The Tools You Need to Build Your Business
There are a wealth of business tools and supports available in today's marketplace that you can leverage to better understand your position, your advantage, and your path. Below are just some of the online tools and resources that we believe may help you. Reach out to the Economic Development Office via e-mail or at 403.489.0762 to request more tools that may be specific to your situation.
Claresholm Connect4Commerce
BizPaL Online Business Permits and Licences
BizPaL is an innovative online service that provides entrepreneurs with simplified access to information about business permits, licences and other requirements needed to start, operate and grow their business from the federal, provincial/territorial and participating municipal governments.
Benefits of BizPaL
Finding out which government requirements apply to a certain business type can be time consuming and frustrating. BizPaL was created to help identify what you may require, quickly and easily. The information you need is available from a single source; entrepreneurs spend less time dealing with red tape - saving effort and money in the process - and more time building their business. The service is the result of strong collaboration between the federal, provincial/territorial and participating municipal governments and is designed with the following benefits in mind:
• It's free to use
• It saves time
• It's available 24/7
Alberta Export Expansion Program
Funding to help export-ready companies and non-profit organizations enhance access to international markets and attract global buyers.
Alberta Learning Information Services
Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) is a provincial gateway to help Albertans plan and achieve educational and career success1. It provides information for career planning, post-secondary education and training, educational funding, job search, labour market trends, and workplace issues
Alberta Regional Dashboard & Site Selector Tool
The Alberta Regional Dashboard helps answer your questions about living, working, investing and doing business in Alberta’s diverse regions, providing municipal demographics, statistics, and their Site Selector tool to help you find or list available sites across Alberta.
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
For the last 28 years, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs has established their organization as a leader in the entrepreneurial space by providing a variety of programs suited for women entrepreneurs of all scales. AWE is here to provide capital, connections, and capacity.
Bplans - Business Planning Resources and Free Templates
Bplans is an online resource that provides free sample business plans, including a generic template, a one page template to get you started, or sample business cases for specific industries and business ideas.
The business plan template is a comprehensive outline with instructions prompts and tips to guide you through the process. The one page business plan will help you get your ideas down on paper and is fast, simple, and direct. Bplans has 550+ business plan samples for inspiration, covering industries such as technology, construction, retail, food and beverage, accounting and even nonprofits. You can browse through these topics and select the specific business you are planning to open, such as a bar, gym, or law firm.
There is also a pitch deck template, cash flow forecast template, a SWOT analysis template, as well as tons of articles and tips to guide you through starting a business, accessing funding, and growing your business.
Business Benefits Finder
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a business, or a not-for-profit organization, the Business Benefits Finder can help you find programs and service to help your business grow by finding resources, financing, and services specific to your needs.
Business Development Bank of Canada
BDC supports small and medium-sized businesses in all industries and at every stage of growth with financing, advice, tools.
Business Link - Alberta Entrepreneur Hub
Business Link provides services such as free one-on-one coaching and guidance, market research, resources, guidebooks, interactive tools, education, training, networking opportunities, and support and resources for Indigenous and immigrant entrepreneurs. Business Link also has a number that you can call (1-800-272-9675) to reach a live strategist who will help you figure out where to begin and provide free one-on-one advice.
Canada Revenue Payroll Deductions Calculator
Use the Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC) to calculate federal, provincial (except for Quebec), and territorial payroll deductions. It will confirm the deductions you include on your official statement of earnings.
Canada Small Business Financing Program
The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders. The enhanced program provides lenders and small businesses with additional financing products, new class of loans, increased loan amounts and terms, improved loan conditions and decreased administrative burden.
Community Futures Alberta Southwest
Whether you are starting, growing, buying, or selling a business, get actionable business guidance, practical tools, and flexible financial support at Community Futures Alberta Southwest.
Futurpreneur
Futurpreneur offers mentorship, tools, networking, and loans to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39.
Government Services for Canadian Businesses
Business taxes, financing, permits and regulations, intellectual property, business support and how to sell to government.
RCMP Crime Map
Alberta RCMP’s mapping unit provides a Crime Map for the Town of Claresholm that maps out crime incidents that have occurred or been reported within the Town.
This information is provided courtesy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and is updated regularly.
SouthGrow Grant Advice Hotline
SouthGrow has launched a new program to assist communities with identifying appropriate grants for projects and to provide advice on how to apply for and understand these grants, including how to leverage additional funding, stacking options, and other related topics. Staff will provide grant advice services through online meetings and phone calls to businesses and non-profits within their member communities.
Contact Peter Casurella (Executive Director) at peter.casurella@southgrow.com or 403-394-0615 OR Emma Dering (Grants Manager) at emma@southgrow.com or 403-870-8924 to schedule a phone call.