Do you personally know an entrepreneur who has launched a business in the last two years? Will there be any good business opportunities in the next six months? Do you have the abilities and qualifications needed to launch business? Would fear of failure prevent you from launching your own business? Is it cashflow or the lack of funds? Is the creation of a business a desirable career goal? Does success in business earn you social status and respect? Do successful businesses get good media exposure? Are you ready to be in business for yourself… do you have no choice because you are already in it? We need a society in which Canadians aspire to be active owners and entrepreneurs, not just passive investors, Our culture needs to place more value on entrepreneurial-type risk taking, Our educational system needs to teach more about entrepreneurial-type risk taking and how to finance your business. Most businesses get their initial funds from friends and family, family businesses and support within families should be a course we take in University or within Grade School… instead we are taught to ask strangers for jobs and strangers for money. Canada is a nation of entrepreneurs where 97% of our Nations businesses are categorized as Small business.

These are some of the findings of an RBC poll conducted by Ipsos Reid between July 27 and August 3, 2007.

The top ten pieces of advice existing entrepreneurs have for people hoping to start up a business, according to a survey by RBC Financial Group which compared the responses of aspiring entrepreneurs with those of existing entrepreneurs:

• Know your competition (51 percent)
• Develop a business plan (50 percent)
• Research the market (49 percent)
• Network, develop alliances (45 percent)
• Take time for marketing (38 percent)
• Seek out mentors (35 percent)
• Spend time defining the needs your business will meet (35 percent)
• Survey potential customers (34 percent)
• Do homework about where to locate your business (34 percent)
• Join clubs/associations (32 percent)

DOES Ipsos Reid investors ask about Family of investment… probably not, but this is a vital consideration of call entrepreneurs.

“Small Business Ownership Fun, But Long Hours”, NBC5.com, October 22, 2007.

The Ipsos Reid Study polled 900 Canadian small business owners on behalf of HP Canada with the results reviewed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

Findings:

• 63 percent of the responders said they are motivated to continue with their small business because they find the work enjoyable.
• 59 said they stick with it because of the independence the job brings.
• 42 percent said they put in more than 53 hours of work a week.
• 44 percent said the work was more demanding than they expected.

The small business owners reported a number of specific challenges, from finding new customers and markets (59 percent) to dealing with finances (47 percent) to handling government regulations and paperwork (42 percent).

The small business owners reported a number of specific challenges, from finding new customers and markets (59 percent) to dealing with finances (47 percent) to handling government regulations and paperwork (42 percent).

“In a separate poll of 1,842 adult Canadians, the study found that 97 percent of the responders view entrepreneurs as highly motivated, 93 percent said they are innovative, 92 percent said they believe they are reliable, and 96 percent said that they perform quality work.”

This is proof that Canadian’s invest in small business every day, with their own business, with their family, and with their friends because… Canadians believe in entrepreneurship!!!

If you ask your friends or family for funds, be sure to document it, www.documentyourloan.com

This message sponsored by http://www.kasu.ca – Personal Loan Documents and Crowdfunding Solutions

Small Business Loans for Women in Western Canada

Women’s Enterprise Initiative Loan Program (Western Economic Diversification Canada (WEDC))

The non-profit Women’s Economic Initiative (WEI) has offices in each of the four western provinces and provides small business loans for women, as well as business information, advisory services and training options for women business owners. Their small business loans for women will provide debt financing of up to $100,000 for for start-up, expansion or the purchase of an existing business.

The following Women’s Enterprise Centres administer the program (and provide a host of other services for women entrepreneurs):

Women’s Enterprise Centre of BC

Small business loans for women up to a maximum of $100,000 are provided to help start, purchase or grow a viable business. You need to be able to demonstrate that your business idea is realistic and that you’re prepared to commit to it by submitting a comprehensive business plan along with your loan application.

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)

AWE provides women entrepreneurs in Alberta with small business loans of up to $100,000. AWE will assign you a Business Advisor when you apply who will lead you through the preparation of a business plan and the loans process.

Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc.

Women who wish to start, buy or already own a business in Saskatchewan can apply for small business loans of up to $100,000. You must work with a Business Advisor prior to applying for a loan.

Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba

Like the other Enterprise Centres, the Manitoba Centre provides women with small business loans of up to $100,000. If you are applying for a loan of over $10,000, you will need too submit a completed business plan with your loan application. A Business Analyst will work with you throughout the process.

