Starting up a small business gives rise to new experiences and endless questions. But one of the first things you should find out about is the law. Municipal Hall is the first place to check for local regulations that concern new businesses. You can find out about:

Zoning Requirements
Business Licenses
Other regulatory information on starting up a business in Summerland

"Starting a Small Business in British Columbia" Guide

If you are interested in starting your own business, there are many things you will need to think about – we would like to help. This Guide will introduce you to some of the things you need to know and do and tell you where you can get more information.

As an entrepreneur, deciding your business idea is one of the most important steps you may make in your career. There are some Business Idea FAQ's basic things you should keep in mind. Find out if you have the entrepreneurial spirit in the "Are you ready to be an entrepreneur?" section. Download essential Business Development Concepts.

A Guide to Resources for BC Women:

Starting Your Business and Growing Your Business

If you are thinking of starting a business, you're in good company. Today British Columbia has almost 360,000 small businesses, and women own or operate almost 36 percent of them – the highest rate in Canada.

Following are links to two guides to help get you started, and to grow your small business.

From drafting a business plan to finding the start-up money, these guides will help explain what you need to know and where you can find the information. You will also meet inspirational BC women who generously share their own business experiences.

At the end of each section, you’ll find sources for more information, and key resources are summarized at the end of the guide. These have been specially selected for women starting a business in BC and provide valuable information.

Cool Companies: Insights to entrepreneurial opportunities

Cool Companies is a new magazine for entrepreneurial-minded business people passionate about innovation. Like a shortcut to networking, Cool Companies provides an entry point to hundreds of high-quality business opportunities and entrepreneurial insights to seed innovation in readers' lives.

Exporting

Click here for more information on exporting.

Click here to view the step by step guide to exporting.