Subject Guides: Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Business Plans

The Pitch

Read "7 Essentials for an Elevator Pitch That Gets People to Listen" (Entrepreneur)

and the University of Toronto's "All about pitching" for more information.

Business Plans

What is it? and why do you need it? A business plan is a document you can present to the bank, and investors with your goals and strategies, target market, and financial forecast. This can then be used to measure your growth and progress in the future.

Business Tool Kits, Checklists, & Hubs

Many organizations offer Business Tool Kits that take you through the process of creating and implementing a business plan.

Entrepreneur's Toolkit - Business Development Bank of Canada
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Resources and online tools for small business planning - compiled by the Bank of Canada
Business Start Up Checklist - Business Link
Checklist detailing key points to keep in mind when starting a business
MaRS Startup Toolkit
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Access to articles, reports and multimedia relating to starting an entrepreneurial venture
eCorner @ Stanford
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Resource hub for new entrepreneurs in the initial stages of their ventures

Associations and Directories

In addition to helping you find out more about local businesses, community building and current market trends in a specific industry, associations may offer support for business planning.

Edmonton Made
List of Edmonton businesses
Business directory search (Edmonton Chamber of Commerce)
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is one of the longest-running and most influential business organizations in Canada.
StartUp Edmonton
Edmonton-based community supporting tech-enabled entrepeneurial projects and innovators
Start Alberta
Alberta's startup community linking to companies, investors , organizations, people and news
Creative Destruction Lab
Connect with other early-stage companies, and gain potential mentorship on seed-stage financing for startups
Government of Canada - National Industry Organizations
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Directory of industry associations in major sectors with descriptions and contact information.

Planning & Starting your Business

Business Link
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Business Link provides customized business advice and support for entrepreneurs navigating building, running and growing their own businesses. They provide one-on-one support and guidance, market research, access to experts, training, networking opportunities, and specialized support for Indigenous and immigrant entrepreneurs. Business Link strives to provide support services that will drive the growth of great Alberta Businesses
Starting a business (Government of Canada)
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Gateway to government information for business.
Business Advice (Royal Bank)
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Information on starting & expanding a business.
Business Startup Planning (BizFilings)
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U.S.-based site that includes information on how to plan a business launch.
Info Entrepreneurs Library
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Info-guides on developing and maintaining your own business within Canada
Project Entrepreneur - theTools Podcast
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Podcast series on key concepts and ideas essential to creating a successful business pitch
Futurpreneur
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Resource library on the various aspects of building a startup - Canadian perspective
Futurpreneur - Social Purpose Business
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Canadian resources on set up your social entrepreneurship venture
Starting and Running a Business - Government of Alberta
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Links to startup resources within the Government of Alberta