Free Entrepreneurship 101 Lecture Series starts at MaRS again

Interested in learning more about entrepreneurship? Looking to start a new venture? Wondering what can be done for your career during this recessionary climate? Look no further!  Sponsored by CIBC, MaRS offers a free, non-credit introductory course on entrepreneurship that introduces you to the nuts and bolts of building a business.

http://marsdd.com/mars/Events/Event-Calendar/Ent101

Free seminars for small businesses that want to become suppliers for the federal government

OSME – Ontario Region offers the following supplier seminars to individuals and groups. Seminars include the fundamentals of selling goods and services to the Government of Canada.

• How to do business with the federal government:
  This seminar provides information on how to market to the federal government, how the government does its buying, and how to keep track of opportunities to bid on Canadian government purchases.
• Understanding the procurement process and responding to bids:
  This seminar provides advice and guidance in preparing a proposal. Gain a better knowledge and understanding of what is in a Request for Proposal (RFP), how bids are evaluated and how you should respond to a RFP.

Register for a Supplier Seminar

SR&ED – for accountants and business management consultants

SR&ED is a government program that refunds companies their expenditures on research and development. (Some information on SR&ED)

How can you benefit from SR&ED if you are not involved in R&D?

If you are an accountant, a business management consultant, or do something else that brings you in touch with many businesses

SR&ED Q&A

What is SR&ED?

SR&ED (Scientific Research & Experimental Development) program is a government incentive program. It refunds Canadian companies involved in Research and Development (R&D).

PWC SR&ED Breakfast Seminar – Thursday, Jan 29

There were some recent changes in SR&ED procedure. If you are interested in SR&ED or involved in SR&ED claims in any way, you should attend.
Seminar description and link for registration

SR&ED is a federal tax incentive program that refunds Canadian businesses their research and development (R&D) expenditures. Learn more about SR&ED

Aunt Tania’s advice for an aspiring translator – continued

Some more advice (continued from here).

Q. I don’t know how to send an invoice – I do not want to appear unprofessional
A. Create a simple form including all the required information (date, your name and address, client’s name and address, short description of performed work, amount). No one will hold it against you if the invoice contains no bells and whistles. (Note that from the legal point of view you are not obliged to register your business, you can conduct it using just your own name.) I started using somewhat nicer form when I registered my own company (so now I have something like a logo in a corner) but the rest is pretty much the same. Don’t worry about the clients, they will look at how you do the job and not at how artful your invoices are. Besides, many of my clients do not require any invoice whatsoever – I name the price, they agree, I do the job and they send me the payment. Translation agencies usually ask you to send them an Excel spreadsheet once a month for all the jobs you did in that month, and they often give you their own invoice form to use.

Aunt Tania’s advice for an aspiring translator

I met some people at an event in Glendon college (where I take a course right now) and they asked me how to get started as a translator. I think I am very well qualified to answer this question: when I decided to switch from software development to being a full-time translator and technical writer, I started, practically, from scratch, and in less than 2 years I got to a level where I can support myself and my family, being a sole breadwinner. About 90% of my last year income came from translation.

So, here’s my advice to an aspiring translator in the form of questions and answers.

NewPath – January event

http://newpathjan2009-widget.eventbrite.com/

In tough economic times, cutbacks and trimming of expenses is often a way of life for many organizations . Regrettably a large number make the mistake of reducing expenses in the wrong areas such as marketing and advertising without a solid understanding of the true impacts beyond cashflow. The truth is that in bad times it can be even more important to market and advertise your organization’s products, services or missions than it is in good times. That said, it is also critically important to be efficient with the budgets you do have and to make sure the messages you are delivering are clear, consistent and in keeping with a solid strategy. It is very important to understand the differences between long term and short term marketing initiatives.

Please join noted broadcaster, author, speaker and media consultant Eric Novak, President of media consulting firm Modern Media Perspectives as he delivers an interactive, entertaining and valuable presentation on how to help your small-medium size organization become more efficient and successful with its marketing dollars.

Attend filming of the exclusive “Thinking the Unthinkables” debates

Attend the filming of the exclusive “Thinking the Unthinkables” debates on Nov. 20, 2008. The debates will take place at the Rogers offices in the Velma Rogers Theatre, 333 Bloor St. East.

As part of this group, you will witness a series of engaging debates moderated by Joe Chidley, Editor of Canadian Business and Steve Maich Executive Editor of Maclean’s. Topics will range from integration and immigration to the oil sands and education. You will also have the opportunity to participate in an audience question and answer session after each debate.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear some of Canada’s brightest minds debating issues important to Canadians (speaker/topic details below). This event is FREE. RSVP to Sarah-Jane.Pearce@publishing.rogers.com.

Government incentives for businesses – resource list

The resources are mostly for research-and-development based Canadian small businesses (some are applicable to other types of businesses as well).

SR&ED – government refund for companies doing research and development
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/txcrdt/sred-rsde/menu-eng.html

OITC (Ontario Innovation Tax Credit) – rider to federal SR&ED
http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/forms/ct/pdf/0329f.pdf