City of Markham Resources and Information

• Markham Public Library's Business Page
Markham Public Library offers a number of helpful resources for businesses, particularly for those that are in the early stages of ideation, or looking for resources to enable them to grow faster, and build resilience. This page highlights numerous upcoming events, helpful blogs for business owners, along with resources that Markham Public Library subscribes to. 

• Statistics and Demographics
  The City of Markham is fast growing and thriving. We have a growing business base, highly educated talent pool and a culturally diverse population. Learn more about our City through these statistics:
• Markham Online Business Directory
  This is Markham's official online directory service. With over 11,000 listings, this is the region's largest directory of organizations, businesses, schools, tourist attractions, churches, agencies, and government offices.
• BizPaL - Business Permits & Licences
  BizPaL is a free online service. It helps you get the permits and licences you need to open or expand your business.
• Markham Home Occupations By-Law   
  Learn how to run a home business in Markham.
  

Provincial and Federal Government Resources

• Ontario Business Program Guide
  Your resource for Ontario government programs for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Government Grants, Loans and Financing
  Find government grants, loans, and other ways to finance your business. Be sure to select the purpose of financing (to start up, hire employees, develop a new product, etc.), and select "Ontario" as your location.
• Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
  
The CSBFP makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders.

• Government of Ontario Small Business Resources
  Get support, information and advice to run your small business.
• Guide to Starting a Business
  This guide was made by FedDev Ontario. It has information on federal and provincial government programs, services, and regulations.
• Federal Government Business & Industry Website 
  A one-stop-shop for information on federal and provincial government programs, services, and regulations.
• Service Ontario: Register a Business Name 
  Search for, register, renew, change or cancel a business name
• CRA Business Number Registration (GST/HST, Payroll, Corporation income tax, Import-export)
Key business registrations with the federal government. Certain business activities require registration with the CRA. 
• Strategis
  Industry sector data, financial benchmarks, labour trends and business statistics.
• Canadian Intellectual Property Office 
  
• Learn about intellectual property in Canada from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).
• E-Laws
  Access the consolidated laws of Ontario.
• Government Of Canada Online
  Access all federal government departments and agencies.

Business Planning Help

• Business Plan Templates
Templates for Business Plan and Cash Flow documents (Word and Excel formats).
• FedDev Ontario Business Plan Guide 
  Find business plan writing guides, templates, and samples.
• RBC Advice for Starting a Small Business 
  Move closer to being a business owner with the five start-up steps. Each step includes guides, tools, templates and resources to help you implement.
• Business Development Bank of Canada(BDC) Business Plan Template 
  Your business plan is the most important document you will prepare. Learn how to make it strong!
• Futurpreneur Business Plan Writer 
  Interactive Business Plan Writer has been designed to simplify the business planning process.

Tax Guidance (See also Provincial and Federal Government Resources section)

• Ministry of Finance
  Leading the province’s fiscal, tax, economic and statistics policy, administering tax and benefit programs and reporting on Ontario’s economic and fiscal plans.
• Tax and Reporting Information for New Businesses
  Learn about taxes and how to report them from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
• Canada Revenue Agency
  Find tax information and file income tax returns electronically. You can also register your business here.
• CRA E-commerce Canadian Tax Considerations 
This page contains information on e-commerce and on reporting requirements for doing business on the Internet.

Mentorship Resources

• COSTI’s Youth Mentoring Program
  This program is designed to connect youth (mentees) aged 15-24 with community volunteers (mentors) who offer support and encourage youth to develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.
  
• COSTI’s netWORKS Program
  netWORKS provides an opportunity for youth to meet new career role models through mentor-led and group networking events and expand professional networks as well as to understand the breadth of careers available as they navigate their next steps, academically and professionally.
  
