Building Your Values-Driven Business with the Feminist Business Model Canvas is a bilingual, online course that walks you through the process of creating a feminist business model at your own pace, wherever it fits in your schedule

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Without the right planning, many entrepreneurs find themselves facing challenges they didn’t anticipate. Nearly half of Canadian small businesses close within five years. Why?

This guide outlines the top 10 reasons small businesses fail, backed by research and real-world insight. From poor cash flow management to ineffective marketing, you’ll discover what causes business breakdowns and how to avoid them.

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Strategic planning is essential for the success of any growing small business. This guide provides a practical framework for matching your business’s strengths to available opportunities. Learn how to collect and analyze information about your business environment and gain a clear understanding of your business’s strengths, weaknesses, mission, goals, and objectives.

Key Benefits of This Guide:

• Proactive Planning: Understand why proactive planning is crucial in today’s business environment.
• Real-World Examples: Learn from the “A Tale of Two Businesses” example, illustrating the importance of strategic planning.
• Step-by-Step Guidance: Follow the outlined steps in developing your strategic plan, from creating a mission statement to setting goals.
• Comprehensive Business Plan: Discover the key elements of a well-structured business plan.
• Effective Implementation: Learn how to implement your strategy through communication, scheduling, and control systems.

Download our guide to get started today!

Want to boost your business skills? Check out our self-paced SMART Programs! These free courses are designed to help you understand key concepts, work through interactive case studies and complete activities that apply the learning to your own business. Learn more >>>

The post Strategic Planning for the Growing Business appeared first on WeBC.

As a woman entrepreneur in manufacturing, you pour your heart and soul into creating exceptional products. But are you pricing them for true profitability? Don’t leave money on the table. Our free guide, “Pricing for Small Manufacturers,” demystifies pricing strategies, helping you confidently set prices that reflect your value and secure your business’s future. Download it now and take control of your bottom line.

Key Learnings

• Calculate Your True Costs: Learn how to accurately account for materials, labor, and overhead.
• Understand Your Market: Identify your target audience and analyze competitor pricing.
• Implement Effective Pricing Strategies: Discover proven methods like cost-plus, value-based, and competitive pricing.
• Set Profitable Price Points: Determine the optimal price to maximize your margins.
• Avoid Common Pricing Mistakes: Prevent underselling and ensure sustainable growth.

Download the guide and start maximizing your profits today!

The post Pricing For Small Manufacturers appeared first on WeBC.

Are you a woman entrepreneur running a small retail business seeking clarity in your pricing strategy? This insightful guide provides 52 key questions designed to navigate the complexities of retail pricing, from understanding markup and crafting a strategic approach to making necessary adjustments. This resource empowers you to make confident pricing decisions, whether you’re launching a new store or refining your existing pricing policy.

Why this guide is invaluable:

• For New Retailers: Gain essential insights and navigate initial pricing decisions with clarity.
• For Established Businesses: Periodically review and optimize your pricing strategy to ensure continued profitability and growth.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Explore every aspect of pricing, from calculating markup to implementing effective pricing strategies.
• Strategic Questioning: Gain clarity and confidence in your pricing decisions through targeted probing.

Download the guide with 52 essential pricing questions and take control of your retail profits today!

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Starting, expanding, or moving a business? BC Registries and Online Services manages the creation (registration and/or incorporation) and listing of businesses and organizations in British Columbia.

The BC Business Registry is a self-serve online resource where you can request your business name, register, and maintain your business all in one convenient location. The process is clearly outlined with step-by-step guidance.

The new BC Registries account supports the following services (and more):

Business Registry

Start a B.C. based business and keep business records up to date. Here you are currently able to:

• Incorporate and manage benefit companies and cooperative associations.
• Register and manage general partnerships and sole proprietorships (including “Doing Business As” / DBA names).
• Go to BC Business Registry

Name Request

Research and request a name for your new or existing B.C. business. Here you are able to:

• Search for a business name.
• Manage your existing Name Request.
• Go to Name Request 

All registrations of businesses, not-for-profit societies, cooperative associations, and more, are administered and supported by BC Registries and Online Services. Please visit their site for the most up-to-date information.

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In August 2023, we hosted Jessica Wicks from Accelerate Okanagan in our virtual WeCafé for an interactive session to explore this tool and how you can apply it to your business.

In this recording you will learn how you can use the Business Model Canvas to:

• Simplify and test your ideas,
• Validate your assumptions, and
• Identify which resources you need to make your business startup or growth a reality.

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SBIS Part 1: How to Write a Business Plan

You have a business idea—congratulations! Now it’s time to get it down on paper.

A business plan can help you test your ideas, make decisions, minimize your risk, get funding and so much more.

In SBIS Part 1, we use the document “How to Write an Effective Business Plan” to break down business planning into 10 steps.

You will learn about:

• How to structure your business plan and where you can go for industry-specific samples
• What to include in each section and how to think through them
• How each part of your business plan works together to create a roadmap for your business.

Facilitator: Danielle Andrews | Outreach Officer

We hope you enjoy the recorded version of this session.”

