Getting Started

It is important to note that, as soon as an idea for a business comes to mind, you cannot immediately contact one of the financial assistance programs listed in this guide and receive a loan. First, you need to ask yourself whether or not you truly want to become an entrepreneur and, if so, begin to understand what exactly you are undertaking. The Feasibility Checklist for Starting a Small Business will help you organize those first steps.

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Financial Assistance

SEED Capital Program - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Core eligibility requirements: 18 to 35 years old for start-up, expansion and modernization; 35+ for start-up only.

This program offers loans of up to $20,000 for business start-up or expansion, and up to $2,000 for business counseling and training costs. To qualify, a young entrepreneur does not necessarily require equity. The loan can be used to attract other investors, but cannot be used for refinancing or leveraging existing debts, purchasing an already-established business, or business restructuring.

For more information, please contact:
 Community Business Development Corporations
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/

Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
Suite 107, Tower 1, Box 196
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3L 2H8
Telephone: 902-421-2333
Fax: 902-482-0291
Toll-free (information): 1-800-590-8481
E-mail: info@ceed.info
Web site: http://www.ceed.info/
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Canada Business - Nova Scotia
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-8604
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-888-576-4444
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-457-8466
E-mail: cbns@canadabusiness.ca
Web site: http://www.bsc-sec.ca/ns

See the document: Seed Capital Program

Students in Business - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Core eligibility requirements: 15 to 35 years old; attend or plan to attend high school or a post-secondary institution in the next year; be a resident of Nova Scotia

The Students in Business (SIB) program offers up to $5,000 per business in the form of a non-interest bearing loan and access to sources of start-up information, advice, and mentoring. All sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, and corporations that are considered desirable and essential to the local community will be eligible.

For more information, please contact:
Community Business Development Corporations
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/

See the document: Students in Business
Visit the Web site:  Students in Business

Aboriginal Business Canada

Core eligibility requirements: 18 to 35 years old; Aboriginal; have a minimum of 10% cash equity to invest in total product costs.

If you are Aboriginal, contributions are available to help you launch, acquire or expand a business, as well as to source financing, access markets and develop the specific management skills you'll need. The business opportunity can be in any sector.

For more information, please contact:
 Aboriginal Business Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Suite 500
CIBC Building
1809 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3K7
Telephone: 902-426-2018
Fax: 902-426-1643
Web site: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ecd/ab/abc/index-eng.asp

See the document: Aboriginal Business Canada

Canadian Youth Business Foundation

Funded solely by the private sector, the CYBF provides three key areas of support for young entrepreneurs from 18 to 34 years old:

These programs are available through community partners in each province. A full list is available through the CYBF Website.

For more information, please contact:
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Suite 1410
100 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario  M5H 1S3
Fax: 1-877-408-3234
Toll-free (information): 1-800-464-2923
E-mail: info@cybf.ca
Web site: http://cybf.ca/contact-us/

See the document:  CYBF - Canadian Youth Business Foundation

Ulnooweg Young Natives Entrepreneurship Program - Ulnooweg Development Group Inc.

Core eligibility requirements: age 35 or younger; Aboriginal business owner in Atlantic Canada.

This program is sponsored by Ulnooweg Development Group and encourages young natives to consider entrepreneurship and small business as career options. Loans can be up to $15,000 with the interest rate generally set at 8.5%, and are designated for anything related to business, excluding financing. There is a payback period of five years on the loan.

For more information, please contact:
 Mr. Todd Hoskin
Director of Operations
Ulnooweg Development Group Inc.
835 Willow Street
P.O. Box 1259
Truro, Nova Scotia  B2N 6N8
Telephone: 902-893-7379
Fax: 902-893-0353
Toll-free (information): 1-888-766-2376
E-mail: thoskin@ulnooweg.ca
Web site: http://www.ulnooweg.ca

See the document: Ulnooweg Development Group Inc.

Canada Small Business Financing Program

Core eligibility requirements: business is operated in Canada with the goal of earning a profit; for an existing business, revenues must not exceed $5 million for the fiscal year; for a new business, revenues must not be expected to exceed $5 million during the first year of operation.

