.

Kathy can be reached at 780-422-7788, 1-800-272-9675 or by e-mail at
kolody.kathy@
cbsc.ic.gc.ca

Talk to Us!

Need assistance in finding information on our website? Check out our web/voice support service, "Talk to Us".

Send to a Friend

Please feel free to forward E-News! from The Business Link to a friend or colleague. They can subscribe online on our website.

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Your Feedback is Important to us

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.

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.

The Business Link's Fall Season is Right Around the Corner

The Business Link is looking forward to offering another jam-packed fall season of informative sessions beginning on September 13, 2005.

Our Fall Schedule of Brown Bag Presentations and Seminars is now on our website. Once again many of our sessions will be available in locations throughout the province through video conferencing.

As well, keep checking E-News! for information on extra events that will be offered from time to time, many via video conferencing.

Canada Revenue Agency Offers Helpful Seminars

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offers two different types of seminars for entrepreneurs: The Small Business Information Seminar and the GST/HST New Registrant Seminar. The Small Business Information Seminar is for entrepreneurs who have just started or are considering starting a new business. This seminar is an all day session which deals with three main topics: income tax, payroll, and GST/HST.

The GST/HST New Registrant Seminar teaches you about reporting GST/HST, invoicing with GST/HST, and what you can do when claiming GST expenditures. This session is offered over the course of a few hours in the evening.

Here are the dates, times and locations for the CRA August seminars:

Small Business Information Seminar (8:30-3:30 p.m.):

August 17 (unincorporated businesses): Edmonton

GST/HST New Registrant Seminar (6:00-8:30 p.m. - Calgary, 7:00-10:00 p.m. - Edmonton)

August 11: Calgary

August 23: Edmonton

For more information or to register, call (403) 691-6442 in Calgary and (780) 495-6376 in Edmonton; you can also send an e-mail in Calgary to outreach.pra-cal@ccra-adrc.gc.ca or in Edmonton to outreach.pra-edm@ccra-adrc.gc.ca or visit:
www.cra-arc.gc.ca/events/menu-e.html

Special Summer Networking Opportunities at The Business Link - Grow Your Circle of Contacts

Would you like to boost your business this summer and make valuable business contacts? Then join us at The Business Link for an opportunity to network! It is free and no registration is needed. Be prepared to exchange business cards and introduce yourself and your business!

Please join us on Wednesday, August 17 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Lisa Iwanyk by phone at
780-422-7738, 1-800-272-9675 or by e-mail at
iwanyk.lisa@cbsc.ic.gc.ca.

Helping You Learn More About Exporting

If you are considering exporting, then these upcoming Export Link sessions may be of interest to you.

"Do's and Don'ts of Business Entry into the United States" is a half-day training session that will be video-conferenced to 7 other locations across the province. It will take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 from noon to 4:30 p.m. and costs may vary depending upon the participating location. Whether you're going to the U.S. to perform a contract, service a piece of machinery or conduct training, this seminar will help you prepare and ensure you make it across the border!

Going Global is a series of 3 hour workshops that will help you make that crucial exporting decision and get you off to a good start on your journey towards foreign markets. The 5 sessions held in Edmonton begin October 5th and run every second Wednesday for 10 weeks.

For more information on these events and others, please visit the calendar of events on www.exportlink.ca or contact Erin Wilkinson at 1-888-811-1119 for more information.

Aboriginal Business Conference - Coming this October
It's All About Opportunities

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" will be held in Edmonton on October 24 - 25, 2005.

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.

Building on the success of the first two conferences, this year's will offer even more valuable information you need to know!

Register early and secure your involvement!

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
by David Olsen, E-Future Centre

In simple terms, VoIP is a phone call over the Internet instead of a telephone line. The ability to have voice conversations over the Internet is not new; however, VoIP has only recently become popular.

The rise of VoIP
As more telecom companies adopt new technologies such as VoIP, the growth of Internet connections worldwide has created the infrastructure and awareness needed for VoIP to grow. It is estimated that this year alone over 200,000 Canadians will subscribe to VoIP services. Evidently VoIP is already here.

How VoIP works
VoIP configurations may differ between service providers; however, the main components will be the same:

-Telephone (normal phone or special VoIP phone depending on the provider)
-Modem
-Broadband Internet connection

The sequence of events for a VoIP call is very similar to a normal telephone call, with the exception that the voice signal is sent over an Internet connection. A high-speed Internet connection can carry more voice conversations than regular phone line.

Things to Consider
Check the long distance plans; many contract these services to outside companies, creating the potential for problems with customer service and billing. Furthermore, your VoIP service will not work if the power goes out, while many regular phones still work during power outages.

Advantages
In 2003, 75.9% of small businesses in Canada had an Internet connection; these companies may be able to save money by bundling their VoIP and Internet services. Also, many VoIP providers offer a number of free services that are not available with conventional phone service. These services include 3-way calling, voice-mail to email, and phone number portability. Another great advantage of VoIP is that it may work with your existing equipment.

So, is VoIP right for me?
The question should read: "Is VoIP right for you, now?" Voice Over Internet Protocol may not fit your circumstances right now, but it is just a matter of time before the price, reliability, and features are able to meet your needs. In the meantime, as with any new product, you will have to shop around for the best deal.

New! Interactive Export Tutorial
www.exporttutorial.ca

If you are considering exporting, are new to exporting, or just want to learn more about what's involved, there is an exciting new tool available to you! The Interactive Export Tutorial is an online resource that guides users through the entire process of exporting. From assessing your company's export readiness, conducting market research, developing an export plan, to creating a market entry strategy, this tool will help you understand the process of putting your company on the international stage. It also contains useful links, informative video clips, quizzes and fun facts.

To access the Interactive Export Tutorial, visit www.exporttutorial.ca. Registration is easy (and free!), and will allow your work to be saved each time you log in and out.

The Interactive Export Tutorial was developed by The Business Link's Export Link, in partnership with Team Canada Inc. Its content has been adapted from Team Canada Inc’s "Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting". Please contact the Export Link at 1-888-811-1119 if you would like more information.

The Business Link works in partnership with 30 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/tbl.cfm?fn=regional. Next, select the name of your community from the drop down list. Then, click on the Search button. The address and phone number of your Regional Access Site will appear, as well as a website address if there is one available.

All the Regional Access Sites around the province offer a wide range of services designed specifically to meet the needs of new entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses in their area. The services can include financing, a wide range of resources to help small business people and many training programs and seminars.