Answering Your Top 13 Questions for Starting a Business
If you want to chat with someone re: any or all of the following topics, we are here to help. Click below for answers to your top 13 questions.
If you want to chat with someone re: any or all of the following topics, we are here to help. Click below for answers to your top 13 questions.
Completing a Business Plan is the place to start. A Business Plan is the document that demonstrates the feasibility of your prospective new business, it becomes your road map, and it helps you to make sure that you have what you need, before you start your business. The type of Business Plan you write depends on how the Plan will be used.
A general guide to Creating a Comprehensive Business Plan can be accessed here.
Community Futures of Chatham-Kent (CFDCCK) offers loans to small business as part of our programs.
Learn more about our Business Loans Program, and how to make your application with us.
Please note: While there are a very specific, and limited number of Government grants available, research shows there is no Government grant (free money) available for starting a business. Government grant information is available to you at no charge, but you must do the research yourself.
Different levels of Government each have licencing requirements that you need to check out, to see if they are applicable to your start up business.
Note: Registering a business name could have implications for you if you are receiving funds from another Government program (i.e. Employment Insurance (EI). Before registering, please ensure that your situation will not be negatively affected.
Why would you use this site?
It is proof you are researched, it provides you with accurate information to forecast the licence expense applicable to your business in your Business Plan, it allows you to search your potential business name, and when you are ready to start your business, register a business name and be in compliance with Provincial Government (Ontario) law.
Why would you use this site?
This site makes you knowledgeable, has many useful ideas and links, helps you with identifying the amount of licence expense in your Business Plan and will keep you compliant with the Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent).
There are Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent) zoning requirements on where a business can be located.
Chatham-Kent Building Enforcement and Licensing
Civic Centre – Zoning Department
315 King Street West
Chatham, ON
N7M 5K8
Tel: 519-360-1998
Why would you contact the Municipal Zoning Department?
This puts you in the know on where you can locate your business, helps you with identifying your lease or home based business expenses in your Business Plan and will keep you compliant with the Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent).
To access information on the industry averages of similar Ontario businesses to yours, the Financial Performance Data (2015), provided by the Government of Canada, can assist you.
Why would you use this site?
This information can help you to complete the financial component of your Business Plan by providing an accurate sense of the cost structure of similar businesses in your industry, and in your Province. Use this information as a comparison of annual Sales amounts, Cost of Goods Sold expenses, Gross Margin percentages, etc. to your forecasted business numbers in your Business Plan to see how your potential business is measuring up.
Note: This information is not intended to replace legal advice. Consider consulting a lawyer, an accountant, or another professional advisor to ensure that the specific needs of your corporation are met.
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) replaced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Retail Sales Tax (RST) in the Province of Ontario in 2010, and is regulated by the Federal Government (Canada).
Note: Registering for HST could have implications for you if you are receiving funds from another Government program (i.e. Employment Insurance (EI). Before registering, please ensure that your situation will not be negatively affected.
Why would you use this site?
To collect, report to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and receive and/or pay your HST refunds or remittances, you must register with the Federal Government (Canada). You will receive an HST number (free of charge to you) as part of this process, and this number should be noted on your sales invoice. This site also explains what to do after you register for HST.
There are 3 separate organizations ALL of which must be contacted if you are taking on employees:
A) Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Federal Government (Canada)
B) Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) Provincial Government (Ontario)
Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)
The mandatory Labour Posting and Distributing Requirements (for businesses with fewer than 5 employees) are highlighted as follows:
Employment Standards In Ontario: “What you need to know” Poster (Required)
Health & Safety at Work: “Prevention Starts Here” Poster (Required)
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) (Required)
Health and Safety Policy (Required)
To help you learn about all Provincial Posting and Distributing Requirements for employers in Ontario,
Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers and Supervisors (Required)
The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has prepared a workbook to assist employers and employees in understanding some of their obligations and rights under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and its regulations.
C) Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Provincial Government (Ontario)
Mandatory Workplace and Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) Coverage in Construction Businesses
(WSIB Class G, or WSIB Rate Groups beginning with the number 7) (Required)
Note: There is no exemption from paying WSIB premiums to cover your construction workers, but rather the exemption relates to the WSIB premiums paid for construction Business Owners only.
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) “In Case of Injury” Poster (Required)
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) First Aid Requirements (Regulation 1101) (Required)
Why would you use these sites?
These Agencies need to be contacted if you are looking to hire an employee.
These sites contain useful details for employers and employees alike, help you with idenifying the amount of cost you will be incurring for having employees in your Business Plan and will assist you with understanding your compliance.
When an employee leaves, you as the employer are required to issue a Record of Employment (ROE).
This document provides information on employment history, and is required to determine Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility, what the benefit amount will be, and for how long the benefits will be paid. This information is required by Service Canada – Federal Government (Canada).
Construction businesses are required to record payments they make to subcontractors for construction services, and report these payments to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is done through the Contract Payment Reporting System (CPRS).
Why would you use this site?
This site is required only if you are a construction business and have hired a subcontractor.
If you have received Employment Insurance (EI) payments, depending on your net income, you may be required to repay some of the EI benefits at income tax time.
Note: The threshold $$ amount of your net income from all sources, changes on a yearly basis. Please ensure you are looking at current year information.
Note: This information is not intended to replace legal advice. Consider consulting a lawyer, an accountant, or another professional advisor to ensure that the specific needs of your partnership are met, and before any agreement is signed.
The following website will introduce you to the different forms of business organization and perhaps help you determine which form is best for you.
Information on the different Forms of Business.
