• The Small Business Advisory Centre is an initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure/Ministry of Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Town of Smiths Falls and the County of Lanark. Our territory includes Lanark County, Smiths Falls and the northern part of Leeds.

• Our Centre in one of 57 centres across Ontario.

• The Centre provides free information and advice for entrepreneurs starting and growing their businesses, free one on one consultations and review of business plans, internet and computer access for business research, access to current resource materials, events and seminars, guidance on licenses, permits, registration, regulations & other forms required to start /build a business and youth programs

• Our centre of the original 5 centres that opened in 1988 (Hawkesbury, Trenton, Port Hope, Smiths Falls and Renfrew). This year marks our 27th Anniversary.

• Transitioned from the Smiths Falls Self Help Office, to the Lanark North Leeds Enterprise Centre and now known as the Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls / Lanark County)

Small Business Advisory Centre

• From January – December 2014 we have had 800+ walk-ins to the Small Business Advisory Centre and 350 + sit down consultations for business procedures, business plan help/review etc.

350 consultation breakdown by area

Smiths Falls = 19% Perth = 18%Carleton Place = 16% Mississippi Mills = 9%Lanark Highlands = 7% Rideau Lakes = 4%Merrickville – 7= 2% Montague = 5% Tay Valley – 23 = 7% Drummond/North Elmsley=6%Beckwith = 5% out of area = 2%

• Types of business: consulting, agriculture , retail, consulting , senior home care, food, landscaping, artistic, inventions, tourism, health (various), handyman services, technology/computers, construction (various trades) and beyond.

Seminars

• Spring (Feb –June)/Fall (Sept-Nov) 2014 we held 21 seminars. Topics: HST, Cash Rules, How to Develop a Social Media Strategy, Employment Standards, How to Write a Press Release, Branding (Perth and Carleton Place), WSIB, Customer Service, LinkedIN, Pinterest, Facebook Advertising, Home Based Business Accounting, Cash Flow workshop, Intellectual Property and Tax Tips. (373 seminars attendees)

• Spring Feb-May 2015 we have 13 seminars scheduled-, WSIB, Doing Business with the Government, Home Based Business Accounting, Intro to Setting up a Wordpress site, Employment Standards, SEO, Business Succession Planning, Managing Entrepreneurship, Twitter and, How to Get the Most out of your Smart Device for Business.

Usually Government sessions are free, 2- 3 hr seminars are $10 and full-day sessions are usually $20

Outreach

• Most of our clients come to our centre to use our services but we do try to get out to businesses that request onsite meetings when we can.

• In Feb. 2013, we started to go to the Perth Town Hall the 2nd Wednesday of each month to conduct consultations with potential /existing businesses to discuss there business needs

• In June 2013, we started to do the same at the Carleton Place and meet clients at the Carleton Place Community Centre on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.-

(we meet between 4 to 5 clients at each location per month)

• We have spoken at / attended a number Chamber events/ breakfast meetings, Women’s Group events

Youth

• We go out into area school to discuss the Summer Company and help out in Entrepreneurship classes to assist with their business plan projects

• Speak at youth centres and employment Ontario offices

• Attend Career Day events and various local high schools

• Local partner for the Ontario Government programs - Summer Company and Starter Company

Summer Company

• For the past 14 yrs, we have delivered the Summer Company Program locally for the Ontario government where students can run their own businesses for the summer and receive up to $1500 to start and receive another $1500 upon program completion and returning to school.

• We have had over 63 students go through the program in this area and many of them have continued their business once they returned to school.

• Types of businesses- firewood, charcoal / portrait artists, ice cream bike, bracelet making and retail business, fence building, landscaping, computer repair, summer camps, photography, woodworking

Starter Company

STARTER COMPANY

-This program just started in 2014 and is running until 2016

-Young Entrepreneurs between 18-29 not in school can apply to the program

-It is a training and mentoring program with the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant, if eligible.

-Our first successful grant recipient was awarded February 11, 2015.

-We have a session that started on Feb. 23rd/2015

• New promotional signage for outside of building and pop up signs for events and outreach

Contact info

Cindy James, Manager or Shannon McLellan, Client Services Officer Small Business Advisory Centre @

91 Cornelia Street West, Entrance B

Smiths Falls, Ontario K7A 5L3

Email: cjames@smallbizcentre.ca or smallbusiness@smallbizcentre.ca Tel: 613-283-7002 ext. 108 or ext. 109

Website: www.smallbizcentre.ca Twitter: @smallbiz_centre

Facebook: @ smallbizcentre