Business Centres and Planning

Getting Started

• Halton Region Business Development Centre Business registration, business seminars, Map-Psyte, resume/word-processing facilities and more
• Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• [http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=STEL02_038763|ServiceOntario Gateway for Business]
• Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre
• Canada Business: Services for Entrepreneurs
• Ontario-Business Connects Business registration and more.
• Business Development Bank of Canada
• Industry Canada Small Business Research and Policy Research, policy, statistics
• Canadian Bankers Association CBA's "Getting Started in Small Business"
• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Resources and networks for social entrepreneurs
• City of Burlington
• Town of Halton Hills
• Town of Milton
• Town of Oakville
• Town of Oakville: OEDA Oakville's Economic Development Alliance devoted to business and tourism promotion
• BizPal Canadian online service to simplify business permit, licence and compliance regulation process
• Bibliotheque de reference virtuelle: affaires, finance et economie Un site Web en francais avec des liens vers des sites sur les affaires, la finance et l'economie

Build Your Business

• Resources for Small Business Owners blog Resources useful for small business owners to build their business
• Toronto Public Library's SmallbizXpress Gateway
• About.com's Small Business: Canada
• How to start a business blog
• Chamber of Commerce eLearning Centre Improve your business skills and retain your employees

Business Plans

• Business Plan starter Gov't of Canada Interactive Business Planner
• Business Plans - free examples BPlans.com

Business News

• The Daily News bulletin from Statistics Canada. RSS Feeds on topics of your choice available.
• CBC Reports
• CNN Money
• Report on Business From The Globe and Mail
• ReportonBusiness.com's Small Business From The Globe and Mail
• Financial Post Small Business
• Canadian Business Online
• Canada Newswire/CNW Group Canadian full-text news release site. Includes webcasts/podcasts, 116 RSS feeds
• BusinessWire Outlet for company press releases. Canada, U.S. and Global. Aggregated in Yahoo News and Google News.
• BusinessBlogwire Catch the latest news on Business Blogging
• Google Blog Search Search Google just for blogs. Many corporations release information this way.
• The Hill Times Canada's politics and government newsweekly
• USA Presidential Campaign 2008 Wall Street Journal news coverage of the 2008 US presidential elections with emphasis on fundraising and financial aspects of the campaign

Directories, Corporate Filings and Market Information

Halton Region

• Burlington Chamber of Commerce Directory
• Halton Region's Business Directory Search 4100+ local companies
• Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
• Milton Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
• Oakville Business Directory (Oakville Chamber of Commerce / OEDA)
• The Kerr Village BIA Business Directory

Canada

• Industry Canada Search by company, name or product. Patent and investment data - all free. Merger of Industry Canada and Strategis
• Dun & Bradstreet Canada Free and fee based data for over 1.46 million Canadian businesses.
• Frasers Free, searchable directory listings for industrial manufacturers & distributors in Canada
• SEDAR Public company filings (Canada).
• Canadian Trade Index Free and fee based data
• Canada IT 4000+ listings of technology companies. Free and fee based data, divided by province.
• Yahoo's Business Finder
• Statistics Canada
• NAICS North American Industry Classification System codes
• SIC-E 1980 Establishments Standard Industry Classification codes: Establishments
• SIC-C 1980 Companies & Enterprises Standard Industry Classification codes: Companies & Enterprises
• The Conference Board of Canada Economic trends, public policy and organization performance
• Imagine Canada Information and services for and about Canadian charities and nonprofits
• Nonprofit Library Commons Resources, tools and studies on the state of Canada's nonprofit sector; Imagine Canada's online library

International

• Hoovers Free and fee based data
• Thomas Register American industrial suppliers and manufacturers
• EDGAR SEC Public company filings, U.S.A.
• globalEDGE- created by Int'l Business Centre at Michigan State University Global news, country information and industry profiles plus GE Network: connect with international business professionals
• Kompass Free and fee based data
• ZoomInfo Company Search 3.6+ million companies searchable for free

Banking and Finance

• Bank of Canada
• Canada Revenue Agency's Business E-Services portal
• Canada Revenue Agency's Business Site Business structure, tax, payroll, e-services, audits, etc
• BDC: Business Development Corporation of Canada Link to financing, consulting services and venture capital sources from the BDC
• Canada Small Business Financing (CSBF) Program Industry Canada's program for small business loans

Major Banks

• BMO Bank of Montreal BMO's Business Banking
• CIBC Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CIBC's Business Services
• HSBC HSBC's Business Banking
• National Bank of Canada National Bank's Business
• RBC Royal Bank RBC Royal Bank Business Financial Services
• ScotiaBank Scotiabank's Small Business & Professionals
• TD Canada Trust TD Canada Trust Small Business Banking

Investing

Steps to Investing

• Breakout Analysis on investing in Canada and the U.S.
• About.com: Small Business: Canada About.com's Small Business Financing
• Ontario Securities Commission Click on the consumer link menu for help.

