Finance

Now that you have decided to start your own business, you will have to determine what business structure or form of organization suits your needs. The structure of your business will depend on whether you want to run your business yourself or with a partner or associates. There are four types of business structures: sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and cooperatives.

Starting a business from scratch can be overwhelming for first time entrepreneurs. If you have a great business idea and are ready to work hard to build it from the ground up, then you may wish to start your own business. But if you want to hit the ground running and avoid some of the common start-up pitfalls, then buying an existing business or a successful franchise may be a better option for you.

This website contains links to various national and international financing and funding institutions and programs that offer support to small- and medium-sized businesses.

Financial planning can help you keep your business growing profitably. It also increases your ability to foresee and plan for potential problems, and to adapt to any changes that may arise.

In this concentration, you're introduced to a broad range of financial services areas including banking, insurance, and financial planning. You learn how these topics fit together and have an impact on both businesses and individuals. You develop an understanding of the importance for sales skills and customer relationship management. Throughout the year, you also have the opportunity to further advance in the areas of, financial planning, insurance and mutual funds and earn related designations/licenses.

It is a vast understatement to say that the current state of social and economic development within Aboriginal and First Nation communities is far from satisfactory. A recent study1 of the Aboriginal economic gap in Saskatchewan, for example, demonstrated that, compared to the non-Aboriginal community, Aboriginal people experience higher poverty rates, lower education levels, and chronic unemployment.

This paper is part of a larger research study on the Aboriginal co-operative movement (A Reporton Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada: Current Situation and Potential for Growth). The study was initiated by the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and le Conseil Canadian de la coopération (CCC). The objective of the study was to build knowledge and awareness about the current state and contributions of Aboriginal co-operatives to regional and community development. The present paper has been developed as a background paper for the complete study.

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has launched the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cooperative Development Program to help Aboriginal communities explore the potential of co-operatives to meet their needs. The five-year pilot program is being developed in consultation with national Aboriginal organizations and the program’s steering committee will be composed of representatives of co-operative and national Aboriginal organizations. It is sponsored by Arctic Co-operatives Ltd.

There are more than 9,000 co-ops in Canada, and about 100 of them are owned and controlled by First Nations, Métis or Inuit people.

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) has created the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Co-operative Development Program to help Aboriginal communities explore the potential of co-operatives to meet their needs. The five-year pilot program was developed in collaboration with national Aboriginal organizations.