The Competition

Description:

One of the key questions to consider when planning to start a business is the amount of competition in your market area. Unfortunately, there is no one comprehensive data base listing all companies within specific industries/regions.

Statistics Canada's Business Register provides a "head count" of business establishments down to the 6-digit NAICS code by province and by employment size range. This data is very current (published every 6 months, with the latest set covering businesses as of July, 2001). However, the Business Register does not include any names of companies, just the number operating in that industry/region by employment size range.

Other Business Directories include:

• Canadian Business Disc
• Scott's Directories
• Canadian Trade Index
• Fraser's Canadian Trade Directory
• Industry Associations' Directories
• Yellow Pages

Information Sources:

Customized tables can be purchased directly from Statistics Canada (starting at $150 + HST). The Business Register can undertake requests for customized tabulations extracted and formatted as specified by the user. The data can be produced for any selection of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) or North American Industry Classification (NAICS), for any selected geographical area and by any specific employment size range.

Alternatively, information from the Business Register and other Business Directories may be obtained by contacting Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre.