Business Assistance Links from Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin. Located in Bancroft, Ontario

Business Planning

Find out how to write a business plan and access templates and sample business plans.

This information was provided by the Canada Business Network

Growth and Innovation

Growthis the product of your success, but it does not come easily. Fuelled by your innovative ideas and your attention to cutting-edge technology and resources, growth is about riding the momentum.

Planning For Business Growth

The Innovationsection concentrates on what is perhaps growth's most important asset: your ideas. A major part of growth is change, and innovation is how you capitalize on change, creating better or improved products and services that you can launch into the marketplace.

Research & Development and Innovation

Exporting & Importing

Discover the basics of doing business in other countries. Whether you're exporting, importing, or investing abroad, learn how to take part in these international trade activities.

E-business, the use of the Internet as a business tool, is a major component of growth. Whether you plan to create an online store, use the Internet to process payments or to communicate with your customers, any plans you may have to grow your business should take the mass potential of the Internet into account.

This information was provided by the Canada Business Network

Market Research and Statistics

Discover what market research is and how to create an effective market research campaign. You will also find numerous information resources and statistics that you can use to learn more about your industry, your customers and the markets you serve. This information can ultimately help you to make informed decisions that can maximize the potential of your business.

This information was provided by the Canada Business Network

Marketing and Sales

You put your heart and soul into your company because you love what you do. Your efforts should be rewarded in the form of profit.

How well you market your business and interact with your customers can vastly influence your success. Whether you're starting a new business venture or revisiting your existing marketing strategy, this section covers marketing from the ground up. You'll find information and resources that will help place your products and services at the forefront of your current and future customers' minds.

The Marketing Basicssection will provide you with a nuts-and-bolts overview of marketing, covering topics such as:

Marketing Basics

If you're looking for marketing resources, the sections Promoting and advertising your businessand Sales and customer relationship managementoffer a number of assets that may be helpful to you, including:

If you're interested in marketing your products or services to a federal, provincial, territorial or foreign government, the Selling to governmentssection will help get you started.

Selling to governments

This information was provided by the Canada Business Network

Regulations, Licences and Permits

Learn about regulations, permits and licences that apply to your business.

This information was provided by the Canada Business Network

Starting a Business

Want to be your own boss? The idea of starting your own business is appealing to a lot of people and it can be very rewarding. However, a lot of new businesses fail. This information will help you plan for a successful start to your entrepreneurship journey.