"In calm waters every ship has a good captain"
      - Swedish proverb

Starting a business offers unique challenges but once your business is underway you are faced with many new management, planning and day-to-day challenges. In this section we provide you with some tips, sources and resources which we hope will help you run your business or answer some burning questions.

Management

• Operating a Small Service Business
  
  
• Conducting Effective Meetings
  
  
• Credit and Collections
  How to plan the movement of cash.
  
  
• Growing Broke
  Understanding cash flow and its impact on your business.
  
  
• Selling a Business

Growing Your Business

• Growing Your Business
  
  
• Expansion of Your Home-Based Business
  
  
• E-Business Info-Guide
  
  
• Franchising your business
  
  
• Joint Venture Agreement Checklist

Employment Issues

• Employment and Training Info-Guide
  This guide is designed to help you learn about various government programs, services and/or regulations that deal with the issues surrounding hiring employees.
  
  
• Contractor Or Employee? Guidelines for Alberta
  
  
• Setting Up a Pay System
  
  
• Human Resources Management
  Web site with information on all aspects of human resource management including: recruitment, occupational health and safety, labour laws, training and skills development, pay and benefits and much more.
  
  
• Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS)
  • ALIS: Alberta Occupational Profiles (OCCinfo)
    
  • ALIS: Certification and Registration Requirements for Employment (CERTinfo)
    
  • ALIS: Alberta Wage and salary Survey (WAGEinfo)
    

"Best" Business Practices

• Business Articles and Tips
  
  
• Customers First
  
  
• How to Have a Positive Image
  
  
• Quality Council of Alberta
  
  
• National Quality Institute - NQI
  
  
• What is ISO? 

Sales Management

• Developing New Accounts
  
  
• Selling To The Government of Alberta (includes Electronic Tendering)
  
  
• Setting the Right Price
  
  
• Measuring Sales Force Performance
  
  
• Understanding and Developing Your Sales Force
  
  
• Reasons Why Product Fails to Succeed 

• Government Programs and Services Database
  Search various categories of business-oriented programs, services and some regulations of the provincial and federal government departments and other organizations that are partners in the Canada Business Service Centres and The Business Link Business Service Centre.
  
  
• Operations Links
  These links will transfer you to sites operated by various government departments/agencies and private sector organizations and companies providing information on this topic.
  
  
• The Business Link's Search Engine
  Search our entire site by keyword.
  
  
• The Business Link's Business Officers
  Our business experts are always ready to discuss your business needs in confidence.
  
  
• Library Pathfinders
  Our pathfinders provide a quick reference of The Business Link's library materials available on this topic and many others.