If you are interested in exploring entrepreneurship as a career option and have an idea for business there are a variety of resources that can help you determine whether self-employment is for you, and to support you if you decide to start your own business.

Assess Your Potential 

There are many resources and quizzes available to help you assess your potential and understand if entrepreneurship is a viable career option for you. 

Entrepreneurial potential self-assessment by Business Development Canada includes 50 statements and once completed, your answers will be compiled, and you can evaluate your entrepreneurial traits, as concerns motivations, aptitudes and attitudes. 

Self-Employment: Is It for Me? This booklet from the Government of Alberta can help you determine if being your own boss is the right choice for you.

There are different types of business, and you must decide what kind of business you want: Franchise, independent, service, manufacturing, consumer, or maybe online retail store? 

Before starting a business, you need to evaluate your idea and determine what your chances are of making a profit from that idea. 

YSpace is York University’s newest community innovation hub. Have an idea for a start-up but don’t know how to make it a reality? Book a one-on-one Idea Consultation to get an understanding of how the York Region ecosystem can help your idea come to life. 

Build Your Plan 

Start a summer company: students - Through the Summer Company program funded by the Government of Ontario, you can get start-up money to kick-off a new summer business, advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help your business up and running. 

Founders Fundamentals - Founders Fundamental is a regional program designed to help you kick start your entrepreneurial career in York Region. Spanning across topics such as Value Proposition Design, Prototyping 101 and How to Grow a Team, this program provides a wide range of learning. Participate in all 13 Founder Fundamentals workshops and be eligible for an Innovation York Certificate. 

Futurepreneur Canada - If you’re an entrepreneur between 18-39 years old, the Futurepreneur Canada offers a suite of programs that will help guide you from pre-launch to expansion. They include coaching, financing, mentoring and more. 

Launch Your Business 

It is time to turn your social mission into a social enterprise. Find resources to help you start, manage and grow your business 

Canada Business – Provides information on how to name your business, register your business, learn about permits, licences, and regulations. This information will help you plan for a successful start to your entrepreneurship journey. 

Additional Resources & Articles for Professional Development & Training 

Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (BEST) Program - BEST offers students opportunities to interact with entrepreneurs, advisors, alumni and partners in the local ecosystem. Students involved in BEST can obtain the BEST certificate, which appears on their degree transcript, and combines academic and experiential requirements. 

Entrepreneurship 101 - MaRS - A 5-week course that offers a mix of materials for every style of learning, weekly mentorship from expert practitioners and the tools you need to create your startup. 

Study.com - Free Online Business Entrepreneurship Courses offered by some universities to help entrepreneurs get off to the best start possible. 

INC. - Looking for new skills or insider know how? Check this website and enhance your expertise for free 

Entrepreneur.com - Articles and webinars that reveals how entrepreneur(s) overcome unexpected problems in their business 

$100 Startup offers resources, information, business and promotion plan samples 

Score - Business Planning & Financial Statements Template Gallery