The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBF) can assist new and existing small businesses in obtaining term loans and capital leases of up to $250,000 to help balance fixed asset needs. Farming, charitable, or religious enterprises are ineligible for assistance. There are several more conditions concerning the program that can be viewed on the CSBF Web site.

For more information, please contact:
 For technical questions about the Act and inquiries from financial institutions:
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Industry Canada
5th Floor West
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H5
Telephone: 613-954-5540
Fax: 613-952-0290
Toll-free (information): 1-866-959-1699
E-mail: CSBFA-LFPEC@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/eng/h_la02855.html

See the document:  Canada Small Business Financing (CSBF) Program

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Support Services

Open For Business

Open for Business helps individuals discover, develop and fine-tune their business skills, or take that great idea and turn it into a successful entrepreneurial adventure. Services offered include one-on-one consultation in the Resource Centre, Business Plan assistance, and a wide range of Community Outreach programs.

For more information, please contact:
Open For Business
Suite 107, Tower 1
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3L 2H8
Telephone: 902-482-0297
Fax: 902-482-0291
Toll-free (information): 1-800-590-8481
E-mail: ofbhalifax@ceed.info
Web site: http://www.ofbnetwork.com/

See the document:  Open For Business

Youth.gc.ca

Youth.gc.ca provides community-specific information to Canadian youth aged 15 to 30. The site offers help on how to start your own business, tips for finding a job, and a wealth of other information. Several publications produced by the Government of Canada for youth are available for ordering or viewing online.

Visit the Web site: http://www.youth.gc.ca/

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network is a non-profit organization providing inspiration, support, and networking opportunities to clients who, despite a disability, dream of owning a business. EDN’s more than 400 members are situated across Nova Scotia.

For more information, please contact:
 Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-0561
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-888-576-4444
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-797-4188 Nova Scotia only
TTY (hearing impaired): 902-426-0561
E-mail: info@ednns.ca
Web site: http://www.ednns.ca/

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Training Programs

Business is Jammin'- Black Business Initiative

This initiative exposes Black Youth aged 8 to 30 to training and development that will enable them to start their own business and instill business skills that will be of future benefit. Training programs are offered in three age categories 8-15, 16-20, and 21-30 to allow BBI to design programs that meet the specific needs and interest level of each age group.

For more information, please contact:
Black Business Initiative
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-2224
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-888-576-4444
E-mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.bbi.ns.ca

Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED) focuses on providing guidance and support to the wide range of people it feels would enjoy running their own business. CEED provides entrepreneurship education through professional development training given to educators and service providers; resources and educational materials designed to support the learning of youth in schools; and innovative school initiatives and programs created to positively impact the educational experiences of students.

For more information, please contact:
Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
Suite 107, Tower 1, Box 196
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3L 2H8
Telephone: 902-421-2333
Fax: 902-482-0291
Toll-free (information): 1-800-590-8481
E-mail: info@ceed.info
Web site: http://www.ceed.info/
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Age eligibility: under 35 years old.

Part of ACOA’s Business Development Program, the Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative (YEDI) is designed to enhance the entrepreneurship training, information, and support services available to qualifying Atlantic Canadians. Since studies indicate that one in five young people in the region would like to start their own business, YEDI wishes to insure that these aspiring entrepreneurs have access to the tools and programs they need in order to succeed in business. Investments will be made in three key areas:

Not-for-profit and non-commercial entities, such as business and economic development organizations, educational institutions, and municipalities, are eligible to apply for funding. All ACOA assistance is non-repayable and limited to the percentage of eligible costs necessary for the project to succeed.

