Support for small and medium businesses

If you own a small or medium-sized business in Alberta, or if you are planning to start one, these resources can help you start and grow your business.

The Business Link

The Business Link is a not-for-profit organization supported by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta that provides services and information to small and medium sized businesses in Alberta.

The Business Link provides information and advice on a variety of topics, from start-ups, incorporation, financing and loan programs, to product sourcing, government and private sector programs and services. The Business Link also hosts seminars featuring qualified business speakers. They cover the basics of business planning, marketing, taxation, and much more.

Western Economic Diversification Canada

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) works to strengthen western innovation, business development and entrepreneurship, and community economic development.
WD provides:

  • Services and resources to help Western Canadians start, grow and expand businesses
  • Funding for businesses
  • Export resources
  • Economic research and market studies

Electonic Business Intelligence Service

The Electronic Business Intelligence Service (EBIS) is an online source for export market intelligence, international company profiles, business opportunities, reports and web links of international organizations and associations, for exclusive use by Alberta companies.

The Alberta Metal Fab Innovation [AMFI] Program

The Alberta Metal Fab Innovation [AMFI] Program is a unique company development opportunity designed specifically for the Alberta metal manufacturing sector. The Program provides innovation and improvement opportunities for sector companies and stakeholders. Participants gain access to both production and business enhancement expertise developed and provided by some of Alberta’s top research, technology development and process improvement institutions.  

Offered throughout the province, the AMFI Program is ‘made in Alberta for Alberta’. Expect exciting, interactive workshops that provide hands-on equipment demonstrations with the latest fabrication technologies; welding metallurgy and processes; capacity-building business development techniques for accessing energy markets; and opportunities for individual company coaching. The AMFI Program is a designed to help increase your company’s efficiency, productivity and competitiveness in order to capitalize on these Alberta market opportunities. Then build on what you learn in the AMFI Program to help expand your markets beyond the province.

Additional resources

  • About.com: Small Businesses, Canada: About.com, owned by New York Times, is one of the largest producers of original content on the web. About.com produces a Business Canada Guide with a series of articles and guides for small businesses in Canada.

  • Alberta Chambers of Commerce: The Alberta Chambers of Commerce are a group of local and regional chambers that represent businesses across Alberta. They assist members in expanding their business potential and advocate government policy changes to improve Alberta’s business environment.

  • Alberta Construction Magazine: This Alberta business magazine is devoted exclusively to covering the construction industry, reporting on the latest construction projects, association news, environmental design, and project management strategies.

  • Alberta Venture: Alberta Venture is an Alberta business magazine, released monthly. Some of the articles are available free online.

  • ATB Financial: This Alberta financial institution supports small business in the province by offering a guide to business planning.

  • Best Practices in Project Management: The Government of Alberta has a compiled a list of publications, information centres, training and professional development courses, toolkits, and benchmarks for best practices in project management.

  • Bizlaunch: This Canadian small business blog offers articles, free seminars and webinars for small business.

  • Business Development Bank of Canada: The Business Development Bank of Canada offers a free newsletter containing information and tools for businesses. The articles are also available on the website.

  • Canada Border Services Agency: Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Centre: This website provides guides, tools, and links for SMEs on the topics of importing and exporting.

  • CanadaOne: CanadaOne is a Canadian business magazine. Their website offers free business tools and guides, a business directory, as well as a series of forums for Canadian business owners.

  • Canadian Business: Canadianbusiness.com is the online home of the Canadian Business magazine, a magazine geared towards entrepreneurs. Their website offers articles, tools, and videos for entrepreneurs.

  • Canadian Federation of Independent Business: This federation of small business owners offers business counseling and informative articles. Only members can access these tools and services. A three month introductory membership costs $75.

  • Community Futures: Community Futures (CFs) is a program, funded in western Canada by Western Economic Diversification. CFs are non-profit organizations guided by volunteer board of directors and staffed with business professionals. Together community volunteers and staff are actively engaged in helping to develop and implement community-based economic development and diversification strategies. CFs provide a wide range of one-on-one and workshop type services to businesses.

  • Cool Companies: Cool Companies is a Canadian magazine for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. All their content is free and posted on their website.

  • Entrepreneurship Learning Centre: The Entrepreneurship Learning Centre in Alberta offers interactive training opportunities to Alberta’s small business community. Their training is offered through video conferencing.

  • Export Development Corporation: Export Development Canada (EDC) is Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative financing, insurance and risk management solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business.

    • Export Wise: A magazine by the Export Development Corporation focused on exporting markets and EDC news and events.

  • Government of Alberta Programs and Services for Business in Alberta: Look here for links to business-related information, forms, publications, programs and more from the Government of Alberta.

  • June Warren-Nickle's Energy Group: June Warren-Nickel's Energy Group publishes various magazines and newsletters related to the Energy sector, such as the Canadian Oilfield Service & Supply Directory, the Alberta Construction Magainze, New Technology Magaizne, and the Oilsands Review. Their website also an extensive events calendar for events related to the energy sector.

  • Maclean’s: Maclean’s is one of Canada’s best known magazines. Many of the magazine’s business-related articles and columns are available online.

  • Profit Guide: This magazine, aimed at SME owners, provides news, strategies and resources for enabling businesses to be more successful. Their website has useful articles, tools, and videos, as a well as an e-newsletter.

Date Updated:
RDP-1645