Women are statistically better at paying back loans, if you are looking for financing and you are a woman, you should consider using the statistics supporting the reliability of women in paying back loans when approaching friends and family. If you gain loans from your friends and family for your business venture, be sure to document your loan at www.documentyourloan.com

Small Business Loans for Women in Eastern Canada

ACOA Women in Business Initiative

The ACOA Women in Business Initiative focuses on improving the access of women to business financing. To do this, ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) has partnered with Development Corporations throughout the region.

There are more than 40 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) in the region as well as a multitude of urban lenders who are part of the program.

Women are statistically better at paying back loans, if you are looking for financing and you are a woman, you should consider using the statistics supporting the reliability of women in paying back loans when approaching friends and family. If you gain loans from your friends and family for your business venture, be sure to document your loan at www.documentyourloan.com

“The Labour Force Survey also collects labour market information about the territories. This information is produced monthly in the form of three-month moving averages. Not all estimates are seasonally adjusted, therefore, comparisons should only be made on a year-over-year basis.

In the last quarter of 2009, the number of people working in the Northwest Territories fell by 1,500 compared with the same quarter of 2008 and the unemployment rate was 6.0%, the lowest among the three territories.

Employment in the Yukon fell by 900 over the same period and the unemployment rate reached 7.5% in the final quarter of 2009.

In Nunavut, employment was little changed for the last three months of 2009 compared with the same period a year ago and the unemployment rate stood at 12.7%.”

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

In December, employment was little changed in Quebec. However, an increase in labour force participation pushed the unemployment rate in the province up 0.3 percentage points to 8.4%.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

Employment in New Brunswick fell by 3,600 in December. A similar decline in the number of people in the labour force dampened the increase in the unemployment rate, as it edged up from 8.8% in November to 8.9% in December.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

In Manitoba, employment declined by 4,600 in December, offsetting the increase in November. At 5.7%, the unemployment rate in December remained among the lowest of all provinces.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

Employment in Ontario edged down in December, a shift in the trend has also occurred, with the number of workers little changed (-0.4%) over the last nine months of 2009. This contrasts with substantial employment losses totalling 171,000 (-2.5%) from October 2008 to March 2009, as manufacturing employment fell steeply over this period.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

Alberta Unemployment, Strong Growth is with Strong Entrepreneurs

As reported by the Canadian Labour Force Survey, in Alberta, employment rose by 14,000 in December, a similar increase as November. Since March 2009, employment in the province has stabilized (+0.3%), a contrast to the pronounced decline of 2.4% observed since the employment peak in October 2008.

Alberta has managed to remain a leader in job creation with strong government, strong entrepreneurs, and continued fiscal policy that is working in their favour.

Albertan’s have always been entrepreneurial and the Province has shown strong growth due to its employment numbers.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)

The Latest Release of the Canadian Labour Force Survey

Released on Friday January 8^th 2010, the results for the end of the year 2009 came out, and it appears despite a banner month in November, some provinces saw a decline and across the board unemployment and employment remained flat, remaining at 8.5%. In the last nine months, employment has stabilized but remains 323,000 (-1.9%) below the October 2008 peak.

The largest declines were in transportation and warehousing; business, building and other support services; and public administration.

As one would predict, the number of self employed is increasing, and from our experience in 1980/81 and in 1990/91, we will see a large number of self employed people in 2010/11.

There was a decrease in public sector employment in December, while the number of self-employed workers was up and the number of private sector employees was unchanged. Since the employment peak of October 2008, the number of self-employed increased. However, the number of people working as employees fell, especially in the private sector, where signs of stabilization have only emerged recently.

So what does this mean to you?

Typically you go through at least 11 jobs in your life, some more. Your likely going to be working a different job in 4 years from now, but the job you have is the one you have. You will make more money and your life will get better from either:

-          Finding a higher paying job (which may involve getting educated and switching industries)

-          Find a business opportunity or self-employed job that you can sink your teeth in

-          Buying into an existing company or franchise and becoming self-employed (maybe employ some of those unemployed youth out there with their first jobs)

-          Fins a small side job to make extra money, be creative, and be frugal

How can you do this if you’re struggling for funds?

-          Government Small Business and Youth Business Funds

-          Loans From Friends and Family (Which you should document, www.documentyourloan.com)

-          Bring on a partner for your idea with capital

-          Get educational loans and or funds for changing vocation

-          Possibly your company will put funds towards education if retrenchment is near, at least they get tax write-offs

-          Find a business that takes little capital to start but you can begin and get cashflow with a few friends and family contacts or old contacts from past work and business you have done

Go to the people who believe in you, past employers, past business partners, friends, family, someone you gave advice to that worked, and work on your relationship with them first to either gain investment or a loan… or possibly supply them a service or business offering you have. It’s one of the first steps, but if you make a loan, make sure its documented. (www.documentyourloan.com)