Directory

Ottawa business resources

The organizations, programs and offices I point people to most often. All local or provincial, all free or close to it. Tell me if a link goes stale.

Starting and registering

City of Ottawa: Businessottawa.ca Licences, permits, zoning and the small-business concierge. Ontario Business Registryontario.ca Register a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. Ottawa Public Library: Businessbiblioottawalibrary.ca Free databases, market research and small-business programming.

Growth and advice

Invest Ottawainvestottawa.ca Free advisory, workshops and the small-business programs at Bayview Yards. Ottawa Board of Tradeottawabot.ca Membership, networking, advocacy at City Hall. Ottawa Business Journalobj.ca Local business news. Read it for who is expanding, moving and hiring.

Money and financing

Ottawa Community Loan Fundoclf.org Loans for owners who cannot get a bank yes yet. BDC Ottawabdc.ca Business Development Bank: loans and advisory for growing companies. Futurpreneurfuturpreneur.ca Financing and mentoring for founders aged 18 to 39.

Neighbourhood BIAs

OCOBIAocobia.org Coalition of all 18 Ottawa BIAs. Find yours. Wellington West BIAwellingtonwest.ca Hintonburg and Wellington Village. Glebe BIAintheglebe.ca Bank Street from the Queensway to the canal. ByWard Market BIAbyward-market.com The Market district.