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SEMINAR |  | |
Wednesday
May 20, 2010
HST: Ontario's Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth
This seminar provides timely information on how Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will work, HST transitional rules, and the wind-down of PST. It also provides an overview of measures contained in Bill 218, "Ontario's Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth", and how these will impact businesses and individuals.
Time:
9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Location:
London Public Library
Cost:
Free (registration required)
Registration Deadline:
Monday, May 18th
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NETWORKING | 
Sponsored by
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Join us for our last networking event before Summer. Enjoy a fantastic patio setting, meet with friends and enjoy some delicious food!
Time:
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Location:
The Barking Frog
Address:
Registration Deadline:
Monday, May 31
To Register
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Welcome to the May 2010 issue of the Small Business Centre Newsletter.
Spring is the traditional time to tackle cleaning projects at home. Also it's a good time to tackle cleaning up your business. Most of my clients would immediately think of cleaning their paperwork and organizing computer files, but I am talking about going deeper than that.
 It's time to review your business plan. Is your business on track to meet your goals? Especially given the recent economy, now would be a great time to sit down with your key people, and/or business advisor or mentor, to update the plan and think about the way you do business. If there are patterns, products, or thought processes that aren't working anymore, figure out how to get rid of them and replace them with ones that will rejuvenate your bottom line.
To get you started on the process of revamping your business plan, I am introducing a new section called "Market Research Corner". In this issue, I will reintroduce you to the concept of market research. Each month, I will be reviewing a tool or a resource available at the Small Business Centre that can help you develop new marketing strategies.
I believe that spring is a great time to breathe fresh air into your company, so happy spring cleaning!
Maja Pental
Business Information Advisor/Newsletter Editor |
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Clients in the News... |
 The following clients have recently been featured in the local media. Congratulations!
Where: The London free Press
When: April 5, 2010
Who: Jordan Stevens of CJSmusic
CJSmusic is the only music service in Canada that offers online music lessons and composition services for advertisers, filmmakers, and composers. Imagine the time savings of being able to stay at home for your music lessons. For more information visit www.cjsmusic.ca
Where: The London Free Press
When: April 15, 2010
Who: Bobbi Thompson of Style 360 Select Consignment
Style 360 Select Consignment, located at 360 Springbank Dr., offers "like new" quality brands and designer clothing for women and children. The store offers a boutique environment, clean open spaces and an inviting change area. Consigners who have items for sale in the store can track their account and sales on line at www.myresaleweb.com
Where: PWGSC website
When: April 2010
Who: Catherine Rancourt of CRD Distribution Inc.
CRD Distribution Inc. offers high security paper shredding equipment to security conscious government departments. After attending "Helping Businesses Sell to the Government of Canada - Introductory Seminar.", Catherine was able to focus on how to better market her product to government and to use the tools available to her more efficiently. (Read Full Story)
If you are a Small Business Centre Client and have been featured in the media recently, we would like to hear from you so we can pass it along. Send details to info@sbcentre.ca and we may include it in our next newsletter. |
| Seminar |
Bookkeeping for Small Business
* basic bookkeeping principles and practices
* setting budgets
* accounting for various expenses
* handling payroll
* financial statements and software programs
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Time: 9:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Location: Small Business Centre
Cost: $25.00+GST
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 25th
Presenter: Josee Lemay, The Bookkeepers Plus
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 Market Research Corner |
By Maja Pental, Business Information Advisor
Whether you are starting a small business or seeking information to assist in the operation of your existing business, the library at the London Small Business Centre contains many useful tools and resources. Statistics, business directories (printed and on-line), self-help materials, books, and computers with free Internet access will give many entrepreneurs much needed data.
This month, I would like to introduce you to the concept of Market Research. In the next few months, I will be featuring various resources availabe for use in our library.
What is Market Research?
Source: CanadaBusiness.ca
Successful businesses have extensive knowledge of their customers and their competitors. Market research is the process of gathering information which will make you more aware of how the people you hope to sell to will react to your current or potential products or services.
Whether you are aware of it or not, as a business owner you conduct market research all the time...(Read More)
Our Market Research Consultations can help you discover and optimize research tools and resources. This service is free and confidential. To arrange an appointment, call 519-659-2882 x227 or email mpental@sbcentre.ca
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| Canada Targets Small Business Financing Needs |
Canada was one of the first countries to emerge from the global recession, but small and medium-sized businesses are still struggling to finance their own recoveries, an official at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) said in an interview. The BDC, a government-owned agency, announced a plan last week with TAO Asset Management, a private Toronto-based financial advisory firm, that will make $500 million available to small and medium-sized companies over three years so that they can buy the equipment they need.
The program is Canada's response to complaints by smaller companies that they are having difficulty meeting demand for their goods because they can't finance the purchase of the equipment. "We did quite a bit of research and we found that smaller Canadian businesses were having trouble accessing the equipment they needed," said Paula Cruickshank, vice-president for securitization at the BDC.
According to statistics released last month, the recession ended in Canada in the third quarter of 2009 and was not only shorter and milder than in other G7 countries but was also less severe than the two previous recessions. The economy grew 0.6 per cent in January, its fifth straight month of expansion, and analysts now expect it to grow by five per cent in the first quarter at an annual rate, matching fourth-quarter growth. But the recovery has yet to trickle down to all parts of the economy, Cruickshank said, pointing to a $2-billion financing hole for smaller companies that must buy equipment.
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| Young Entrepreneurs: Summer Company Program |
The Summer Company Program provides hands-on business training and mentoring together with awards of up to $3,000 to help enterprising young people start up and run their own summer businesses. Summer Company is an Ontario government program coordinated by the Small Business Centre with the assistance of community mentoring groups. Community mentoring groups consist of volunteer business advisors from the local community.
The application deadline is May 24, 2010 11:59:59 PM EST. More Info... |
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