Business support organizations
You don't become an expert business manager overnight. Seeking the advice of peers, professional business counsellors and coaches can help you transition from new business owner to experienced entrepreneur.
Some financing organizations also offer networking, coaching, and other business support services. Visit our Grants and financing section for more information.
- Grants and financing
Find out how to access money for your business.
- Contact the Canada Business Network
The Canada Business Network has centres across the country that offer guidance, information and resources to help make your journey in business a successful one.
- Accredited Professionals
Do you need professional help for your business? Access this national, online database of accountants, legal professionals, valuators and auditors.
- Business consultants
Find business consultants, development organizations and specialists in the areas of exporting, financial services, human resources, marketing, and more.
On this page:
Start-up and business development
Access a wide range of business support services that can guide you in starting or growing your business.
- Guest Advisor Program
Get answers to your questions and discuss your business concerns with an expert.
- Aboriginal Business Development Services
If you are an Aboriginal person who is thinking of starting a business or has an existing business, you can get access to information and resources to help you meet your business goals.
- Aboriginal Business Service Network — Saskatchewan
Find the business information you need as a First Nations or Métis entrepreneur in Saskatchewan.
- Alliance of Manitoba Sector Councils
Get information on business start-up and growth, networking, and training from the sector council that represents and promotes your industry.
- Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations
If you live in a rural region of Atlantic Canada, you can access business counselling, financing and training to help start or grow your business.
- BDC Ask a professional
Get free advice on monthly business topics from a BDC Consulting professional.
- BDC Consulting
Find out how BDC's customized consulting services can help your business at all stages of development.
- CoopZone
Find resources and consultants to help you start and run a co-operative in Ontario.
- Innovate Calgary
Access programs, services, and other resources to help start and grow your innovative technology-focused business.
- Invest Yukon
You can obtain information about doing business in the Yukon, including government funding and programs, and details about different industries.
- Rural Alberta Business Centre Pilot Program
If you live in a community with a Rural Alberta Business Centre, access information, advice, research services, and seminars to help your business.
- Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship — University of Manitoba
Is entrepreneurship your calling? Access small business courses, programs, and networking events through the Centre.
- Toronto Business Development Centre
Take advantage of a range of programs and business support services to start and grow your business.
Networking and chambers of commerce
Find out about business opportunities and specific networking forums.
- Alberta Chambers of Commerce
Discover the business benefits of joining a chamber of commerce in your community and learn about your local Alberta chamber.
- British Columbia Chambers of Commerce
Visit your local B.C. Chamber of Commerce to access information on membership benefits, partnerships and networking opportunities in your community.
- Canadian chambers of commerce and boards of trade
A strong community business network can benefit your company. Access your local chamber of commerce..
- Centre for Women in Business
As a Nova Scotia woman entrepreneur, you can access support and resources at any business stage through this business development centre.
- Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal in French only
As a young entrepreneur in Montreal, you can develop your personal and professional network and find a mentor.
- Lambda Business and Professional Association of Manitoba
If your business caters to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender customers, you could benefit from these business services.
- Manitoba Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce
As an Aboriginal entrepreneur, you have access to networking opportunities, seminars, events, membership discounts, a chamber directory and a business centre.
- Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
Find out how the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce can help grow your business.
- OpportunitiesBC
Use this database to promote your existing business for sale or lease, or to attract investment from foreign investors.
- PEI Chambers of Commerce
Network, learn, and grow when you join your local PEI chamber of commerce.
- Purchasing Management Association of Canada
Learn how to better manage your supply chain by signing up for seminars, webinars, introductory training or a full-scale accreditation program.
- Rural Opportunities Network
Explore business ideas, promote yourself, and connect with other Canadians engaged in the sustainable use of natural resources.
- WEConnect Canada Certification
Find out how your company can be certified as a Women Business Enterprise to increase your access to contract opportunities in Canada and abroad.
- Yukon Chamber of Commerce
Find out how the Yukon Chamber of Commerce can help your business prosper. Available services include: referrals to government, association and private sector specialists; library reference and research materials to assist you with your market research and business planning.
