Self-Employment Program

The Self-Employment program is designed for Albertans who are unemployed and in need of self-employment training to participate in the labour market.

The program provides:

  • instruction in business plan development
  • one-to-one business counselling
  • coaching, guidance and follow-up before the start up of a personal business.

To qualify for the program, you must have an idea for starting a new business or taking-over an existing business.

You must also demonstrate a personal commitment (cash or capital) toward the business and develop and implement a business plan.

Note: Applicant cannot start their business prior to acceptance to the Self-Employment Program.

If you are receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, you will continue to receive benefits, and may also be eligible for additional assistance for training and living expenses to participate in the program if your EI benefits run out.

If you are EI eligible or receiving Alberta Works Income Support, you may also be eligible for assistance.

Normally, assistance for training and living costs will be available for up to 26 weeks.

OCTOBER Training Opportunities

11        9:30 am – 12:00 pm             Business Planning                               Holly Sorgen

13        9:00 am – 4:30 pm               Marketing                                              Debbie Reid

18        10:00 am – 4:00 pm             Bookkeeping Day 1                    Carolyn Longstreet

20        10:00 am – 4:00 pm             Bookkeeping Day 2                    Carolyn Longstreet

25        9:30 am – 4:30 pm               Sales/Customer Service                      Debbie Reid

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.
    Browse Topic
  • 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.  Grande Prairie& DistrictChamber of Commerce
  • 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 information of interest to the entrepreneur. Available materials include brochures on topics like getting started in small business and bank account selection tools.
  • Bizlaunch: This Canadian small business blog offers articles, free seminars and webinars for small business.
  • BizPaL is an online service that simplifies the business permit and licence process for entrepreneurs, governments, and third party business service providers
  • 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. Also see   Writing your business plan
                    Business plans - templates and samples
  • 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.
    Our services include:
  • 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 Wise: A magazine by the Export Development Corporation focused on exporting markets and EDC news and events. Their website has business guides from small business and exporters.
  • Guide to Federal Incorporation this link is a step by step guidelines to help you incorporate your business and set up an appropriate structure
  • Industry Canada: Ebiz-enable: This Industry Canada website provides tools for small and medium-sized eBusinesses.
  • Industry Canada: SME Direct: Industry Canada produces a series of business guides and tools for SME, available on their SME Direct website.
  • 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.

  • The Market Research Handbook is designed to be a comprehensive source of socio-economic statistics for all those who study the Canadian consumer market - market researchers, strategists, product planners, and sales leaders.  The broad range of data is equally relevant to consumer and to business-to-business marketing.

    The data present profiles of key industries, including the small business sector, as well as of consumers in all the provinces and the 45 major cities across Canada.  International trade data, households, families and selected economic indicators, to name a few, provide useful information for businesses seeking to expand or develop new product lines.

  • Conducting Market Research and learn about how it can improve your business decisions and how to conduct a market research campaign.

  • 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.
  • Rocket Fuel for Your Biz is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the entrepreneurial process through video, business case studies in an on-line, self-paced learning environment.
  • Registry
  • Small Business Solver ($250 CDN per year + applicable taxes) allows businesses and potential entrepreneurs to take an on-line quiz that identifies business issues.  Depending on the gaps identified, the entrepreneur can select from 48 short modules on topics ranging from marketing to identifying profitable revenue streams.  These modules can be printed out or read on-line.  The entrepreneur can also ask questions of experts and receive quick responses.
  • SMEBenchmarking Tool: (formerly Performance Plus) offers industry-specific income statement and balance sheet data for small and medium sized businesses.SMEBenchmarking Tool allows you to:
    • Estimate the operating costs for your new business;
    • View financial performance averages in your industry;
    • Enter your own financial data to see how your business measures up to comparably sized firms.

OTHER LINKS

REGIONAL MUNICIPALITIES

MEDIA