Small Businesses - How to Start a SMB

Prodigy Payment Solutions

admin — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 17:22:22 +0000

Numerous e-payment processing solutions exist on the internet, and for a merchant choosing one can be a complex task.

However, there is one famous company that deserves real attention from merchants: Prodigy Payment Systems.

Prodigy Payment systems was founded in Texas by four Dallas citizens. Ethics and Integrity are core principles of the company, and integrated within every business process.

Several types of e-payment processing solutions are offered by Prodigy Payment Systems, to small, medium and large businesses in the United States.

Among those solutions, please note the followings:

- Credit card processing

- Gift and Reward cards

- The total retail merchant solution

- Debit card processing

- Check processing

- Wireless payment processing

- and EBT

It is possible for a business, to submit an online application, using the really easy interface put up par Prodigy Payment Systems. The form is extremely quick to fill, less than 60 seconds in fact. All they want to know, is the merchant contact, along with its current credit card processing usage.

Prodigy Payment Systems also offer some niche services, to specific types of businesses. Note among those, the ecommerce solutions, and specific offers for hotels, retail stores and restaurants.

The site also offers to merchants some really useful resources. The site even include marketing articles, designed to help merchants increase the number of customers in their store, or how to increase the traffic of a website. This is a win-win situation. More sales by merchants equals more commission for Prodigy!

Let me also mention that the layout of their site is really nice and relaxing. While browsing the site I was thinking about using their financial services for my next company.

If you want to get in touch with Prodigy, you can reach them at the following phone number: 1-800-641-0421. If you want, you can also use the live chat available on their site.

Productivity and Measurement Tools for SMBs

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:54:25 +0000

Global Value Chains: A focal point to share knowledge and information on global value chains.
Global Value Chains Conference: This conference periodically brings together representatives from government, academia, think tanks and businesses to present findings, current initiatives, ideas and views on global value chains.
High Performance Manufacturing: Information on Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and other high-performance manufacturing techniques to help Canadian manufacturers improve their performance.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Analysis: Benchmarking tool for firms and policy makers.
SME Direct: Diagnostic and benchmarking tools, relevant databases and a wealth of other resources to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with decision making.

Source: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/h_00149.html

Electronic Commerce Resources

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:50:20 +0000

Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce: Code that provides a benchmark for good business practice for merchants conducting commercial activities online.
Canadian e-Business Initiative: Information on e-business adoption and use, tax and investment rules, and other e-business resources.
Commercial Printing — Electronic Business: Information on how to do business on the Internet.
Electronic Commerce Branch — The Digital Economy in Canada: Information that supports and facilitates the continued growth of e-business in the Canadian economy.
ebiz.enable: Easy-to-use website that helps small and medium-sized enterprises make informed e-business decisions and succeed.
Electronic Commerce Technology Suppliers: Directories of companies working in the information and communications technologies sector.
Retail Trade — Electronic Business: Information to help small and medium-sized Canadian retailers determine what role the Internet could play in their operations.
SME Direct: Diagnostic and benchmarking tools, relevant databases and a wealth of other resources to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with decision making.
Student Connections: Initiative that hires and trains post-secondary students and recent graduates as student business advisors who then provide small and medium-sized business with on-site customized Internet training, assessments and e-commerce services.

Planning and Management for SMB

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:48:34 +0000

Canadian Industry Statistics: Data analysis of Canadian industry sectors using the latest annual data sources from Statistics Canada.
Managing for Business Success: Information, tools, advice and management solutions for owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses.
Performance Plus: Financial performance tool helping firms determine how they measure up to the competition including sales, number of employees, inventory, wages and rental costs.
Small Business Research and Policy: The Small Business Research and Policy website includes an extensive collection of Industry Canada research on small business and entrepreneurship, together with links to other sites and comprehensive statistics on Canadian small businesses.
SME Direct: Diagnostic and benchmarking tools, relevant databases and a wealth of other resources to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with decision making.
Steps to Competitiveness: Numerous interactive management and diagnostic tools geared to the issues and needs of small and medium-sized growth-oriented service firms.