Online Quotations and Investing

• TSX TSX stock quotes, current market activity, corporate info and more
• BMO Investorline
• CIBC Investor's Edge
• TD Waterhouse
• RBC Investments
• ScotiaBank

Personal Investing

• Globe Investor From The Globe and Mail: "Financial news and analysis for Canadian and US markets including stock screening and analysis tools, portfolio tracking, stock quotes, charts", etc.
• Financial Post
• MarketWatch from Dow Jones Stock quotes and other information from Dow Jones & Company
• BNN Business News Network Formerly ROB TV, BNN is Canada's only television service devoted exclusively to business and finance news with wall-to-wall coverage of the markets.
• Google Finance Canada
• Yahoo!Canada Finance Canadian data
• TheStreet
• Bloomberg
• The Motley Fool
• Advice for Investors From MPL Communications: Portfolios, advice, stocks, research, publications and mutual funds
• Euroland: European Investor Free delayed share prices, news, portfolio, watchlist, currency converter and charts on major European Stock Exchanges.

Import/Export and Trade Data

• ImportSource Gov't of Canada information for importers
• Canadian Importers Database Industry Canada's importers directory
• ExportSource Gov't of Canada information for exporters
• Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting: Gov't of Canada
• Guide to Online Export Resources from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
• Ontario Trade Fact Sheets Select an Ontario trade partner and view trade data from Industry Canada
• Export Development Canada Trade finance and risk management services to Canadian exporters
• Trade Data Online Industry Canada's custom reports on Canada's and U.S. trade in goods with over 200 countries
• Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada Research and find new markets abroad
• Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Links to import / export websites
• Canadian Commercial Corporation Export sales agency, owned by the Government of Canada, helps Canadian exporters win sales on improved terms in government and private-sector markets around the world.
• Economic and Market Research/Statistics Industry Canada's research and analysis of Canadian industries, market research, trade and the economy
• Statistics Canada International Trade Free internet publications on international trade

Networking

• Burlington Chamber of Commerce
• Burlington Downtown Business Association
• Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce
• Georgetown BIA Georgetown Business Improvement Area
• Acton BIA Acton Business Improvement Area
• Milton Chamber of Commerce
• Downtown Milton BIA Downtown Milton Business Improvement Area
• Oakville Chamber of Commerce
• Downtown Oakville BIA Downtown Oakville Business Improvement Area represents 400+ businesses within its boundaries
• Bronte Village BIA Bronte Business Improvement Area, west Oakville
• Kerr Village BIA Kerr Village Business Improvement Area, central Oakville
• Halton Multicultural Council Halton community agency dedicated to enabling every individual, regardless of race or ethnic origin
• HAPPEN Networking assistance for executives in career transition
• Company of Women Bringing people and businesses together
• Women Who Excel Promoting women in Halton and Hamilton Wentworth regions
• Athena Promoting women in business
• Network for Women Entrepreneurs Government of Canada program supporting women entrepreneurs in Ontario
• Golden Horseshoe Venture Forum Non-profit organization enabling strategic relationships among Golden Horseshoe businesses
• BitNet - Business Information Technology Network Networking throughout Golden Horseshoe for those interested in technology and its application to today's business
• BNI Professional marketing organization specializing in word-of-mouth referrals
• BizNetworkNews.com Canadian networking events, newsletters, articles
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB lobbies all levels of government on behalf of small and medium-sized businesses
• Canadian Franchise Association

Finding Work and Finding Employees

• Service Canada Labour Market Information Job descriptions, wages & salaries, skills, availability of workers in local areas
• Canadian Alliance of Sector Councils Research, analysis and communication of labour market issues
• Halton Community Services Database One stop shopping for local employment information, with phone numbers.
• Bibliotheque de reference virtuelle: emplois et carrieres Un site Web en francais avec des liens vers des sites sur l'emplois et les carrieres
• Ontario Works Provision of income and employment assistance for people who are in temporary financial need
• VPI Employment facilitation firm: career assessment, resume assistance, job search and placement services for newcomers, youths and unemployed. Offices in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Georgetown.
• Goodwill Employment Solutions Goodwill's career counseling, job search and networking agency in Oakville. Resume and market research resources for individuals seeking to re-establish their careers.
• The Centre for Skills Development and Training Employment resource centre, counselling, pre-apprenticeship training, continuing education, corporate/employer services. Offices in Oakville and Burlington.
• JobConnect Sheridan College's youth employment program. Applicable for ages 16-24.
• Service Canada Centres (formerly HRSDC)
  • Service Canada Centre, Burlington
  • Service Canada Centre, Georgetown Services Acton, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Limehouse, Norval, Terra Cotta
  • Service Canada Centre, Milton
  • Service Canada Centre, Oakville
• Top 100 Employers in Oakville Company description and links, # employees
• Career Sites for Job Seekers Over 45
• Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com for 50+ Professionals Career information for professionals 50+; also U.S. job search
• Experienced Workers Program Halton Career planning and job search program for people 45 and over; includes information for employers seeking to hire trained, reliable workers
• Employment Ontario
• Workopolis 5000 + job listings daily, Canadian
• Eluta New job announcements at employers across Canada
• Monster.ca Finding jobs and finding employees
• Service Canada's JobBank Canadian employment opportunities; includes resume builder
• Emurse.com's Resume Builder Create, share and store resumes online
• Apprenticesearch.com Peel/Halton/Dufferin Search online for apprenticeship opportunities in your local area and information about the skilled trades
• Canada Prospects Career tools from the Canada Career Consortium