Business Resources

Education & Training for Businesses in Maple Ridge

Diversification

Education For Continued Growth and Success

One of Maple Ridge's greatest economic strengths is our diversification. There are many economic sectors that are integral to the growth of Maple Ridge including agriculture, finance, health care, manufacturing, professional services, technology and tourism.



The City of Maple Ridge has many options to help you nurture your business into a long term success.

We're Here to Help!

No matter what stage of business you're at—from developing the initial concept, to running an established business or taking your business beyond Maple Ridge—the resources listed below can help you take your business to the next level, whatever that may be. 

Business Names, Partnerships and Limited Companies

Business names, partnerships and limited companies must be registered with the province. Names must be searched before they can be registered with the province. You may operate as a sole proprietor under your own name without need of registration of the company name. Appropriate forms are available from the government agent or online.

AgPal

AgPal offers BC farmers, producers, and food processors information and links to a variety of federal and provincial programs for funding, insurance, marketing, and technology adoption.

BC Economic Atlas

The BC Economic Atlas is a user friendly, publicly available web-based mapping application that integrates and displays spatial economic and natural resource data to support business and investment opportunity identification, business case analysis, and business and investment decision-making in BC.

BC Tech Association

The BC Tech Association connects start-up and mid-size companies from across the technology spectrum with seasoned mentors, focusing on revenue growth, executing on customer and revenue expansion plans, and providing access to global experts and connections. 

BizPaL

BizPaL  provides a convenient one-stop source for the business permits and licences that may be required to start and grow your business.

Business Council of BC

The Business Council is a policy and business advocacy organization in the province. Membership provides opportunities to participate in round table meetings, working committees and conferences, which allow you to stay informed about current developments and stay connected with other business leaders and government.

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

BDC helps create and develop Canadian businesses through financing, venture capital and consulting services, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. 

Business Improvement Association

The Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association (DMRBIA) exists to encourage and promote business in the downtown area through various cooperative projects including festivals, events, safety, security, banners, street design and furniture, garbage receptacles, cleanup, graffiti prevention, street and walkway lighting, holiday decorations and other operations which aim to improve the BIA community in general.

Canada Small Business Financing Program

The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders.  Up to a maximum of $1,000,000 is available for any one borrower, of which no more than $350,000 can be used for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property and purchasing or improving new or used equipment.

Chambers of Commerce 

• BC Chamber of Commerce - Advocates to provincial and federal governments on behalf of its 125 members and more than 36,000 businesses to ensure their concerns are being heard.
• Ridge Meadows Chamber of Commerce - Your local chamber of commerce connects businesses through networking, learning, and advocacy to promote and protect the interests of their members.

Employment Standards

All employers in BC must comply with provincial Employment Standards, available online from the provincial government.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC)

Farm Credit Canada is Canada's leading agriculture lender, providing financing, insurance, software, learning programs and other business services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations.

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs

The Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) educates, mentors and connects women entrepreneurs to be wildly successful, promoting strong economies and thriving communities. From learning about raising capital, to developing a pitch, growing one's HR, sales, leadership skills and more, we support women entrepreneurs leading business at any stage, of any size and industry, anywhere in Canada.

Futurpreneur

Futurpreneur focuses on helping aspiring young entrepreneurs aged 18-39 with pre-launch expertise, mentoring and character-based (not collateral-based) financing of up to $15,000.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

If you anticipate your annual gross revenue, from sales of GST taxable goods and services, will be greater than $30,000.00 you are required to register for the GST. Registration forms are available online at the Canada Revenue Agency or by calling 1-800-959-5525.

Invest Vancouver | Metro Vancouver

Invest Vancouver is Metro Vancouver's regional economic development service. They work directly with global investors to facilitate business investment and expansion into the region, advise leaders on economic development policy and strategy to enhance the region's global competitiveness, inform economic development decision-making with cutting-edge data analytics and market intelligence, foster regional economic development collaboration, and promote and showcase the advantages and opportunities the region has to offer.

National Research Council of Canada (NRC IRAP)

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) is Canada's leading innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized businesses. NRC IRAP can help Canadian businesses build their innovation capacity and commercialization through financial assistance, advisory services, and connections to business and R&D expertise. Visit NRC online or call 1-877-994-4727. 

New Farm Start-up Guide

An online Guide to starting and growing a small or medium sized farm business in British Columbia.

New Ventures BC

New Ventures BC is a non-profit organization that recognizes, encourages, and supports entrepreneurship in BC's technology sector. The New Ventures BC Competition is the largest and longest-running tech competition in BC, offering education, coaching and awarding $250,000 and prizes to BC startups. Other New Venture BC programs include the Distance Venture Acceleration Program which focuses on customer discovery and market validation training, and the Innovator Skills Initiative Grant Program which provides tech companies and startups with up to $10,000 a year to hire a BC post-secondary student.

Opportunities BC

Opportunities BC is a free on-line database to search for businesses and projects around British Columbia. Searches can range from locating small businesses and large parcels of industrial land for sale to entrepreneurs seeking investment partners. Opportunities BC links users to community profiles, where potential investors and immigrants can access detailed information and can compare B.C.'s communities based on demographics, labour force, housing and transportation statistics.

Provincial Sales Taxes (PST)

If your business entails the buying and selling taxable goods, you will require a provincial sales tax licence (PST). Contact the Consumer Taxation Branch for more information on this.

Small Business BC

Small Business BC assists small businesses at every stage of development with products, services and support in order to foster development and growth, improve productivity, increase profitability and create new opportunities. 

Starting a Restaurant in BC

A comprehensive online guide on the requirements for starting a restaurant in BC.

Succession Matching

Succession Matching is an on-line community of business buyers, sellers, and succession planning professionals.  

WeBC 

WeBC is a not-for-profit that has been supporting women business owners across the province for nearly three decades. Working with regional partners, WeBC has provided thousands of entrepreneurs with business loans and expertise, training, resources, and peer network support to help businesses grow and thrive.

WorkBC

WorkBC provides BC employers with information to help support and grow their business, as well as access to a job board that helps them find quality talent through free job postings.

WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC promotes workplace health and safety for the workers and employers, provides return-to-work rehabilitation, compensation and health care benefits, and enforces occupational health and safety regulations in BC.

Young Agrarians

Young Agrarians is a network for new and young ecological and organic farmers. The network is made up of a diverse array of food growers and lovers: rural and urban farmers, market gardeners, seed savers, food activists, bee keepers, community gardeners, food/farmer organizations and more- working to steward land and soil, and grow our local food systems.

The Economic Development department regularly undertakes studies and analyses to get a better understanding of business opportunities for both local companies and investors looking to be a part of our dynamic, growing city. 

• Maple Ridge Retail Market Analysis (2023)
• Tourism Strategy Update (2022)
• HVS Hotel Market Study (2022)
• Hotel Investment Opportunity Profile (2022)
• CBRE Accommodation Market Update for a Proposed Hotel (2021)
• Economic Development Strategy (2021)
• Tourism Strategy (2017)
• Hotel Feasibility Study (2017)