Other Resources

Interactive Business Planner: Business-planning software to help entrepreneurs prepare a business plan for a new or existing business.

Source: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/h_00147.html

Start-up, Federal Incorporation and Support Resources

admin — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:43:39 +0000

Business Information by Sector: Business information specific to industrial sectors.
Canadian Training Solutions for Workplace Learning: Information for employers on the benefits of training and its applications.
Community Futures Program — FedNor: Programs and services supporting community economic development and small business growth.
Competition Bureau — Businesses: Tools and services to comply with Canadian competition laws and meet mandatory requirements for the marketing of consumer products, merger pre-notification, and portal for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s).
Corporate Social Responsibility: Concept of integrating social, environmental and economic considerations into business decision making.
Corporations Canada: Responsible for administering corporate laws governing federal companies including incorporation and related services.
Funding Technologies for the Environment: An inventory of funding and incentive programs to help develop, demonstrate and deploy environmental technologies.
Manufacturing 20/20: Provides Canadian manufacturers with an overview of Government of Canada programs and activities that exist to help them remain innovative and competitive in the global marketplace.
NUANS^® Name Search System: Search system that compares proposed corporate names and trademarks with databases of existing corporate bodies and trademarks.
Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative: Partnership aimed at reducing the costs to small businesses associated with paperwork and regulatory compliance.
SME Direct: Diagnostic and benchmarking tools, relevant databases and a wealth of other resources to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with decision making.

Other Resources

BizPaL: Information for entrepreneurs and business owners on permits, licences and other approvals needed to start or grow their business.
Business Development Bank of Canada: Financial, investment and consulting services for Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.
Business Start-Up Assistant: Information on market research, business name and structure, preparing a business plan, financing, taxation, hiring employees, doing business on the Internet, and more.
Canada Business: Services for Entrepreneurs: Key business services and information from across the Government of Canada.
Online Small Business Workshop: Techniques for developing business ideas, starting new ventures and improving existing small businesses for entrepreneurs.

Source: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/h_00145.html

The Société de développement économique Ville-Marie

admin — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:42:14 +0000

The SDEVM, which is also a Centre local de développement (CLD), offers and coordinates front-line accompaniment, networking, technical and financial services. Our programs are designed for start-up and existing small and medium-sized businesses in the private and non-profit (social economy) sectors.

Our business services are guided by the SDEVM’s role, which is to be a front-line source of entrepreneurial information.

We also maintain close ties with organizations that support entrepreneurs through each step of their business growth.

Business background
The Société de développement économique Ville-Marie (CLD) has been operating since October 1998.

Hundreds of businesses have received advice through our offices since the SDEVM (CLD) was founded. Today, these businesses employ some 1000 people and have annual sales of $55 million. We also manage $4.4 million in the Local Investment Fund.
In 2007-2008, the SDEVM (CLD) handled 4500 requests for information, advice and assistance from businesses in the private sector and social economy.

In the same period, we met with more than 125 groups wanting to start a business downtown, to discuss our financial assistance and marketing programs.

The SDEVM (CLD) also initiated, developed and consolidated 67 social economy projects, in which our FÉS envelope has invested $1 233 702. Social economy projects serve social needs not met by the traditional free market.

Mission for SMB

The SDEVM’s role is to offer front-line services to businesses in the Borough of Ville-Marie.

The SDEVM’s mandate since its founding in 1998 has been to support economic development through the creation of viable businesses that generate employment and wealth in downtown Montreal. The SDEVM (CLD) serves as the gateway to various financial assistance and other programs: the Local Investment Fund, Young Promoters, Self-Employment Support, the Social Economy Fund, and SOLIDE. The SDEVM (CLD) also acts as agent for the Société d’Investissement Jeunesse.