Business immigrants looking to start a business in Ontario have a number of ways to find information. A good place to start is to review the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade's
Starting a Business site where you will find a guide to starting a small business and links to resources available to small business.
The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre (COBSC) is another excellent source of information on starting and developing your business. From this site you can access helpful information on a wide range of business topics including business planning tips, taxation, employment regulations, importing/exporting, e-commerce, financing etc. COBSC also has a Contact Centre (1-800-567-2345) where knowledgeable staff can answer questions and direct you to relevant resources.
Small Business Enterprise Centres are located in communities across Ontario to provide in-person business consultation services. Services available through an Enterprise Centre include access to a wide range of resource material, internet and computer access for conducting business research, workshops and seminars, and referrals to business professionals.
Ontario offers streamlined on-line business registration and access to services for business through the ServiceOntario initiative. You may also register for MyBIS, an email subscription service providing information on a range of business topics. Further information is available through the ServiceOntario site or from a local Enterprise Centre.
Federal government sites to review include Canada Business, a good portal with links to business information across Canada, and the Canada Revenue Agency's Small and Medium-size Enterprises Zone, for information on taxation requirements for small and medium size businesses.
