Archives

About this workshop:

Join us to get a bird’s eye view of the legal landscape when it comes to starting a business. We will explore different forms of business organizations.

Sole Proprietorships

• what does it means to be a sole proprietor? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this structure of business?

Partnerships

• how and when can a partnership arise? What are some advantages and disadvantages flowing from this particular structure?

Incorporation

• much of the presentation will focus on the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of a corporation (i.e. ownership, continuity, limited liability, tax planning, employee stock options etc.).
• how does input at the start-up stage impact the division of equity amongst key stakeholders and directly corresponding, the importance of a shareholders’ agreement while the parties are in good spirits

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?

This interactive 1.5-hour session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.

What You’ll Learn:

• Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
• Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
• Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
• Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
• Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

• A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
• A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
• A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
• Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: This session does not cover writing a full business plan. All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) in their follow-up email.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

Thinking of launching a bakery, café, catering company, food truck, or other food-related venture in Ottawa?

Before you turn on the ovens or roll out the food truck, make sure you’re fully prepared with the right licenses, permits, and knowledge of local regulations.

In this informative session, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of services offered by the City of Ottawa, along with key regulatory requirements for starting and operating a food-related business.

Topics will include:

• The different categories of food business licenses (e.g., restaurants, catering, mobile food services, wholesale food)
• Regulations for home-based food businesses
• Permits and compliance requirements from various City departments, including Public Health, By-law Services, Fire Services, and Building Code Services
• How to navigate interdepartmental processes and avoid common pitfalls

Whether you’re just exploring the idea or already developing your food business, this session will help you understand what’s involved, who to contact, and how to move forward with confidence.

Don’t miss this essential step in turning your food business dream into a reality in Ottawa!

Interested entrepreneurs can contact our speaker for assistance concerning any matters dealing food business start up and operation by emailing: [email protected]

About the workshop:

Join our comprehensive E-commerce workshop where we’ll explore the essentials of launching a successful online business.

From identifying your target audience and sourcing products to choosing the right platform and designing your brand, we’ll touch on each crucial step.

Get introduced to topics such as:

• Sourcing your products
• Registering your business
• Building your online store
• Discovering the essentials of effectively marketing
• Attracting customers

We’ll run through 10 steps to help you turn your idea into your first sale. Perfect for beginners and those looking to get started with an e-commerce strategy.

About this workshop:

What’s your impact, and how do you know?

In today’s world, businesses and organizations are increasingly expected to do more than just turn a profit – they’re expected to create real, measurable social and environmental value. But how do you track that impact? And why does it matter?

In this foundational workshop, Social Impact 101: Incorporating Social Impact into Your Business Model, you’ll explore the benefits of measuring your social impact and learn how it can help guide decision-making, build trust, and strengthen your mission.

We’ll dive into several practical tools and frameworks used globally, including:

• B Corp certification
• Social Return on Investment (SROI)
• Theory of Change

You’ll also gain insights into how to integrate social impact into your business model, and examine hybrid business structures (like social enterprises, co-ops, and nonprofits with earned revenue streams). Through local and international case studies, we’ll explore what works in balancing profit with purpose.

Whether you’re just beginning your impact journey or looking to deepen your current efforts, this session will give you the clarity and tools to move forward with confidence.

Join us for Social Impact 101 — and start measuring what truly matters!

About CSED:

The Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) offers a continuum of support for social enterprises in the Ottawa area, including access to technical expertise, coaching, learning communities, training, and cross-sector partnerships. CSED works with its clients to develop their social enterprise plan and provide them with the tools, strategies and support to perpetuate positive social change and grow profitably.

About the workshop:

Are you leveraging the full value of your designs? Whether you’re creating innovative product designs, packaging, or graphical user interfaces, protecting your industrial designs can give your business a competitive edge. But protection alone isn’t enough – having a well-structured IP strategy is key to long-term success.

In this webinar, we’ll explore the fundamentals of industrial design protection – what qualifies as an industrial design, how to protect it, and why it matters. You’ll gain a solid understanding of how these rights differ from other forms of IP like patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

More importantly, we’ll introduce you to the importance of having an IP strategy. You’ll learn:

• Why an IP strategy matters for businesses of all sizes
• How industrial design protection fits into your broader business goals
• What steps to take to begin developing an IP strategy tailored to your products and markets
• Real-world examples of how companies use design protection to differentiate and strengthen their market position

Whether you’re a startup founder, product designer, entrepreneur, or part of a growing business, this session will help you start thinking strategically about your intellectual property.

We’ll leave you with practical takeaways, useful resources, and a roadmap to begin building an IP strategy that supports innovation, growth, and brand value.

About the speaker:

Elizabeth Collinson has worked with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for more than 20 years.

While working with CIPO, Elizabeth has held various positions including a Trademarks Examiner, a Business Development Officer, a Project Manager and now as an IP Advisor.

Elizabeth has successfully passed the Trademark Agent examination and is listed as an inactive Trademark Agent on the Canadian Patent Agent and Trademark Agent (CPATA) register.

About CIPO:

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a special operating agency of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. We deliver intellectual property (IP) services in Canada and educate Canadians on how to use IP more effectively.

About this workshop:

Preparing an income tax return is a must for any business, regardless of the business structure. Presented by Jasmin Atwal from Logan Katz, this workshop will cover the basics of preparing a tax return for the sole proprietor.

This course will be of interest to the unincorporated business owner as well as professionals belonging to a partnership. During this interactive hybrid 2-hour workshop, we will:

• discuss the Canadian Income Tax system
• review record keeping basics
• compare sole proprietorship vs. partnership vs. corporation
• identify and discuss the tax treatment of business income and expenses
• review tax form T2125 – Statement of Business or Professional Activities
• prepare a basic form T2125

This session is only held twice a year, so don’t miss out!