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It’s true that each business is unique; however, there are some common elements of business planning that many entrepreneurs tend to neglect. Understanding these basics is your ticket to creating a business that runs smoothly, year after year.

Watch this informative hour with our friends at Purpose CPA to decide what should go at the top of your to-do list and gain a better understanding of how important it is to start your business the right way. In this session, you will:

• Understand the value of having a business plan
• Discover what to consider when choosing a business structure
• Gain a better understanding of monitoring cash flow
• Learn how to make informed decisions regarding taxes

Sponsored by CPA BC and CPA Canada. Delivered in partnership with Purpose CPA.

Facilitator: Cathy Burrell, Entrepreneur in Residence, WeBC

Panelists:

• Chad Chang, Co-Founder, Prpose CPA
• Matthew Wong, Co-Founder, Purpose CPA

About the Panelists

Chad Chang

Chad Chang is a CPA practitioner helping owners and leaders build good lasting businesses.

Over 20 years of experience spanning a business’ core functions.
From sales and marketing to customer service.
To business analysis and large technology project management and transformation.
To human resources, health & safety, financial analysis, accounting and tax.
To leadership, strategy development, and optimizing performance.
And now, helping to build Canadian businesses.

Past 8 years focusing on the construction, real estate, and property management industry.

Chair of CPA BC Construction Forum

Matt Wong

Matt Wong is the Co-Founder of Purpose CPA. He has over 14 years of experience leading finance, people, and IT teams from manufacturing to retail & ecommerce. As both a pragmatist and technologist, Matt defaults to technology to improve efficiency but is practical to design simple solutions when necessary. Along with his Business Partner Chad Chang, Matt co-founded Purpose CPA as an impact organization to help clients look at people, planet, and profit. Matt is a CPA, CGA and certified Quickbooks Online and Xero advisor.

Outside of Advisory, Matt loves running and spending time with his family in beautiful Richmond, BC. He is a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and a former Chair of the CPABC Vancouver Chapter.

The post Top 5 Mistakes Made by New Businesses And How to Avoid Them appeared first on WeBC.

Community Futures Accessible Entrepreneurship Programs to provide support to Persons with Disabilities and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals interested in self-employment or who already run a business.

The programs offer eligible participants:

• Access to skills development training.
• Business coaching and mentorship.

Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP) for People with Disabilities

Eligibility:

• You must have a self-declared disability or have been assessed as having a disability.
• You must either own an existing business or have a business idea.
• You should have relevant experience in the proposed business, such as turning a hobby into a business.

PRIDE in Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) for 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurs 

Eligibility:

• You must identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
• You must be a resident of British Columbia, Canada.
• You must be committed to attending program sessions and actively participating.
• The program is open to both new and established entrepreneurs.

If you meet the criteria as listed above, apply now for EDP or PEP programs.

The post Community Futures Accessible Entrepreneurship Programs appeared first on WeBC.

Build Your Roadmap to Success

A well-crafted business plan is the foundation of any successful venture. BDC’s free Business Plan Template provides you with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow framework to help you clarify your goals, define strategies, and attract investors or lenders.

What’s Included:

• Executive Summary: Clearly outline your business concept, goals, and key highlights.
• Market Analysis: Gain insights into your target audience, competitors, and industry trends.
• Marketing and Sales Plan: Detail strategies to reach your audience and drive growth.
• Operations Plan: Define processes, resources, and logistics to support your business.
• Financial Plan: Build accurate financial projections to demonstrate feasibility and profitability.

Why Use This Template?

• Clear Structure: Step-by-step guidance to simplify the planning process.
• Professional Format: Create a polished, professional document ready to share with stakeholders.
• Customizable: Tailor the template to fit your unique business needs.

Set yourself up for success with a plan that outlines your vision and supports your goals.

Download the Business Plan Template for free and start building your future today!

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This comprehensive guide from the UBC Library provides valuable resources to help entrepreneurs turn dreams into reality.

Explore Key Areas of Entrepreneurship

• Finding your business idea: Discover innovative ideas, conduct feasibility studies, and develop a strong value proposition.
• Developing your business plan: Learn how to create a comprehensive business plan that outlines your goals, strategies, and financial projections.
• Funding your business: Explore various funding options, including loans, grants, and investors.
• Marketing your business: Learn effective marketing strategies to reach your target audience and build a strong brand.
• Legal and ethical considerations: Understand the legal and ethical implications of starting and running a business.

Access a Wealth of Resources

• Books and articles: Explore a curated collection of resources on all aspects of entrepreneurship.
• Library databases: Utilize powerful databases to conduct in-depth market research and gain valuable insights.
• Expert guidance: Connect with entrepreneurship resources and support services available at UBC and beyond.

This guide is designed to empower entrepreneurs with the information and resources they need to succeed.

Visit the UBC Library research guide on Entrepreneurship today and start building a strong foundation for your business!

Are you building a marketing plan for your business? Check out our free On-Demand SMART course, “Strategic Marketing: Build a Marketing Plan for Your Business” to work through the seven steps of strategic marketing and create a plan that works for your time and budget!

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