InfoPEI

Self Employment

Starting and Maintaining a Business
Self employment, or entrepreneurship, is the process by which people start, build and maintain a business. The four steps below may assist you in determining if you wish to become self employed.

Steps

Review and list your interests, entrepreneurial qualities, abilities, aptitudes, and occupational skills. The following sites may help you with your review.
Skills Development--A description of this program that helps individuals obtain the skills necessary for employment, by providing them with direct financial assistance to enable them to select, arrange and pay for their own training.
Canadian Youth Business Foundation--A non-profit, private-sector initiative that provides mentoring, business support and lending to young entrepreneurs.
Explore sources of self employment and small business opportunities. The following sites may help you with this task.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)--ACOA's goal is to improve the economy of Atlantic Canada through the development of business and job opportunities.
Match your interests and skills with acceptable types of self employment, and decide if you wish to pursue the self employment option.
If you decide to further explore self employment, the series of links to resources below will provide information, or sources of information for your assistance.
Canada/PEI Business Services Centre--The Centre operates from a store-front location and its purpose is to improve and simplify access to government programs, services and information.
PEI Business Development - Enterprise PEI--Are you interested in doing business in PEI? This site has information on business sectors, business guide, programs and services and about Enterprise PEI.
Becoming Self-Employed--Have you dreamed about being your own boss? Are you getting tired of looking for traditional jobs? Click on this site to see if self-employment is a good option for you.
PEI Business Guide--A comprehensive resource to doing business on PEI. You will find information on starting, moving and running a business, including pointers to government agencies, suppliers, infrastructure and other resources.
Atlantic Virtual Women's Business Bureau-- A complete resource for women in all stages of planning and growing a business, including a library of resource materials, business links, chat lines, and a hot line to submit questions and comments.
Business Development Bank--It is Canada's small business bank, and plays a leadership role in delivering timely and relevant financial and management services.
Guide for Canadian Small Businesses --This site provides information on how to set up a business, the GST/HST, excise taxes and duties, importing/exporting, payroll deductions and income tax.

Alternate Ways to Work
Biz Women- for Women in Business--An online interactive community for successful women in business: to communicate, network, exchange ideas and provide support for each other.
Small Business Canada Magazine--This site contains a variety of articles of interest to small home based business owners and entrepreneurs.
The International Homeworkers Association--A membership organization providing benefits and services to people who work, or want to work, from their homes. Membership benefits include job postings, open forums, wholesale shopping, and a work-at-home coach.

Resources for Researchers and Professionals
North American Industry Classification System--It is a system that classifies industries for comparability in statistics about business activity across North America.
Stratesis-Business Information--This Industry Canada site provides Canadians with direct access to valuable business and consumer information.