Guest Advisor Program Service

Have you ever wondered what professional expertise in a specific field could do to help your business succeed?

The Business Link’s Guest Advisor Program provides you with the opportunity to connect with management consultants, lawyers, accountants, financial representatives, and e-business experts, all who volunteer their time to discuss your business concerns. A representative is available from Monday to Friday, 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m., for the dates below.

Eligibility Criteria

Anyone interested in contacting the Guest Advisor.

Summary

Benefits include:

• Confidential, one-on-one consultation. Phone, visit, e-mail, or via video conference!
• Service provided without obligation, free of charge.
• Introduction to business services in the private sector.
• Insight into how working with a professional can assist your business.
• Discuss your business situation with a professional in a neutral location.

Times: Daily (Monday through Friday), 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.

No appointment necessary. Time limitations may apply.

Mondays: Business Management and Operations Guest Advisor

Typical discussion topics: pricing, franchising, business plans, marketing strategy, feasibility, proposals, opportunity assessment, purchasing or selling a business, customer service / satisfaction, business valuation. FYI -- special "Business Coaching" focus on the last Monday of the month.

Tuesdays: Legal Guest Advisor

Typical discussion topics: contracts, liability, leases, dispute resolution, business structure, shareholder / partnership agreements, intellectual property, buying / selling a business, licensing agreements, disclaimers, debt collection, privacy.

Wednesdays: Accounting Guest Advisor

Typical discussion topics: tax issues, GST, eligible expenses, business plans, payroll, leasing, business structure issues, bookkeeping, accounting packages, employer / employee responsibilities, administrative processes, records management.

Thursdays: Financial Guest Advisor

Typical discussion topics: financing options, banker's expectations, loan application process, liability issues, expansion financing, cash flow, financing a buy-out, business plans, alternate financing options and services available.

Fridays: E-Business Guest Advisor

Typical discussion topics: Internet trends / equipment & connectivity, cyberlaw, supply chain / customer relationship management, e-marketing, Internet merchant accounts / security and fraud, payment gateways, e-procurement, web design / hosting / storage, selling on-line, integration.

The Business Link acknowledges the support of the following in the Guest Advisor Program over the past year:

Business Management and Operations:
Accredited Consulting Ltd.
BearingPoint
Biopolis Inc.
Breton Consulting Services Ltd
Fisher Langford-Jones & Associates Ltd.
Grant Thornton LLP
Incite Solutions Inc.
Meyers Norris Penny LLP
Paulson Cormier & Associates
Pinnacle Business Services Ltd.
The Wright Group

Legal:
Brownlee LLP
Bryan & Company
Darren W. Moroz Barrister and Solicitor
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Goldsman Ritzen Shadlyn
Hansma & Bristow
Lynass, Ferguson & Shoctor
McLennan Ross LLP
Miller Thomson LLP
Ogilvie LLP
Parlee McLaws LLP
Shtabsky & Tussman LLP
Trevoy Weiss LLP

Accounting:
Accredited Consulting Ltd.
Amzad Amiri, CGA
BDO Dunwoody LLP
Christine Vetter, CGA
Colin Presizniuk, CGA
David MacGillivray, CMA
David Ushko Prosessional Corporation
Grant Thornton LLP
Harris McConnan LLP
Howard Dudley, CGA
Karen Wilkinson, CMA
Lim & Company
Maureen Liviniuk, CMA
Meyers Norris Penny LLP
Penny Fair, CGA, CFP
Tony Lung, CMA
Veronica Piffko, CMA
Wendy Hiew, CGA

Financial:
AFSC Commercial
ATB Financial
Business Development Bank of Canada
Capital City Savings
RBC Financial
TD Canada Trust

E-Business:
Alberta E-Future Centre
Andre Marcotte
DigitalTea Group Inc.
e-business tutor
Emergence by Design
E-Strategies International Inc.
Fusedlogic Inc.
McAnerin Networks Inc.
Omni
Parlee McLaws LLP
Redengine Inc.
Results One System Solutions
Techweavers Inc.
Van De Walle & Associates
Vencom Business Solutions, Inc.

To speak with a Guest Advisor, call 1-800-272-9675 or visitThe Business Link. Enquiries for our Guest Advisors may also be made via e-mail at http://www.cbsc.org/alberta/tbl.cfm?fn=guest_email

 You can now access this expertise via video conference through the Entrepreneurship Learning Centre (ELC) Network. Speak with a Guest Advisor, just as if you were there in person! Ask about this service at the ELC site serving your Alberta community. For a list of ELC sites, visit www.elcnetwork.ca or call The Business Link for details.

• Consulting Group
• Management Consulting Services
• Entrepreneurship Learning Centre

Alberta Contact(s):
The Business Link Business Service Centre
Suite 100
10237 - 104 Street N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 1B1
Telephone: 780-422-7722
Fax: 780-422-0055
Toll-free (information): 1-800-272-9675
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: buslink@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbsc.org/alberta
Hours of operation: Monday - Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.