VERONICA TUNZI, Staff Writer

Whether you're only thinking about entrepreneurship or have already taken the plunge, there's a range of resources available for you. The governments of Canada and Ontario offer programs and services for individuals wishing to start their own businesses. Additionally, many community agencies provide advice on developing a business plan and running a business. In Toronto you can find low- or no-cost access to training programs, business incubation, mentoring and support groups. (Be sure to regularly check our poss.ca events calendar for workshops, information sessions or other activities that might help your business pursuits.)

General Resources
There's a host of services and programs available to entrepreneurs. Begin your research by looking into the following:

• Enterprise Toronto's four offices are a good place to start looking for general information about starting up your own business.
• The Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) offers support and resources for people starting or growing a business.
• The Toronto Public Library's SmallbizXpress site lists helpful resources.
• The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has free online resources, helps with financing, and provides consulting services (for a fee).
• The Ontario Government website has a Services for Businesses and an Entrepreneurs section, both of which contain valuable information for novices and veterans alike.
• The Toronto Board of Trade's website is handy for new and established entrepreneurs.
• Employment Resource Centres (ERCs) can provide information about regulations, licences, financing and marketing.
• Canada One is a useful site for small businesses as it features articles, a free Canadian business directory and online discussion forums.

Training, Consulting and Mentorship
If you're hoping to boost your entrepreneurial knowledge or get advice from experts, many organizations can help you.

• Centennial College's Centre of Entrepreneurship provides training, consulting and other support.
• The YMCA Business Centre has an array of free workshops.
• The Toronto Entrepreneur Mastermind Group offers peer networking, group coaching and other support. These services require both time and financial commitments.

Women
Many organizations and banks have special programs aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in their endeavours.

• The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre has prepared a very useful Women in Business Info Guide that is full of resources.
• Women Entrepreneurs of Canada can direct you to a number of affiliated organizations and is working towards developing a national information portal for women entrepreneurs.
• Community Microskills' Women's Enterprise and Resource Centre is another invaluable service.
• The Canadian Women's Business Network offers online business promotion and business resources.
• Step Ahead runs a year-long mentorship program for business women. However, it is costly ($1,495 for the year-long program).
• The RBC Royal Bank and the BDC are more than ready to help out women in business.

Aboriginal Persons
Many funding programs are available for Aboriginal people who wish to start a business.

• The Aboriginal Canada Portal is a great place to start your research as it offers an online tool that helps you search for different types of funding.
• Aboriginal Business Canada is another program that helps Aboriginal entrepreneurs attain funding for their business goals.
• The BDC's Growth Capital for Aboriginal Business is also a possible funding avenue to investigate.

Immigrants and Newcomers
The Canadian and Ontario governments are eager to support immigrants and newcomers in business pursuits.

• Citizen and Immigration Canada's Business Immigration Program seeks to aid long-standing investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons wishing to immigrate to Canada.
• The Business Immigration Section of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade aims to support newcomer entrepreneurs before and after arriving in Ontario.
• The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre's Start Up Info Guide for Newcomers to Canada helps newcomers navigate the government resources available to them.
• If you're a young entrepreneur (between 18 and 34), the Canadian Newcomer Entrepreneur Program run by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) can help get you started with coaching, financing, mentoring and business resources.

Youth
If you're a youth interested in entrepreneurship, a ton of organizations are jumping at the chance to help you out. There are many programs geared towards increasing the business know-how of young persons. Be sure to note the age group that each service caters to as individual organizations define "youth" differently.

• CYBF is a charity that offers coaching, financing and business resources for youth. CYBF's website is a great place to start reading up on entrepreneurship as it offers many valuable tips.
• Dixon Hall's Calico-YED (Youth Entrepreneurial Development) Program specifically targets at-risk youth with a 30-week small business training and assistance program.
• The Heritage Skills Development Centre's Youth Entrepreneurship Program will be of interest to youth ages 15 to 29 who are out of school or work and wish to start up a business. The program is designed to help you create a business plan so you can get your business up and running within 12 weeks.
• The Learning and Enrichment Foundation's BizCamp is a summer program that helps youth gain entrepreneurial training and experience.
• The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade's Summer Company Program provides business training, a mentor and up to $3,000 in funding to help you start a summer business.
• BizStart Entrepreneurship Program, run by Youth Employment Services' (YES), accepts 20 young persons per year for an 11-month program that combines classes with mentoring to get your business on track.

Benefits Recipients
If you receive Employment Insurance (EI), Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support, you may be eligible for free training or financial assistance to start your own business.

Employment Insurance

• The Ontario Self-Employment Benefit (OSEB) Program allows eligible EI clients in Toronto to start up and maintain a business while receiving income support for one year.
• The TBDC coordinates the delivery of the OSEB Program in Toronto Centre and Toronto West.
• If you're just starting to think about entrepreneurship but aren't sure whether it's for you, you can also try out a half-day Self-Employment Discovery Workshop held at ERCs in Etobicoke and Toronto.

Ontario Works

• Individuals receiving Ontario Works can ask their caseworkers to refer them for training.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

• The Employment Supports Program helps recipients of ODSP gain more self-sufficiency, including support in business development. (This booklet [PDF] can answer questions about starting a business while on ODSP.)
• The TBDC offers a 40-week skills development and business support program called Biz Futures, which helps people with disabilities start and manage their own full- or part-time business.
• Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) also provides information on starting a business, including some self-assessment resources for people with disabilities.