Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
http://www.acoa.gc.ca
Headquartered in the Atlantic Region, ACOA's goal is to improve the economy of Atlantic Canadian communities through the successful development of business and job opportunities. On the ACOA website, you will find many business resources, including information on taxes and incentives, conducting business in Atlantic Canada, as well as a profile of the province’s workforce. This site provides support in the form of industry profiles, and gives comparative information on Nova Scotia and other Canadian regions. Helpful investment contacts and links are also included on the ACOA site.
Acadia Centre for Small Business And Entrepreneurship (ACSBE)
http://acsbe.acadiau.ca/
ACSBE offers business support, resources and tools on its site, including information on research and development, finance and accounting and funding. This site also provides small business development services on business counseling, strategic planning and mentoring. On the site, you can receive information on upcoming workshops and seminars offered by Acadia University.
Bank of Canada
http://www.bankofcanada.ca
The Bank of Canada site offers a variety of business resources for information on financial markets, and features many publications and research initiatives such as the Financial System Review, and the Business Outlook Survey. You will also find information on monetary policy, rates and statistics and the range of support services the Bank of Canada offers local businesses.
Business Development Bank of Canada
http://www.bdc.ca
On the Business Development Bank of Canada site, you will find helpful support information on how to start a business and finance it. You will learn about the financing solutions that BDC offers exporters, and the financial resources available for strategic planning, succession planning, production planning, and human resources management.
Canada Business: Government Services for Entrepreneurs
http://www.canadabusiness.ca
The Canada Business site offers a variety of information on financial services available to Canadian businesses. By visiting this site, you will find resources for starting and financing a business, doing business in government, and taxation. The site also provides support information on regulations, innovating, and conducting business research.
Canadian Bankers Association
http://www.cba.ca
On the Canadian Bankers Association site, you will learn about banks in Canada, the banking industry, and the changing marketplace. This resource site also offers a quiz that can help you determine whether or not your company is financially fit. With the help of the monthly income and expenses calculator, you will also be able to take control of your business finances.
Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)
http://www.ceed.info
CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development is a non-profit organization devoted to helping people discover and use entrepreneurship as a tool to become self-reliant. CEED offers small business and professional development workshops, small business resources including one-on-one counseling and start-up financing, networking opportunities and social entrepreneurship activities. The site also has an events calendar with upcoming small business related events.
Centre for Women in Business
http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/
The Centre for Women in Business, which is part of Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU), provides women entrepreneurs with the support, resources and training and information they needed to start and grow their businesses. Services offered by the centre include one-to-one counselling, business projects involving MSVU students working with clients of the centre, networking events, workshops, training programs, mentoring, and public presentations.
Community Business Development Corporations
http://www.cbdc.ca
This site provides information on the Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs), a network of autonomous, not-for-profit organizations that work with all levels of government and the private sector to meet the needs of small business. In rural Atlantic Canada there are 41 Corporations dedicated to the development of small business and job creation through business financing, counselling and advisory services.
Centre d’aide en affaires et en entrepreneuriat (CAAE)
http://www.cdene.ns.ca/caae
The Centre d’aide en affaires et en entrepreneuriat (CAAE) is under the direction of Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ). The CAAE offers a variety of services, tools and other resources for small businesses. Some of these services include support in the preparation of business plans and marketing plans for new, existing or expanding businesses and advice and guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs wishing to expand and/or upgrade their business. You will also find information on programs and counseling for entrepreneurs, as well as guides on analyzing financial statements, and business planning.
Department of Economic and Rural Development
http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ
The site for the Department of Economic and Rural Development provides a variety of financial assistance information through its government programs. The Nova Scotia Business Idea Explorer program is a valuable business resource for entrepreneurs with start-up basics, and market information. This program offers helpful advice on fifty different kinds of businesses. In partnership with Credit Unions throughout the province, the Small Business Financing program offers loans up to $150,000 to small businesses. The province guarantees up to 75 per cent of the loan, with the Credit Unions responsible for the remaining 25 per cent.
Department of Finance
http://www.gov.ns.ca/finance
On this site, you will find information on tax credits, taxation and fiscal policy, and business statistics. The site for the department of finance offers access to a variety of publications and reports that discuss subjects ranging from the labour market to Nova Scotia trade. Reports on demographic trends and knowledge workers and industries are also featured on the site.
First Angel Network
http://www.firstangelnetwork.ca
The First Angel Network Association (FAN) is a not-for-profit organization to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs and capital in Atlantic Canada through communication, education and networking. FAN is a member-based organization that offers a forum for Angel investors to increase their exposure to quality, pre-screened investment opportunities and expand their network of like-minded investors. Its goal is to sponsor the best companies that the Atlantic region has to offer. Although many may apply, only qualified companies that fit the First Angel Network investment criteria are presented to members.
GrowthWorks
http://www.growthworks.ca
The GrowthWorks Canadian Fund is a national labour-sponsored investment fund. Incorporated in 1990 the fund has approximately $260 million in assets and over 75,000 individual shareholders. GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund is an Atlantic Canadian labour-sponsored investment fund launched in January 2005. The Fund offers investors two major benefits: up to 70% tax savings on their investment, and the satisfaction of knowing their investment is supporting the growth of emerging businesses across the Atlantic provinces.
Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre
http://www.smu.ca/partners/smubdc/htmls
On this site, you will find information on business consulting and training that’s offered by the Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre. This business development centre offers a range of consulting services and resources including how to start a new business, attain financing, increase revenue, and expand an existing business. The site also provides information on entrepreneurship, leadership and management training programs.
Saint Francis Xavier University Enterprise Development Centre (XEDC)
http://www.xedc.ca
This site offers a range of information on business planning, counseling, and consulting. You will find information on the different types of education and training that XEDC provides, such as the Staying Power Workshop Series and the Preparing for the Sale course. XEDC also gives access to a variety of business plan guides.
Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations
http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/business/
Access to Business is your guide to doing business in Nova Scotia. From planning to start-up to operating and more, the website will provide you with access to information you need to do it right. It also connects you to some essential services that can help you in acheiving your goals.
Currently, much of the information here is related to provincial regulations and policies. Check with municipal and federal government representatives on other laws, permits or requirements that may affect your business
Small Business Funding Centre
http://www.grants-loans.org
The Small Business Funding Centre site provides resource and support information on a range of financial assistance services, such as low- or no-interest loans, grants and subsidies, tax credits, and equity financing. This site also offers information on past grant and loan recipients.
The Decision Point
http://www.thedecisionpoint.com/home.cfm
On this site, you will have access to a variety of business resources and planning guides on subjects ranging from finance to marketing and sales. The Decision Point site offers business intelligence information on business networks, legislation and regulations. You will also have the opportunity to identify and define business problems by using the Business Problem Wizard - a powerful resourcel to help put you on the solution path for your business problems.