• Toronto Regional Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) Mentoring Partnership
  TRIEC Mentoring Partnership matches recent immigrants with established professionals who work in their field in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). TRIEC runs the program in partnership with community agencies, companies and organizations across the GTA.
• York University’s T.A.S.T.E. (Take a Student to Engage) Mentoring Program
  The objective of this bite-sized mentoring is to provide York Students and new graduates with an opportunity to virtually connect with professionals in their field of interest. This program pairs York students and new graduates with a mentor (Alumni or Professional) for one-time informational interview.
  
• Speed Mentoring Program by ACCES Employment
  This program enables participants to network with professionals in their field, receive advice about their job search, meet employer contacts and obtain job opportunity referrals.
  
• YES Mentorship Program
  Connects YES clients to Industry Leaders (expert mentors) in order to build capacity, employability, networks and foster entrepreneurship in young people through establishing supportive, caring and trusting relationships with mentors
  
• Women In Leadership Foundation Mentorship Program
  Virtual based mentorship program that provides one-to-one mentorship matching based on mentee and mentor fields of interests

Sector/Occupation Specific Mentorship Programs

• HRPA Mentorship Program
  Program encourages career growth and development by providing students as well as HR Professionals– with the opportunity to receive one-on-one coaching from other Human Resources Professionals.
  
• AMCTO Mentorship Program
  A free professional development program open to all current Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) members in good standing
• Ontario Society of Professional Engineers Mentorship Program
  Members are able to book a mentoring session with talented and experienced mentors who are excited to provide guidance on a variety of topics related to the engineering experience
• Canadian Construction Association Mentorship Program
  Program helps entrepreneurs and innovators to launch, modify or expand their products or services for industry adoption. Should an individual successfully become a CONtact mentee, they will be connected with an appropriate mentor or mentors, enabling them to expand their network and connect with leading industry professionals with the goal of helping refine their product or service offering for industry adoption.
• Professional Geoscientists Ontario Mentoring Program
  Provides a forum for experienced professional geoscientists to share their knowledge, insight and experience with PGO student members, Geoscientists-in-Training (GITs) and newly minted P.Geo.’s
• York Region Food and Beverage Accelerator
  A five-month accelerator helping scale high growth food and beverage ventures through customized workshops, expert mentorship and peer-to-peer circles (In partnership with The Regional Municipality of York Region and the Canadian Agricultural Partnership)
• Association of Fundraising Professionals Mentorship Program
  The advice will be limited to work-related and/or specific fundraising and non-profit sector advice to be used to enhance the fundraising program of the charitable organization with which the mentee is currently associated
• Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto Mentorship Program
  The ULI Toronto mentorship program provides a valuable opportunity for young leaders to enhance their careers by building relationships with seasoned industry veterans. The program runs from January – December.
• CFA Society Toronto Annual Mentorship Program
  Successfully matched over 600 Mentor and Protégé pairings since 2007. The program offers an opportunity for participants to develop stronger leadership skills and provide unique networking opportunities.
• Canadian Public Relations Society Toronto Chapter Mentorship Program
  Designed to provide opportunities, knowledge and connections to those working or interested in working in the field of public relations under the guidance of PR practitioners
• The Girls SySTEM Mentorship Program
  Professional STEM-focused mentoring for late elementary and high school girls
• York Region Arts Council Arts Mentorship Program (AMP)
  Artists seeking mentorship will be paired with a mentor who has experience in the area in which they seek mentorship.
  
• ELLA
  Ontario’s first accelerator focused on supporting women-led product and service-based businesses
• Youth Challenge International’s Youth Climate Leadership Program
  6-month Youth Climate Leadership Program provides young people exclusive access to training, mentorship and experience leading a team to create and catalyze community-based climate action initiatives that make a positive impact.
• CPAC Enhanced Mentorship Program
  Aims to assist young professionals in gaining knowledge of the Canadian workplace, learning job search and related soft skills, and finding professional employments through the guidance and advice of established professionals (mentors)
• American Marketing Association (AMA) Toronto Mentor Exchange Program
  Program scientifically matches Canada’s premier C-suite Mentor community with up and coming senior marketers and business professionals to empower their leadership potential