Spotlight

This guide provides information on VPL's Indigenous Film Collection.

Find credible resources to learn about fake news and what you can do to avoid being fooled by misleading or downright false claims.

Resources to become better informed on consumer protection regulations in Canada and BC, as well as tips on how to make smart purchases when shopping for products and services.

This section will help you prepare for job interviews by reading up on effective job interview strategies.

Pathfinding services for entrepreneurs and small business owners in BC are available through the provincial government. Connect with a BC Business Advisor by phone (1-855-698-2157) or email (business.advisors@gov.bc.ca) for free one-on-one advice, access to resources, and guidance on navigating government programs and funding opportunities. Additional resources that might be helpful are included below.

Once you've successfully registered or incorporated your business, acquired all the necessary licences and permits, and fulfilled any other preliminary regulatory requirements, you can afford to start shifting your focus towards establishing a loyal customer base, hiring staff to help out with the workload, and planning for the future. In other words, growing your business into one that will eventually net you a profit. 

Once you’ve got a solid plan in place and you’re committed to launching your business, it’s time to make it official by going through all the steps needed to register or incorporate your business, apply for the necessary licences and permits, and comply with other regulations as required.

One of the most important steps in starting and running a small business is securing adequate financing to keep your business going until you start breaking even. Even if you have substantial personal savings at your disposal, you may want to look into some of the common funding options below.

A solid plan will not only guide your overall entrepreneurial process and keep you focused, but can be indispensable when it comes to obtaining grants and loans or attracting investors. Use the resources below to start weighing your business structure options,  researching the market in which you'll be operating, and ultimately putting it all together into one cohesive package - the "business plan".

This section contains resources that will help you assess whether entrepreneurship is right for you, start to develop an idea for your business, and learn more about what you'll actually need to do in order to start a small business in BC.