For more information, please contact:
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Suite 600
1801 Hollis Street
P.O. Box 2284, Station M
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3C8
Telephone: 902-426-6743
Fax: 902-426-2054
Toll-free (information): 1-800-565-1228
Web site: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/Pages/home.aspx

Or, for Cape Breton, please contact:
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
70 Crescent Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1S 2Z7
Telephone: 902-564-3600
Fax: 902-564-3825
Toll-free (information): 1-800-705-3926
E-mail: ecbcinfo@ecbc-secb.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp

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Networking

Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship

Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching young Canadians about creating a brighter future for themselves and their communities. In partnership with businesses and post-secondary institutions, ACE delivers two programs on over fifty university and college campuses across Canada. One program, Students in Free Enterprise, is team-based, while the other, Student Entrepreneur, is individual. Nova Scotia campuses where ACE programs are delivered include Acadia University, Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, Saint Mary’s University, and the Université Sainte-Anne.

For further information, please contact:
 Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship
Suite 1302
100 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, Ontario  M5H 1S3
Telephone: 1-800-766-8169
Fax: 416-864-0514
E-mail: info@acecanada.ca
Web site: http://www.acecanada.ca

Visit the Web site: http://acecanada.ca/

Junior Chamber International

Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a worldwide federation of more than 200,000 young professionals and entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 to 40. With over 6,000 chapters located in more than 100 countries, JCI’s mission is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, fellowship and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change. In Nova Scotia, JCI has chapters in Halifax, Windsor, Cape Breton, and Colchester.

For further information, please contact:
President
Chamber of Commerce
JCI Halifax
Junior Chamber International
PO Box 51018
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3M 4R8
Telephone: (902) 443-0533
E-mail: info@hfxjrchamber.com

Visit the Web site: http://hfxjrchamber.com/

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Additional Resources

Young Entrepreneur Awards - Business Development Bank of Canada

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) honours the achievements of dynamic young Canadian business people between the ages of 19-35 through the BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards. Outstanding entrepreneurs representing thirteen businesses - one from each province and territory - are selected by independent committees comprised of business professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and representatives of the business media and Export Development Canada (EDC).

For further information, please contact:
Business Development Bank of Canada
Suite 1400
Cogswell Tower - Scotia Square
2000 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2Z7
Telephone: 902-426-7850
Fax: 902-426-6783
Toll-free (information): 1-877-BDC-BANX (1-877-232-2269)
E-mail: info@bdc.ca
Web site: http://www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm

See the document: Young Entrepreneur Awards

Youth - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada offers exchanges and internship programs to encourage young Canadians to learn new skills that will help them compete in Canada and in the global economy. Whether you are interested in traveling or studying in a foreign country, various programs are offered for youth.

For more information, please contact:
 Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Suite 1101
1791 Barrington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3K9
Telephone: 902-426-7540
Fax: 902-426-5218
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
E-mail: hlfax@international.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/international/index.aspx?lang=eng

Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement (JA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people about business and economics. The JA experience helps young people discover leadership, entrepreneurial, and workforce readiness skills so they can achieve their highest potential and future successes as citizens in the global community.

For more information, please contact:
Halifax
Lynn Coveduck
Junior Achievement of Canada
Corridor 4, Upper level
West End Mall
6960 Mumford Road, Suite 14B
Toronto, Nova Scotia  B3L 4P1
Telephone: 902-454-4564
Fax: 902-454-4514
Toll-free (information): 1-800-265-0699
E-mail: lcoveyduck@janovascotia.org
Web site: http://www.janovascotia.org/contactus.cfm

Visit the Web site: http://jacan.org/

Service Nova Scotia - Registry of Joint Stock Corporations

The law requires all businesses operating in Nova Scotia to sign up with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, with exceptions being:

Registration procedures vary depending on which type of business you wish to register, be it a: Business Name on Behalf of a Limited Company; Co-operative; Extra-provincial Company; Incorporated Company; Partnership; Society; or Sole Proprietorship. Full details and definitions of these types of businesses are available online.

For more information, please contact:
 Registry of Joint Stock Companies
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
9th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
P. O. Box 1529
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3K5
Telephone: (902) 424-7770
Fax: (902) 424-4633
Toll-free (information): 1-800-670-4357
E-mail: joint-stocks@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rjsc/

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