Small Business

01 Starting a Small Business in Alberta Starting a small business in Alberta can be surprisingly simple. Starting one with the right structure, records, registrations and financial habits takes more thought.... → 02 Sole Proprietorship vs Corporation One of the first structural decisions for an Alberta business is whether to operate personally as a sole proprietor or create a corporation. Neither... → 03 When Does an Alberta Business Need to Register? “Do I need to register my business?” sounds like a simple question, but registration can refer to several different things. Alberta registration, incorporation, CRA... → 04 Understanding Business Numbers and CRA Program Accounts The terminology around CRA business registration can be confusing because a Business Number and a CRA program account are related but are not the... → 05 GST for Small Alberta Businesses Alberta does not have a provincial sales tax, but GST still applies to many goods and services sold in the province. For a small... → 06 Business Licences and Municipal Permits Registering a business does not automatically give it permission to operate anywhere or perform every type of activity. Alberta businesses can encounter provincial requirements,... → 07 Insurance for Small Businesses Insurance does not prevent a business problem from happening. It transfers specified financial risks to an insurer under the terms, limits, exclusions and deductibles... → 08 Keeping Good Business Records Good records are not simply paperwork for tax season. They tell an owner what the business earned, what it spent, what customers owe, what... → 09 Understanding Cash Flow A profitable business can still run out of money. Cash flow measures when money actually comes into and leaves the business. That timing can... → 10 How to Price What You Sell Pricing is where costs, customer value and business strategy meet. A price copied from a competitor can be dangerously low if your costs are... → 11 Building a Useful Small Business Website A small-business website does not need to be complicated. Its first job is to answer the questions a potential customer has before calling, visiting... → 12 Local SEO Without the Hype Local search optimization is largely about helping search engines and customers understand who a business is, what it does and where it operates. It... → 13 Understanding Your Google Business Profile A Google Business Profile can place a local business directly in Google Search and Maps. For many customers it is the first business information... → 14 Online Reviews: Building Reputation Without Gaming It Reviews can help a customer decide whether to trust a business they have never used. That makes them valuable, but it also creates pressure... → 15 Social Media for a Local Business Social media can help a local business stay visible, show its work and maintain relationships with customers. It can also consume hours without producing... → 16 Selling Online From a Local Business Ecommerce can extend a local business beyond its storefront or farm gate, but an online store creates operational responsibilities that are easy to underestimate.... → 17 Cybersecurity Basics for Small Businesses A small business does not need an enterprise security department to reduce common cyber risks. It does need to protect the accounts, devices and... → 18 Hiring Your First Employee Hiring the first employee changes a business. The owner is no longer responsible only for customers, suppliers and their own work. The business becomes... → 19 Planning for Business Succession Every owner eventually leaves a business. Succession planning is deciding whether that transition will be deliberate or improvised. Start before you intend to leave... → 20 Why Supporting Local Business Matters “Support local” is often presented as a slogan. The more useful question is what actually changes when a viable local business earns a customer's... →