High School Students!
In order to present and defend your business idea well, you will need to:
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lay out your concept in your head and then on paper,
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research the need and or your niche and figure out related costs of your product or service (labour, materials, advertising, marketing, etc), start-up costs, revenue sources, target markets, etc.
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test it out (ask someone in the know, make a sample, do a cash flow chart, etc.)
In other words, think it through thoroughly, put it down on paper, see if the numbers could work and have someone else who is impartial critique it.
THEN, practice ‘selling’ your idea to others verbally so you can defend it well before the judges.
To help YOU develop and document your business plan, check out the following resources. Talk to one of the business teachers in your school or call one of the resource people listed below.
Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Cenre
This is the organization that most groups are referenced to if clients are looking to start a new business. Students can find the following downloadable guides online at The Entrepreneur Centre.
Contact: Karen Honan
The Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre
Suite 201, 34 Cumberland Street North
P.O. Box 800
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Canada P7C 5K4
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber has developed a Small Business Resource Guide - to to www.businessresourceguide.ca
TO LEARN ONLINE
free online business courses - http://www.cfdlearn.ca/freecourses.html
'To Learn Online’ is an online learning website where students can take courses that are self-paced and 100% online. These courses are completely self-contained: there are no reports to send in, no blogs, no waiting for responses. Try your hand at one or more of the following free online courses – registration is easy:
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Business Plan Writing (From SEB Certificate)
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Accessibility: Its Impact on Small and Medium Business
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Entrepreneurship Certificate (one module)
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Focused Marketing (one module)
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Innovation Pathways
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Negotiation Persuasion - Foundational (one module)
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Tourism Excellence (one module)
If you are interested in taking some of the other courses, talk to the staff at Thunder Bay Ventures www.thunderbayventures.com or Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund www.nadf.org
The Thunder Bay Public Library
The Library is here for YOU as a student and business person! Their mission is to strengthen the community, and that includes local businesses. For more information on the Thunder Bay Public Library please visit their website www.tbpl.ca
The TD Canada Trust
Their Business Planner walks you through the development of a seamless business plan to help you get off on the right foot.
http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/smallbusiness/resources.jsp
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
The Canadian ‘go to’ place for youthful entrepreneurs. Lots of resources including a CYBF Interactive Business Planner - visit their website at www.cybf.ca
Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services
Free book - Your Guide to Small Business is designed to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. It’s not a “how to” book; it’s an information resource that will help identify the things one needs to do before, during and after launching a business. For more information on the Ontario Business Program please visit their website www.sbe.gov.on.ca
Royal Bank of Canada
This resource site has all kinds of tips for growing and starting a business. in the 'starting a business' section, you will find info on making a business plan and some sample templates.
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/business/resources/index.html
Canada Business – Services for Entrepreneurs
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/125/
Visit this site to find out if entrepreneurship is for you and to find elements of a good business plan and business plan templates.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? The BDC Entrepreneurship self assessment tool will help you determine if your experience, attitude, goals and lifestyle are compatible with owning your own business. And their free online business plan template may be the one for you.www.bdc.ca
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
Are you an ambitious northerner with a new entrepreneurial idea and the drive to develop your own business? The NOHFC is proud to support northern entrepreneurs, with up to $125,000 funding per project. . For more information on NOHFC please visit their website www.mndm.gov.on.ca
Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund
- Supporting aboriginal business. www.nadf.org
Two business support staff are available to guide clients through the business planning cycle including brainstorming and constructive feedback … contacts are Marlon Gasparotto () and Wendy McKay (). They can be reached by calling our office at 623-5397 ext 15 for Marlon and ext 33 for Wendy.
THUNDER BAY VENTURES
Have a question about the contest or about starting a business? Call Royden Potvin or Pauline Shesnicky at Thunder Bay Ventures at 768-6650. www.thunderbayventures.com
