Business Resource Links and Contacts

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No matter what stage of business you're at—from developing the initial concept to running an established business—businessSTART can connect you to a wealth of resources that can take your business to the next level. 

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 Technology 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 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 

Employment Standards Act

Employers must comply with the "Employment Standards Act" 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.

Glossary of Terms

Glossary of terms that will help you to navigate the steps to starting your own business.

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 800-959-5525.


Government of Canada Concierge Service

Concierge Service is a one-stop-shop for all Governmental programs (grants, funds or other programs of value). The Concierge Service is accessible to the public through the Concierge Service website or by calling the Client Contact Centre at 1-855-53-GUIDE (1-855-534-8433).

Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver has an enhanced planning and economy data web page with more accessible information about the region, including monthly and annual data indicators (such as business activity, housing starts, real estate measures, employment levels, population growth, and other socio-economic data), census bulletins (including summary highlights from the 2011 census), various regional reference maps, and links to other economic and planning related reference websites.

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.


One Stop Services

The OneStop Business Registry is a public sector partnership offering integrated business registration and business address change services based on the business number. All OneStop services are available online from the local Government Agent Office or at their office located at 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road in Maple Ridge.


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 Tax (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. Western Economic Diversification Canada Western Economic Diversification Canada works to strengthen western innovation, business development and community economic development. MentorshipBC, a new online resource that connects small business owners with mentorship programs, can help you figure out what mentorship resources exist so you can find the right business mentor.

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.  

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.

Women's Enterprise Centre 

The Women's Enterprise Centre provides a wide variety of resources for women entrepreneurs including skills development, business loans, free  business guidance, business resources, mentoring,  networking and events.

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.