Beyond the vibrant autumn hues of red and gold leaves, October in Canada means many things, and it carries great significance for the small business community – it’s Small Business Month! This month-long celebration is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels our country’s economy and local communities.
Whether you call it Small Business Month or Small Business Week, the month of October is when Canadian small businesses are recognized and celebrated nationwide for their entrepreneurship, resilience, and collective contribution to our country’s success.
Small Business Month encapsulates the heart and soul of Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit, from job creation to fostering innovation. This annual celebration stands as a testament to the invaluable contributions of small businesses to Canada’s economy and local communities.
After all, government data shows Canuck small businesses (those with one to 99 employees) comprised 98% of all employer businesses, employing more than 10 million people. Furthermore, small businesses contribute an estimated 36.7% to Canada’s gross domestic product.
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In the spirit of Small Business Month, we’ve compiled a list of resources that Canadian small business owners, entrepreneurs, and early-stage startups can explore to grow their entities and thrive. These resources cover a wide range of topics, from learning and growth to financial support and risk mitigation.
Learning Resources for Canadian Small Businesses
Below is a short list of learning and growth resources for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups:
- Startup Canada helps early-stage startups and entrepreneurs connect with industry experts, peers, and resources to build successful businesses.
- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce provides a range of learning resources, including business continuity planning, information on Canada’s anti-spam legislation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion training.
- The Retail Council of Canada offers information, including industry research, health and safety guides, a jobs board, training programs, and support to small retail businesses.
- The Canadian Franchise Association assists business owners seeking franchise opportunities, learning and networking resources, and related information.
- The Zensurance Small Business Insights blog’s Essentials section offers many articles with marketing tips, apps for business owners, productivity tips, risk mitigation and safety recommendations, and how-to guides for starting a small business or entering a profession.
Financial Resources for Canadian Small Businesses
After enduring the financial impact of the pandemic and economic headwinds throughout 2022 and 2023, the economy has slowly improved in 2024. However, that doesn’t mean small business owners’ challenges have been eliminated entirely.
The annual Zensurance Small Business Confidence Index survey in 2024 found inflation, the cost of business insurance and getting insured, and interest rates to be among business owners’ top concerns. Inflation was cited as the No. 1 concern by 58.6% of the 1,000 small business owners who participated in our poll earlier this year.
That’s down from the 89% of business owners who cited inflation as their biggest worry in our 2023 survey, and understandably so since Canada’s inflation rate has been trending downward. It is now at 2% as of August – the lowest since February 2021.
Nevertheless, here are a few resources to help offset the financial challenges facing small businesses:
- Small Business Grants: Many grants are available for small businesses and startups to apply for to fund and grow their ventures. New to our list is the Zensurance Small Business Grant. Any small business owner, self-employed professional, or entrepreneur in Canada is welcome to apply to win a $10,000 grant or $1,000 grant to grow their operations. The deadline to apply for the Zensurance Small Business Grant is November 8, 2024.
Other available Canadian small business grants include Futurepreneur Canada, Government of Canada grants and financing, and a list of funding for projects connecting Canadian academia and industry through Mitacs.
- Small Business Perks: Various organizations and governments provide perks and discounted services to small businesses. Zensurance also offers an ever-expanding partner list of money-saving offers through the Zensurance Perks program.
- Small Business Financing: The Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada offers a toolkit on financing for small businesses. All of Canada’s major banking institutions provide financing and loans for small businesses, as does the Business Development Bank of Canada, and there are organizations representing angel investors to help early-stage enterprises secure funding to grow, including the Canadian International Angel Investors and the National Angel Capital Organization.
Protect Your Assets and Reputation: Get Business Insurance
Business liability insurance is vital to any small business’s or self-employed professional’s risk mitigation and business continuity plan. Liability insurance is not only necessary, it’s an investment in your business’s financial wellness.
Without insurance, one unexpected accident or lawsuit, cyber-attack, or damage to your business, such as a fire, can upend your company and potentially lead to bankruptcy.
Get the customized protection you need quickly and easily through Zensurance.
Fill out our online application for a free quote. We’ll shop our partner network of over 50 insurers to get the low-cost coverage you need. Our knowledgeable brokers are available to answer your questions about what coverage you should have in your policy, the coverage limits and provide you with recommendations to minimize your liability risks.
– Updated October 2, 2024.
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