Events and Webinars
Unless otherwise marked, the following are free of charge.
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Upcoming Webinars, Events, and Opportunities
SBCO Business Basics
Have a great idea and want to start your own business? Do you understand what it takes to be successful?
If you’re unsure of what it takes to start and run a business, you are in the right place! This series of 10 free online learning sessions will help you decide if starting your own business is the right path for you, then guide you through the steps involved in getting started.
Sessions include:
- Are You Ready to Be in Business?
- Researching Your Idea
- Business Structure
- What Are Government Regulations?
- What Is a Business Plan?
- How Do You Finance a Small Business?
- Why Do Market Research?
- Sales and Marketing
- Do You Need Insurance?
- How To Register Your Business
SBCO Start-Up Sessions
Are you ready to launch? Do you know how to build a solid foundation for your start-up?
You’ve done the research, tested your idea, and are ready to launch! This is an exciting time, but there are things you need to ensure your business's success. This series of 10 free online learning sessions will set you up with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully launch your new business.
Sessions include:
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Model Canvas
- Market Research
- Marketing
- Branding
- Pricing
- Sales
- Record Keeping
- Social Media
- Intellectual Property
SBCO Growth Sessions
Is your small business ready for growth? Are you prepared for the challenges of growing a business and how to meet them?
Are you an entrepreneur ready to take your small business to the next level? These 10 free online learning sessions will equip you with skills and knowledge to successfully position your business for growth.
Sessions include:
- Key Business Practices
- Time Management
- Building Teams and Organizational Culture
- Sustainable Operations
- Content Management
- Contracts and Leases
- Hiring Employees vs Self Employed Contractors
- Building an Investor Pitch Deck
- Understanding Financial Statements
- Expanding Markets
Risk Management for Small Businesses
Do you know the risks that could affect your small business? Ramona Gallagher of Business Basics Canada helps you explore the different types of risks associated with running a business and examples of how to manage, minimize, or mitigate them.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Time Management for Busy Entrepreneurs
Time is money - it is also your sanity and mental health. In this session, you will learn the various concepts of time management. Ramona Gallagher of Business Basics Canada will review scheduling, blocking, delegation and when to bring in others to help.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
90 Days to a Better Business
Join Larry Anderson for a discussion of "90 Days to a Better Business". This session is for businesses operating at least one year, have employees, or plan to hire. Learn strategies to strengthen your company by helping you face issues head-on, produce positive and measurable results quickly and instill accountability throughout your organization.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
* SESSION FULL *
Steps to Starting a Small Business
Wondering where to start with your small business? Join the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre for an introduction to the rules and regulations surrounding your small business start-up. Topics include licensing, name registration and basics of taxation.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
CRA: Taxes for Sole Proprietors
Join us for an information session presented by the Canada Revenue Agency's liaison services. Taxes can be complicated - make the process a bit easier by understanding your obligations, deductions, and common errors to avoid. Session will include Q & A.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
CRA: Taxes for Corporations
Join us for an information session presented by the Canada Revenue Agency's liaison services. Taxes can be complicated - make the process a bit easier by understanding your obligations, deductions, and common errors to avoid. Session will include Q & A.
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Insurance for Small Business
This informative webinar will provide you with working knowledge of small business insurance, demystifying all the jargon. It will also enable you to ask the right kinds of questions from insurance professionals. Speaker is Anne Marie Thomas is Director of Consumer & Industry Relations for the Insurance Bureau of Canada in Ontario.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
Mastering Short Form Videos to Attract and Engage Customers
In this workshop gain the skills to captivate your audience through short form videos. Discover the art of crafting engaging videos that grab attention, showcase your brand personality, and connect with a younger audience. Presented by: Cherubim Christy, Digital Services Support Representative.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Hosted by Durham: https://www.bacd.ca/
Money Matters: Managing Financials for Gig Entrepreneurs and Freelancers
This presentation is tailored for those engaged in platforms like Instacart, Skip the Dishes, Uber, and Etsy, as well as for marketers, influencers, and those pursuing side hustles. Dive deep into the essentials of managing money, navigating taxes, and maintaining an organized financial record.
Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Durham: https://www.bacd.ca/
Barcodes and Beyond: What You Need to be Market-Ready for Import & Export
For anyone developing a product line, there are so many questions about what to do. From regulatory requirements to best practices, from barcodes to beyond, this webinar will teach you what you need to take your product to market, whether it’s your local store or traded internationally.
Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
The Path to Success for Tourism Entrepreneurs
Are you looking for guidance on how to start or grow your tourism business? Futurpreneur and Tourism Innovation Lab are thrilled to collaborate on a hands-on, interactive workshop, focused on the learning key steps in launching or growing your new tourism business.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from Noon - 1:30 p.m.
Hosted by Brampton: https://www.brampton.ca//EN/Business/BEC/Pages/Welcome.aspx
Mental Health for Small Business: Where, Why, and How
Mental health is critically important to small business development. From finding balance as you start out on your own to discovering how to incorporate best practices to encourage mental health and wellness for your employees, it is as important as ever to consider mental health as an essential stepping stone as you build your small business.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
More coming soon...
Steppingstones of E-Commerce: Part 1 – Expanding into E-Commerce
The series, Steppingstones of E-Commerce breaks down the state of the industry and explores how to maximize your online presence by leveraging an e-commerce solution. Part 1 – Expanding into E-Commerce will cover the importance of the modern e-commerce landscape, establishing your digital hub, and how to get e-commerce ready as Digital Main Street supports your small businesses journey.
Multiple Dates
For more information: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/
Steppingstones of E-Commerce: Part 2 – Modernizing Your E-Commerce (Digital) Infrastructure
The series, Steppingstones of E-Commerce breaks down the state of the industry and explores how to maximize your online presence by leveraging an e-commerce solution. Part 2 – Modernizing Your E-Commerce (Digital) Infrastructure will cover how to maintain, manage, and modernize your digital hub while centralizing your online community.
Multiple Dates
For more information: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/
Espresso Live: The BDC Accelerator Loan
Join the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) and guest speakers from Meridian Credit Union to discover how an Accelerator Loan can energize your business. Securing business financing can be difficult for entrepreneurs, but to help close that financing gap, accelerator loans offer flexible term financing for improved access to working capital, supported by BDC.
Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
GNCC: https://gncc.ca/
Women in STEM
Niagara Women in STEM is a grassroots group of women collaborating, supporting and celebrating Women in all STEM fields in Niagara. Join Innovate Niagara for a casual social gathering.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
* In Person Event *
Hodgies Social House (Parkway Social), 327 Ontario St, St. Catharines, ON
Innovate Niagara: https://www.innovateniagara.com/
More coming soon...
The Food and Beverage manufacturing sector of Ontario is the 3rd largest in North America and is vitally important to our local and regional economy. For over 30 years, Ontario Small Business Enterprise Centres have been committed to guiding people through the start-up and early growth stages of small business.
Foodpreneur Advantage is a regional collaboration of Small Business Enterprise Centres.
Whether you are starting your food venture, or ready to expand and scale your operation, this is the place to start. This webinar series is designed to guide you through the different areas of starting your food or food manufacturing business.
The series is offered on a few times per year on an ongoing basis. You can register for any or all of the sessions individually.
Foodpreneur start-up webinar series includes the following sessions:
- Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
- How to Sell Your Food Product
- Costing & Pricing to Make Profits
- Marketing & Branding your Food Product
- Labelling & Packaging your Food Product
- Selling to Food Retailers
** St. Catharines Food Truck and Vendor Applications Now Open for 2024 **
Applications are now being accepted by the City of St. Catharines for food truck and mobile vending cart operators to set up shop at City parks and facilities for the season.
Interested businesses can fill out an online application anytime between March 1 and March 29. The application is available at www.stcatharines.ca/VendorPermit
Successful applicants will need to obtain their Hawkers and Peddlers License, a food truck and mobile vending cart park permit, plus pay an environmental fee.
Discover Why St. Catharines Is Your Business Advantage
Contact our team of experts for a consultation today.