Small Business Resources

The resources below provide information on the basics of setting up a business, including online learning sessions and more.

• Ontario Guide for Small Businesses | Get support, information and advice to run your small business through the Government of Ontario.
• Small Business Checklist | A handy chart to help you keep track of various business-related activities prior to launching.

Small Business Centres Ontario – Online Learning Sessions

• Business Basics | 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.
• Startup Sessions | Every business needs a solid foundation. This series of 10 free online learning sessions will set you up with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully launch your new business.
• Growth Sessions | 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.

To succeed, you need to know where your target customer lives, what media channels they use and their overall demographic information. Use the resources below as a starting point to start your market research.

• Guide to Research and Business Intelligence | Learn how to conduct market research and find industry sector data, financial benchmarks, labour trends and business statistics.
• York Small Business Enterprise Centre Market Research | The York Small Business Enterprise Centre provides select clients with access to ENVISION, a powerful platform that gives you access to meaningful data about your target customer.
• York Region Open Data | Discover a wire array of publicly available data through York Region’s Open Data portal, including demographic information and more.
• Designing Customer Surveys | Learn how to design an effective customer survey to gather valuable insights from your database.

Each business owner needs to confidently manage and understand their finances to ensure success. Use the below resources to learn about your tax obligations, payroll information and more.

• Record Keeping, Income and Expenses Guide | This free online learning session helps you learn the basics of financial tracking and record keeping for your business.
• Managing Your Business Finances | Learn about financial planning, budgeting and forecasting through these free resources from the Government of Canada
• Payroll Guide | Learn the basics of setting up a payroll account and how to calculate deductions and contributions.
• Federal Grants and Tax Credits for Businesses | Find grants and other incentives to help boost your business.
• Provincial Grants and Tax Credits for Businesses | Find provincial grants and other incentives to help boost your business.

Depending on your business’ size and structure, your tax obligations may vary, but all business activities
must be reported to the Canada Revenue Agency. Use the tools below to learn about income taxes and how you can get free help from a tax advisor.

• Business Tax Overview | Learn about income taxes, GST/HST, calculating business income and more.
• Free Tax Help for Your Business | Meet with a Canada Revenue Agency Liaison Officer to answer your tax-related questions.
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) | This resource provides an overview of the GST/HST, whether your business needs to charge it and how to collect the tax.
• Employers’ Guide for Payroll Deductions and Remittances | Learn about your responsibilities as an employer for deducting CPP, EI and more.
• Payroll Deductions Tables | This guide uses plain language to explain the most common tax situations and CPP, EI and income tax deductions.

Some businesses may need to import or export goods as part of their operations. Use the links below to learn how the process works and what you need to consider before getting started.

• Importing Commercial Goods in Canada | This guide outlines the steps you need to take to import goods into Canada for commercial use, including duties, taxes and more.
• Import/Export Program Account | If you import goods into Canada or export goods to other countries, you need to register for an import-export program account.
• About Exporting | Whether your business is big or small, you can find new customers beyond our borders. Use this guide to learn about the steps you need to take to get started.

York Region is home to diverse communities, and its land is located on the traditional territory of many Indigenous peoples such as the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat and Métis peoples, the treaty territories of the Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Williams Treaties First Nations including the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. Use the links below to access tailored resources for Indigenous business owners.

• Indigenous Economic Development Fund | The fund provides grants and financing to Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses, communities and organizations. The fund helps promote economic development and improve employment opportunities for Indigenous people.
• Indigenous Business Development | The Government of Canada’s list of programs that support Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners in Canada.
• Wabutek Business Development Corporation | Waubetek delivers business financing and economic support services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs and First Nation communities.
• Ogemawahj Tribal Council | Provide direction, guidance and support to member First Nations Chiefs, Councils, staff and community members in community based business projects.
• Georgina Island Economic Development | The Georgina Island Economic Department is working to create local economic opportunities and a high quality of life for our community through training, business development, funding and more.
• Georgina Island Training Employment and Development Fund | This fund provides financial support to help overcome skill-based barriers for businesses based on Georgina Island.
• Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario | IAPO offers financing and business support to help First Nations farmer flourish
• Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business | CCAB builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, businesses, and communities through diverse programming, providing tools, training, network building, major business awards, and national events.
• PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise | PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise (PARO) provides a myriad of business supports including access to funding for women entrepreneurs living in Ontario.
• Native Women’s Association of Canada | The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization that supports women arosss Canada, including Indigenous Skills and Employment Training.

York Region Public Health wants to ensure your health and safety by providing you with information on current inspection and investigation reports as well as educational resources on emerging public health concerns. Use the resources below to help keep your business safe and compliant.

Food Safety

• A Guide to Opening a Food Premises in York Region | This resource outlines the requirements with which food premises owners and operators are required to comply under the Health Protection and Promotion Act
  (HPPA) and the Ontario Food Premises Regulation (FPR).
• A Guide to Starting a Home-based Food Business | This is a step-by-step guide from the provincial government to starting a home-based food business.
• Food Handler Certification Manual | This guide provides an overview of food safety best practices and applicable certification requirements. ENGLISH | CHINESE | TAMIL
• Special Events, Farmers’ Markets and Wild Game Dinners | Learn which community events require a notice to York Region Public Health or special event permits from your local municipality.
• Bulk Food Products | This fact sheet helps food premises operators protect bulk food and reduce food-borne illnesses.
• Food Safety for Operators during a Power Outage | If your food business experiences power outage, this guide will help you safely handle food to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
• Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 | This regulation sets the guidelines for safe food handing in Ontario.

Workplace Signage and Posters

• Danger Zone of Food Temperatures
• Dishwashing: 2-Sink Method
• Dishwashing: 3-Sink Method
• How to Handwash Sign
• Minimum Cooking Temperatures

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Infection Control

• Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings, 3rd Edition | This document provides information on best practices for operators to prevent and reduce the risk of transmission of infections.
• A Public Health Guide for Child Care Providers | The Public Health Guide For Child Care Providers offers up-to-date information and resources on how to deliver high quality child care.

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Safe Water

• Small Drinking Water System Operators Guidelines | If your business provides drinking water that does not come directly from a municipal source, you could be operating a small drinking water system (SDWS).
• Pool and Hot Tub Safety | York Region Public Health inspects all public pools, hot tubs (spas), and spray or splash pads; visit this guide for information on safe practices.
• Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565/90 | This provincial government regulation sets the rules for public pool safety guidelines in Ontario.

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YorkSafe Inspection Reports

• YorkSafe Program | YorkSafe is York Region’s enhanced public health inspection reporting program that discloses the results of routine inspections, complaint inspections and re-inspections.