Canada Home Business Tools

Examples of Canada Home Business Tools and Guides

Business Start-Up Assistant

A great place to start when starting a [[How To Start A Home Based Business|home business] is the Government of Canada's Business Start-Up Assistant site. Information about the following topics is provided:

• Being an Entrepreneur
• How to Start a Business
• Writing a Business Plan
• Choosing a Business Name
• Registering the Business
• Obtaining Financing
• Paying Taxes
• Employment Matters (when hiring employees or independent contractors)
• * Operating an Online Business
• Imports/Exports

Each topic is subdivided by province to provide information relevant to the area where the business will be operating.

Be sure to check out the web page devoted to Home-Based Businesses. It includes a list of tips to get your business off to a good start and a list of ideas for home-based enterprises. For those who are still wondering whether a home-based business is the right choice for them, a list of pros and cons of working from home are provided.

eBiz Enable

The eBiz Enable web site offers information to those people who would like to start an online business. Newbies can find out what an e-business is and take a tutorial; a certificate of accomplishment is given to those who pass a quiz at the end.

Are you interested in exporting products or services? You will find tips for marketing, learn how to accept electronic payments, and be exposed to the fundamentals of customer relationship management (CRM). This educational site also includes information about how companies from a number of different industries have successfully incorporated e-commerce into their business plan.

Canada Revenue Agency Information for Small Business

Part of running a home business is keeping financial records for tax purposes. This section of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website provides the business owner with valuable information about such items as tax implications for the different types of businesses (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation), accounting methods (cash or accrual), what is considered business income, and what expenses can be deducted from business income. Visitors to the site will also learn how the CRA selects files to be audited and how the auditing process works.

CRA also holds seminars at various locations for business owners on the following topics:

• Starting a Small Business
• Registering for Goods & Services Tax (GST)
• Preparing Tax Information Slips for Employees (T4s)
• Payroll Deductions for Employees

SME Direct

Industry Canada offers the Small & Medium-Sized Businesses (SME) Direct Website. Check out the SME site to learn more about:

• Human Resources
• Technology
• Operations
• Sales/Marketing Strategies
• Financing
• Doing Business with the Federal Government
• Competitive Intelligence
• Innovation
• E-Business Diagnostic Tools

Interactive Business Planner

All businesses, whether home-based or not, need a business plan. This handy online tool allows the entrepreneur to develop a three-year business plan by answering a series of questions. Sample business plans are provided, along with definitions and helpful tips.

Wherever you are in Canada, home business tools are only a click of the mouse away. You can access valuable information directly from your home office.