General Small Business Resources

http://www.sbe.gov.on.ca
Entitled Your Guide to Small Business, this informative pamphlet provides a breakdown of the basic tools and resources to consider when your business is an idea, a plan, a small proprietorship, and a growing corporation.

http://www.enterprisetoronto.com
Wondering what's happening in the Toronto Small Business community? This site facilitates your search for various events that suit your small business needs. The Upcoming Events section lists small business seminars, tradeshows, conferences and other forums in the Greater Toronto Area.

http://www.evancarmichael.com/
A fascinating overview and series of links related to Masterminding amongst Toronto entrepreneurs. From the site: “Masterminding involves bringing people together with different experiences and ideas to collaborate, brainstorm, and provide support to help the participants achieve their goals. For business owners Masterminding can help you model other successful entrepreneurs, make you accountable for achieving your goals, and provide you with your own personal experienced board of directors.”

www.bizlaunch.ca
A course designed to give entrepreneurs all the necessary background they need to start their business successfully. If you mention that you are referred by Patriquin Law, you will receive a 15% discount on any Bizlaunch seminar.

http://vrl.tpl.toronto.on.ca/
A catalogue of small business resources available at no cost at your local public library.

http://www.zeromillion.com/
An informative website aimed at entrepreneurs, with a variety of materials and resources on the marketing, development, and economics of small business.

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca
An interesting article about the costs and benefits of incorporation.

http://www.consumers-info.org
Another very basic article on incorporation, written from the British perspective, but is still relevant in Canada.

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/
A broad database of market research and statistical analysis available to small and medium sized businesses. The site also includes some basic financing information.

http://www.cibc.com/
An updated archive of CIBC news releases pertaining to small business issues, including reports, awards, and opportunities. The site also contains links to bank resources on planning and financing your small business.

Financing Resources

http://www.tbdc.com/
Information about free workshops designed to help young entrepreneurs get financing and write their business plan.

http://www.bdc.ca/
The first stop for many entrepreneurs in obtaining financing.

http://www.canadaone.com/
A broad database of links to grants, loans, awards, and other financing programs for entrepreneurs.

http://www.cybf.ca/
Information about a unique financing program aimed at young entrepreneurs.

http://entrepreneurs.about.com/
A helpful article that identifies the documents, financial statements, and other general information that entrepreneurs should have when approaching a lender for a small business loan.

Business Plan Drafting Assistance

http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/
Basic business plan drafting suggestions.

http://www.myownbusiness.org/
A more comprehensive step-by-step look at the business plan essentials, from viable concepts to general formatting requirements. Site also includes samples of basic business plan templates, which may be helpful if you have never seen one before.

http://www.newbusinessevaluator.com/
A fascinating resource, allowing you to actually see if your business plan is viable, and forcing entrepreneurs to think about many issues they might not have otherwise considered.

http://www.cbsc.org/
A free interactive business plan drafting website, using a series of prompts to help you draft a professional business plan.

Tax research

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/
The Canada Revenue Agency publishes a variety of resources designed to help businesses answer basic tax questions for themselves, which can be found here. Unfortunately, many of these resources only make sense to lawyers...

Overview of business in Canada

http://www.ca4ip.com/
A unique, low cost and high quality bookkeeping system designed for busy professionals who don’t have the time to do their own books.

http://www.canadabusiness.ca/
Site provides links to various articles, statistics, guides, and other resources specifically for Canadian Women starting up a small or medium sized business.

http://www.gdsourcing.com/SBDC.htm
An up-to-date data center providing entrepreneurs with an efficient and affordable way to access Canadian industry profiles, market estimates, consumer feedback, and other helpful information for planning and running a small business.