business infosource Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre
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Starting A Business
Where To Start
Business Start-up Info-Guide, designed to help you navigate through the federal and provincial government programs and services available to individuals starting a business in Saskatchewan.
Are you the entrepreneurial type? Quiz, allows you to measure your entrepreneurial potential. Completing it will give you some insight into your own distinctive style.
Starting a Business In Saskatchewan provides a basic overview of all aspects of starting a business in Saskatchewan. Note: to read this PDF file you need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system. A free copy of Acrobat Reader may be downloaded here: www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html. If you encounter any difficulty in accessing the content on this or any other page please contact us for assistance.
Saskbiz.ca is a Web site set up to assist businesses decide where to start or expand their operation. This interactive site provides vital information to companies interested in doing business in Saskatchewan. An extensive database of regional information containing up-to-date information on economic indicators (such as population, occupation and labour force, education, leading employers, utilities, transportation, trade and marketing statistics, government data, agriculture and taxation) is also available on Saskbiz.ca.
Business Start-up Assistant, a Web site that consolidates essential information required by anyone wishing to launch a successful business. It combines start-up information from the Canada Business Network, the federal and provincial governments, the community and many other sources. Information is organized by topics such as market assessment, financing, taxation, writing a business plan, and many others – all critical to starting a new business. This easy to navigate site also provides links to federal and provincial forms required for launching a business.
Online Small Business Workshop, a web-based workshop designed to provide techniques for developing a business idea, starting a new venture, and improving an existing small business.
Business Fact Sheets, a series of over 100 information sheets covering a range of business start-up topics, including product development, retail management, advertising & promotion, and market development.
Interactive Business Planner uses the capabilities of the internet to assist entrepreneurs in preparing a 3 year business plan for their new or existing business.
Business Registration
In order to register your new business name, or to incorporate provincially, you must contact The Corporations Branch of Saskatchewan Justice, to obtain information or to order the appropriate forms. For an index of available forms, please click here.
An information kit on Forming a Cooperative is also available.
The Small Business Guide to Federal Incorporation is available online to provide basic knowledge and tools that business owners and operators need to federally incorporate a private company under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). To register your federal business online, visit the Corporations Canada Electronic Filing Centre .
Forms of Business Organization explains the different forms of businesses, definitions, relative advantages/disadvantages, and scope of liability.
Regulations
A series of bulletins, each providing a brief description of provincial regulatory requirements and regulatory authorities for specific businesses, are available here . This series was developed by Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, in co-operation with various business associations and government departments, agencies and Crown Corporations.
A collection of tax and revenue bulletins are available through Saskatchewan Finance.
Financing
The Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre has consolidated information on all federal and provincial government financing programs for business. Search our business-oriented programs database.
The Industry Canada Web site offers a section containing information for innovators and small and medium-sized enterprises on finding sources of funding and financial assistance, as well as helpful tools and guides to manage financing.
A section of the Industry Canada Web site called Sources of Financing, has an extensive directory and search engine to locate Canadian financial providers, information on different types of financing, and tips to help secure financing.
Marketing
The Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre has consolidated all information on government programs and services for business at both the federal and provincial levels. See our Marketing Catalogue for a comprehensive overview of available sources.
The Business Fact Sheets, contain sections on Market Analysis and Advertising & Promotion.
Demographic information from Statistics Canada is available online to assist in your market research.
See the Links section of our Web site for references to a variety of marketing sites, from traditional sales to effective webmarketing.
Human Resources
The Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre has consolidated all information on government programs and services for business at both the federal and provincial levels. See our Employment and Training Info-Guide for a comprehensive overview of available sources.
Visit the Service Canada site to learn where you can find the workers you need for your business, and what the current wage rates are.
Managing for Business Success, found on the Industry Canada web site, provides extensive information on all aspects of human resources management and development.
SaskNetWork is a web-based directory consisting of services related to human resource development, along with various aspects of the Saskatchewan labour market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a business plan? How do I develop one?
The business plan is a document that describes who you are, what you plan to achieve by going into business, where your business will be located, expected timelines, how you manage the risks involved and the returns expected.
It will provide information on your proposed venture to lenders, investors, and suppliers; demonstrates how you will use their money, and establishes the credibility of your project.
We offer an excellent on-line tool for preparing a three-year business plan for a new or existing business. The Interactive Business Planner, developed by the network of Canada Business Service Centres, can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. Instructions are provided on-line at each phase of the planner.
What sort of financial resources are available to start/continue my business?
One of the most popular requests is for information on Government Grants! "Are there any grants for my Small Business?" Well… the answer is "maybe!"
Government terminology varies in that some programs are called grants, some are called contributions, some refer to subsides, etc. The most important thing to know is that "grant" programs do exist, HOWEVER, they usually have very specific criteria, and are targeted to a very specific client. Therefore, you have to determine if the program is appropriate for your business. Remember that the word grant is rarely used in government program descriptions.
Our goal is to give you the program details you need, in the most efficient manner possible, so you can truly ascertain your fit to a specific program. One of our most convenient resources available to the public 24/7 is the search system on this Web site. You can telephone, fax or e-mail us as well, and we will do our best to isolate the programs that may provide the best fit. But you know your business better than we ever could!
Search our database of business-oriented government programs for a comprehensive listing of financing options. Please note that some have specific criteria that some businesses can qualify for, while others may not.
How do I register my business name or register as a corporation (profit or non-profit), either provincially or federally?
There are a number of methods through which the business name registration and business corporation forms can be accessed:
- In person, at the Canada-Saskatchewan Business Centre (CSBSC). Click here for a map of our office location.
- Saskatchewan Justice - provincial forms and guides are available for download. Just follow the links on the Corporations Branch site.
- Industry Canada - Guide to Federal Incorporation is available online to help you submit the forms and information required to incorporate a business under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). To register your federal business online, you may access the Corporations Directorate Electronic Filing Centre .
I need a GST number. I need information on regulations for payroll and deductions. Who can I talk to?
We cannot provide counselling on tax matters for a variety of reasons including legal issues. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) can provide information and publications on any number of tax matters. They can be contacted by phone at 1-800-959-5525; but many commonly requested publications and answers to common questions are available at their Web site.
How do I register for a patent, trade-mark or copyright?
Issues of design, protection, and registration of patents, trade-marks, and copyrights and handled through the Canadian Intellectual Properties Office (CIPO). Their site features on-line guides and information for all intellectual property concerns.
Printed copies of the guides can also be obtained from the CSBSC. We also carry a number of videos regarding patents, copyrights, and trade-marks. You can search for available titles in our Audio/Video Library .
I'm considering starting a business, but I would like to know how companies in my line of business have historically performed. How do I compare my firm's performance with an industry benchmark?
Industry Canada's site houses a vast resource of Small Business Profiles. These profiles, also referred to as SME Benchmarks, are available from 1993 onward, can be broken down by province or geographic region, and can display industry-wide or business specific data. The system allows you the option of entering your business's data, giving a side-by-side comparison of your business to the industry.
The profiles can be accessed from the Business Toolbox on our site's main page.