After discovering the requirements involved in starting a business, the next key to success is having a business plan in place. Regardless of what stage you’re at, your business plan should be your primary guide for conducting business. To begin the planning process, you’ll need to do some critical analysis; business planning realistically forecasts where your business is going.
Regulations, Licenses and Permits
- Consumer Packaging and Labeling Ensure you're following packaging and labelling requirements for prepackaged non-food consumer products subject to the federal Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.
- Standards Learn about standards that your business can follow to improve your products and services, or to increase your productivity.
- Regulatory change Stay on top of proposed regulatory changes that may affect your business and learn how you can influence regulatory change.
- Key regulated sectors Find out how certain industry sectors are regulated and what some of the key business obligations are in those sectors.
- Regulations for specific business activities Learn what regulations apply to key business activities like importing, exporting, marketing, managing employees, and transporting goods.
- Permits and licences In order to do business in Canada, and to comply with government regulations, you may need a variety of licences and permits from different levels of government.
Business Planning Resources
- Business plans – templates and samples Sample business plans and templates can help you develop a professional document that will serve as an in-depth marketing tool to convince others of your venture's potential for success. However, creating your own plan can be a complex process, and you may need the assistance of a professional (like an accountant) depending on the type of business you have (or want to run), and what you are seeking in terms of investment.
- Writing your business plan The key to success is having a business plan in place. Whether you're about to launch a start-up or you've been in business for years, the direction of your business is guided by your business plan. To begin the planning process, you'll need to do some critical analysis; business planning is about realistically forecasting where your business is going.
- Business Planning Success Most likely, you quantify success in many ways. It might not be difficult to envision what you want from your business, but figuring out how to achieve it might be. There are many tried-and-true steps you can take — and some missteps you should avoid — on your path to prosperity.
