Top Resources

• Business Plans Handbook: from the Gale Virtual Reference Library.
  * Need NWPL library card for remote access
   
• Reference Canada: lists 1.5 million Canadian businesses.
  * Need NWPL library card for remote access
   
• Small Business BC Business Services: includes an online small business workshop, links for small businesses, and more

Business Directories - Canadian

• Canada IT Company Profiles: for Canadian high-tech companies

• Canadian Oilfield Service and Supply Directory

• Canadian Company Capabilities: centrally maintained current searchable database of 60,000 Canadian businesses

• Reel West Digest: names of individuals and companies in the Canadian film industry

• Industry Canada: wide range of company and industry information. Includes a trade marks and corporations database, and information by industrial sector, company directories, and business tools and resources

 Business Resources

• BC STATS Business Gateway 

• Business and Human Rights Resource Centre: find information about exploitative business practices of four thousand businesses worldwide.  From the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

• Canadian Importers Database: Find names of companies that import goods into Canada. Searchable by product, city, and country

• Canadian Trade Index: online industrial sourcing tool for manufacturers, exporters, distributors and service companies

• Industry Research Desk:online research information on industry, market, business, company and manufacturing processes

• Top 1000 Companies: Globe and Mail listing

• Trade Data Online: Use this database of Canada's trade in goods to determine changing consumer patterns

• Vancouver Board of Trade

• Women's Enterprise Centre: this site from the Government of Canada helps women start and grow businesses in BC

Starting A Business

• BC Inventors' Society: not-for-profit organization founded in 1983

• Canada Business: the main Government of Canada gateway for businesses

• Business Plans and Profiles: types of small businesses and corresponding business plans

• Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB): a voice for small business

• Imagine Canada's Nonprofit Library and Resource Centre: the Subject Guides include information on starting a charitable organization, the top charities in Canada, employer supported volunteering, and more.

• Incorporation Kit: available from Corporations Canada's Website

• Small Business Accelerator: resources for BC entrepreneurs and small businesses 

• SME Benchmarking Tool: this Industry Canada site provides industry-specific income statements which can be used to estimate operating costs for new businesses