Events and Webinars
Unless otherwise marked, the following are free of charge.
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Upcoming Events, Training, Webinars, and Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
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
- Non-Profits 101
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
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.
Futurpreneur: Financing & Mentorship for Your New Business
Join us to hear from Futurpreneur about how you can apply for financing & mentorship for your new business. Futurpreneur Canada provides financing & mentorship to brand new entrepreneurs under the age of 39.
Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
What is Visual Merchandising?
Learn more about visual merchandising - from what it is to how it can help your retail business and improve your business performance in any physical selling spaces. Topics include the impact of visual merchandising on retail businesses, the different examples or areas of visual merchandising work, how to assess the impact, and more!
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
A Guide to Canadian Business Expansion to the U.S.
Join the Halton Global Business Centre and Invest Buffalo Niagara to learn valuable insights into the strategic move of expanding to the U.S. This seminar will delve into essential considerations for a successful U.S. expansion, including optimal location selection, structuring a U.S. business effectively, cross-border financial transactions, and managing personnel movement.
Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Halton: https://www.halton.ca/For-Business/Halton-Region-Small-Business-Centre
The Co-op Model 101
Want to learn more about the co-operative business model? This webinar will show you the unique benefits of co-operatives and their shared ownership model and will cover the basics of getting started and where you can find resources and support to help you on your co-operative journey.
Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
Branding Magic: Setting Up Your Small Business & Startup For Growth
Join Radhika Kapoor, the Founder & Creative Director at Moon Rabbit Strategy, for a dynamic webinar uncovering the vital role of branding for small businesses & startups. Learn actionable insights to amplify your presence, connect with your audience, and drive growth.
Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by Richmond Hill: https://www.richmondhill.ca/en/invest-and-do-business/Small-Business-Enterprise-Centre.aspx
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.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/
From Dreamers to Doers: Empowering Youth Through Entrepreneurship
Learn what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the programs and supports that are available to support youth on their entrepreneurial journey.
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Hosted by Brampton: https://www.brampton.ca//EN/Business/BEC/Pages/Welcome.aspx
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
Navigating Government Support for Your Business
There are hundreds of government programs and services to help Canadian businesses start and grow – but it helps to know where to look. Join Innovation Canada to learn more about where to find – and navigate – government programs.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. - Noon
PARO Centre: https://paro.ca/
Advancing the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship: Incubators and Accelerators in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
This webinar will examine the critical role of incubators and accelerators in nurturing entrepreneurship.
Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. - Noon
Diversity Institute: https://www.torontomu.ca/diversity/
Comply & Protect: Strategically Safeguarding Your Business Expansion
Businesses globally are increasingly prioritizing cybersecurity compliance due to the escalating threat of cybercrime, leading to significant data breaches and disruptions. Whether you are starting up, scaling or a thriving business, cybersecurity and compliance is no longer a luxury; it is vital to business growth.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Innovate Niagara: https://www.innovateniagara.com/
Introduction to AI Tools
This workshop will provide an introduction to the basics of what an AI (Artificial Intelligence) is and what common uses AI has today. The session will be broken up into two parts: 1) a slideshow and discussion of AI and 2) a “play” section where we will explore some popular free online AI tools like ChatGPT and Dream.ai.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Brock University: https://brocku.ca/linc/
More coming soon...
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