Coaching, mentoring and training
Connect with experienced business advisors who can help you develop your skills and achieve your business goals.
- Lancement d'une entreprise (Starting a business) in French only
You can obtain highly qualified professional support to start up your business and training tailored to your business project.
- Aboriginal Business Mentorship Program
As an Aboriginal business owner and a member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, you could get a mentor to help you develop your skills.
- Atlantic Trades Business Seal
Learn business and leadership skills that can help you and your employees run an efficient trades-related business.
- Best business practices in French only
Improve your knowledge of business practices with custom-made practical courses, workshops and seminars offered by this program.
- Black Business Initiative — Business support and training
As an existing or aspiring African Nova Scotian entrepreneur, you can access specialized business training, support and counseling.
- Business Advisory Services
Access corporate training programs from experts in strategic decision making, consulting services, business planning, business operations and more.
- Business Advisory Services (Ontario)
Access expert help in Southern Ontario to grow your small to medium-sized business locally or in new markets.
- Business Advisory Services for Métis
Are you of Métis ancestry and thinking of starting a business? The SaskMetis Economic Development Corporation provides general business information, consulting services and business development workshops.
- Business Services — Economic Development Council for Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities
Access a wide range of services to business in French. Tap into expertise to create or grow your business.
- Business advisory centres
If you are an Aboriginal entrepreneur, you can access free business advice and other services for business start-up, expansion, partnerships, and planning.
- Canadian Executive Service Organization — Aboriginal services
You can get help from volunteers to develop and grow your aboriginal business.
- Canadian Women in Communications
Are you a woman entrepreneur in the communications sector who is looking for mentorship or guidance? Find out how leadership development and mentoring services can help you achieve your business goals.
- Centre d'entreprises et d'innovation de Montréal
Get specialized advice to start up and develop your information technology, industrial technology, multimedia or life sciences business.
- Centre for Management Development — UR Business
If you need professional consulting services to meet your business goals, this centre may be able to help you.
- Centre for Women in Business
As a Nova Scotia woman entrepreneur, you can access support and resources at any business stage through this business development centre.
- Commerce International Québec in French only
Are you thinking of exporting? Get expert advice and access to international contacts through this network.
- Community Futures Development Corporations — Western Canada
If you live in a rural region of Western Canada and want to start or grow your business, you can get business counseling and training in your area.
- Community partners — service location finder
Find in-person assistance to help you start and grow your business.
- Conseil de développement économique de l’Alberta
If you are francophone and live in Alberta, you can get counselling and training to help you start or grow a business.
- Détail formation in French only
Take advantage of training services for your retail, service, food, restaurant or tourism business.
- Economic Development Officers
Obtain business support services for entrepreneurs operating in the Northwest Territories.
- Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network — Business support
If you are a Nova Scotia entrepreneur with a disability, you can access business support, training, and opportunities for networking.
- Entrepreneurs' Forum advisory services
You could get free, confidential business advice from a select network of successful business leaders.
- Eskasoni business support
As an Eskasoni Band member, you can get free business support for entrepreneurial ventures.
- Fondation de l'entrepreneurship in French only
Find a mentor or join the network. Learn about entrepreneurial culture in Quebec.
- Grant — Fondation Montréal Inc
If you are a young Montreal entrepreneur, you could receive a grant of between $5,000 and $30,000 to start up your business as well as advice or training.
- Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal in French only
As a young entrepreneur in Montreal, you can develop your personal and professional network and find a mentor.
- Manitoba Marketing Network Business Mentoring Program
Find out how this valuable business-to-business mentorship program can help you evolve your business.
- Marketing Booster Program
Find out how to market your small business and get up to 40 hours of individual business coaching when you participate in these interactive marketing workshops.
- Nova Scotia's University Business Development Centres
Access training, guidance and expert advice to start or grow your business at one of six University Business Development Centres located across Nova Scotia.
- PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise
If you are a woman entrepreneur in Northern Ontario, you can find coaching, training and peer lending programs to help you start or grow a business.
- Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association
If you are a woman entrepreneur on Prince Edward Island, you can access services and support to foster the growth of your business.
- Queen's Centre for Business Venturing
Take advantage of business training and find financial resources for your innovative business.
- Réseau des SADC et CAE (Network of CFDC's and CBDC's)
If you live in a rural region of Quebec, you could access business counseling, financing and training to start or grow your business.
- Regional Access Partners — Saskatchewan
Get help starting or expanding your business from any of the 15 Regional Access Partners that are members of the business infosource network.
- SEED Winnipeg Inc.
Are you looking to grow your economic vitality? Get business management training, individual consultations, access to small business loans, and more.
- Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation Inc. business services office
As an Aboriginal entrepreneur, you can take advantage of learning opportunities and advisory services offered in many areas such as accounting, management, financing, business planning.
- Small Business Enterprise Centres
Get help to start or grow your small business in Ontario.
- Small business training
Check out the following training sessions in Alberta that can help you start or grow your business.
- TEC Edmonton
Find the resources and services you need to bring an invention or business to market, including mentoring, business planning, market analysis, and much more.
- Ulnooweg Business Services Program
If you are an Aboriginal business owner, you can get free business advice during any development stage of your product or service.
- Volunteer Manitoba
Does your small business work with volunteers, or operate in the voluntary or non-profit sector? Access training, information and other resources that can help.
- Women's Enterprise Centre
Are you a woman entrepreneur looking to start, expand or purchase a business? Find out how this organization can help you improve your business skills and acquire financing.
- Women's Entrepreneurial Center of Québec in French only
Are you a woman entrepreneur starting or expanding a business? You could maximize your entrepreneurial potential and attain financial independence.
Industry sector resources
Learn about organizations that offer support services to businesses in your industry.
- Alliance numérique
Get training on business intelligence in the digital industry and access the information you need for an exploratory approach.
- Arts and Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba Inc.
Are you an artist entrepreneur or is your business in the creative sector? Find out how this association can help you.
- Bioenterprise
If you are introducing innovative agricultural technologies to the market, you may be eligible for support to help grow your business.
- Business tools, strategies, reports and resources for the tourism industry
Access tools, publications and industry resources to help start and run your tourism business in Ontario.
- Innovate Calgary
Access programs, services, and other resources to help start and grow your innovative technology-focused business.
- Canadian Women in Communications
Are you a woman entrepreneur in the communications sector who is looking for mentorship or guidance? Find out how leadership development and mentoring services can help you achieve your business goals.
- Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec
Benefit from the help of experts to certify a product, test a concept, verify a manufacturing procedure or implement a business intelligence service.
- Centre francophone d'informatisation des organisations in French only
Consult the CEFRIO to obtain survey results, reports on major recurring studies as well as information on the state-of-the-art information technologies.
- Consulting Engineers of Ontario
If you are an engineering consultant, this organization can help you access networking, professional development, education and more.
- FrontCounter BC
If you have a business in mining, forestry, agriculture or land and water, you can get help with applications, licenses and permits.
- Manitoba Irrigation Development Program
Access support and liaison services to help you meet market demands for irrigated crop production.
- Music Nova Scotia
Join this organization to find out about industry funding programs, development opportunities, workshops and more, to help grow your music business.
- Northern Film and Video Industry Association
If you want to produce a film or video in the Yukon, become a member to access equipment rental, get information on production crews and more.
- Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association
If you are a visual artist in Nunavut, you can get help to promote your work.
- Quebec research, liaison and transfer centres
Get liaison officers to help you enter into strategic alliances with Quebec universities and finance your research and development projects.
- Tourism Intelligence Network
Are you looking for value-added information to enhance your competitiveness in the tourism sector? The Network's researchers can help you.
- York Technology Alliance
Find help to grow your technology business and connect with other technology leaders in the Greater Toronto Area.
- Industry Consulting Services
Would your established manufacturing or processing business benefit from one-on-one consulting?
- Perennia : New ideas in food & agriculture
If you are in the agri-food or bio-economy business, this single point of contact can address your production, food safety, incubation and development needs.
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