If you want to chat with someone re: any or all of these topics, we are here to help.
If you want to chat with someone re: any or all of the following topics, we are here to help.
Completing a Business Plan is the place to start. A Business Plan is the document that demonstrates the feasibility of your prospective new business, it becomes your road map, and it helps you to make sure that you have what you need, before you start your business. The type of Business Plan you write depends on how the Plan will be used.
Community Futures of Chatham-Kent (CFDCCK) offers loans to small business as part of our programs.
Learn more about our Business Loans Program, and how to make your application with us.
Please note: While there are a very specific, and limited number of Government grants available, research shows there is no Government grant (free money) available for starting a business. Government grant information is available to you at no charge, but you must do the research yourself.
Different levels of Government each have licencing requirements that you need to check out, to see if they are applicable to your start up business.
Note: Registering a business name could have implications for you if you are receiving funds from another Government program (i.e. Employment Insurance (EI). Before registering, please ensure that your situation will not be negatively affected.
Why would you use this site?
It is proof you are researched, it provides you with accurate information to forecast the licence expense applicable to your business in your Business Plan, it allows you to search your potential business name, and when you are ready to start your business, register a business name and be in compliance with Provincial Government (Ontario) law.
Why would you use this site?
This site makes you knowledgeable, has many useful ideas and links, helps you with identifying the amount of licence expense in your Business Plan and will keep you compliant with the Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent).
There are Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent) zoning requirements on where a business can be located.
Chatham-Kent Building Enforcement and Licensing
Civic Centre – Zoning Department
315 King Street West
Chatham, ON
N7M 5K8
Tel: 519-360-1998
Why would you contact the Municipal Zoning Department?
This puts you in the know on where you can locate your business, helps you with identifying your lease or home based business expenses in your Business Plan and will keep you compliant with the Municipal Government (Chatham-Kent).
To access information on the industry averages of similar Ontario businesses to yours, the Financial Performance Data (2015), provided by the Government of Canada, can assist you.
Why would you use this site?
This information can help you to complete the financial component of your Business Plan by providing an accurate sense of the cost structure of similar businesses in your industry, and in your Province. Use this information as a comparison of annual Sales amounts, Cost of Goods Sold expenses, Gross Margin percentages, etc. to your forecasted business numbers in your Business Plan to see how your potential business is measuring up.
Note: This information is not intended to replace legal advice. Consider consulting a lawyer, an accountant, or another professional advisor to ensure that the specific needs of your corporation are met.
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) replaced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Retail Sales Tax (RST) in the Province of Ontario in 2010, and is regulated by the Federal Government (Canada).
Note: Registering for HST could have implications for you if you are receiving funds from another Government program (i.e. Employment Insurance (EI). Before registering, please ensure that your situation will not be negatively affected.
Why would you use this site?
To collect, report to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and receive and/or pay your HST refunds or remittances, you must register with the Federal Government (Canada). You will receive an HST number (free of charge to you) as part of this process, and this number should be noted on your sales invoice. This site also explains what to do after you register for HST.
There are 3 separate organizations ALL of which must be contacted if you are taking on employees:
A) Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Federal Government (Canada)
B) Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) Provincial Government (Ontario)
Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA)
The mandatory Labour Posting and Distributing Requirements (for businesses with fewer than 5 employees) are highlighted as follows:
Employment Standards In Ontario: “What you need to know” Poster (Required)
Health & Safety at Work: “Prevention Starts Here” Poster (Required)
Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) (Required)
Health and Safety Policy (Required)
To help you learn about all Provincial Posting and Distributing Requirements for employers in Ontario,
Health and Safety Awareness Training for Workers and Supervisors (Required)
The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has prepared a workbook to assist employers and employees in understanding some of their obligations and rights under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and its regulations.
C) Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Provincial Government (Ontario)
Mandatory Workplace and Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) Coverage in Construction Businesses
(WSIB Class G, or WSIB Rate Groups beginning with the number 7) (Required)
Note: There is no exemption from paying WSIB premiums to cover your construction workers, but rather the exemption relates to the WSIB premiums paid for construction Business Owners only.
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) “In Case of Injury” Poster (Required)
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) First Aid Requirements (Regulation 1101) (Required)
Why would you use these sites?
These Agencies need to be contacted if you are looking to hire an employee.
These sites contain useful details for employers and employees alike, help you with idenifying the amount of cost you will be incurring for having employees in your Business Plan and will assist you with understanding your compliance.
When an employee leaves, you as the employer are required to issue a Record of Employment (ROE).
This document provides information on employment history, and is required to determine Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility, what the benefit amount will be, and for how long the benefits will be paid. This information is required by Service Canada – Federal Government (Canada).
Construction businesses are required to record payments they make to subcontractors for construction services, and report these payments to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is done through the Contract Payment Reporting System (CPRS).
Why would you use this site?
This site is required only if you are a construction business and have hired a subcontractor.
If you have received Employment Insurance (EI) payments, depending on your net income, you may be required to repay some of the EI benefits at income tax time.
Note: The threshold $$ amount of your net income from all sources, changes on a yearly basis. Please ensure you are looking at current year information.
Note: This information is not intended to replace legal advice. Consider consulting a lawyer, an accountant, or another professional advisor to ensure that the specific needs of your partnership are met, and before any agreement is signed.
The following website will introduce you to the different forms of business organization and perhaps help you determine which form is best for you.
Information on the different Forms of Business.
If you want to chat with someone re: any or all of these topics, we are here to help.
Financing for Chatham-Kent Businesses and Start-Ups.