Entrepreneur Essentials: Start-Up 101: Regulations, Registering & Licenses
2026-07-22 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Toronto)
Join the VBEC team for a group session on all you need to know about regulations, business licenses, and steps to registering your business

Business Financials 101
2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:00
Learn how to understand costing, price, sales forecasting and basic financial statements for your small business!

Gain a better understanding of your business costing, pricing, sales forecasting, and basic financial statements!
This July, August, and September, we invite you to attend one of our virtual Business Financials 101 sessions.
Hosted by the Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, this session will help small business owners build a stronger understanding of their financials — an essential part of evaluating business health, improving decision-making, and driving profitability.
In this session, you will learn:

Costing & Pricing: Learn how to calculate product/service costs, set profitable prices, and use pricing strategies that balance customer value with business margins.
Sales Forecasting: Understand how to estimate future sales using market trends, historical data, and customer demand to support budgeting and business planning.
Cash Flow: Techniques for improving budgeting and cash flow management to support more accurate financial forecasting.

Attention Starter Company+ applicants:Attendance at both this online session and the Crafting Your Business Plan session is mandatory prior to submitting your program application.
Our Starter Company+ program is only open and applicable to those businesses that reside in the Guelph/Wellington County.
Please visit the BCGW Events page for registration and upcoming session dates: Events Archive – Business Centre Guelph-WellingtonIf you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Diana Train; Operations Manager for the Business Centre Guelph Wellington: diana@guelphbusiness.com

How to Write a Business Plan
2026-07-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Brampton Entrepreneur Centre + Co-working Space, 41 George Street South, Brampton, ON, L6Y 2E1, Canada
Learn to create, refine, and present a business plan that boosts your chances of success and helps grow your business.

A solid business plan doesn’t necessarily guarantee success—but it definitely helps put the odds in your favour. By attending this session, you’ll learn how to write a plan that will become a critical tool to grow your business and achieve your vision.

Material Covered:

Why a business plan is so important.
Developing a business plan.
How to conduct research for your business plan.
The right way to structure your business plan.
What to include in your business plan.
Presenting your business plan.

Create, refine and implement a business plan that will get you the results you are looking for.

Digital Series Workshops – Day #1
2026-07-27 10:30 - 14:00 | Brampton Entrepreneur Centre + Co-working Space, 41 George Street South, Brampton, ON, L6Y 2E1, Canada
BEC is hosting a series of workshops all focused on developing your digital marketing skillset.

Digital Marketing Workshop Series: Build Your Online Presence
Join BEC for a series of practical workshops designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners strengthen their digital marketing skills and grow their businesses online.
This first half-day intensive will cover:
Branding Basics

Define your brand identity and messaging
Learn how strong branding builds trust and recognition
Create a consistent brand experience across channels

Growing Your Business Online

Explore effective digital marketing strategies
Improve your online visibility and customer engagement
Learn practical tools and tactics to attract more customers

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your marketing approach, these interactive sessions will provide actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Who should attend?
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, startups, and anyone looking to strengthen their digital marketing foundation.

Hiring Your First Employee
2026-07-28 10:00 - 11:30
Join us online to learn the easy steps for hiring your very first employee and growing your team!

Hiring Your First Employee
Ready to take the leap and grow your team? Join our online session with Engage HR where we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about hiring your first employee. From finding the right fit to navigating all the paperwork, we’ve got you covered. Perfect for new business owners looking to expand without the stress. Don’t miss out on this chance to get tips, tricks, and real talk about building your team!
Date: July 28Time: 10am-11:30amWhere: Zoom (you will receive the link a day before the event by e-mail)Cost: Free
Hosted by the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre.

Digital Series Workshops – Day #2
2026-07-28 10:30 - 14:00 | Brampton Entrepreneur Centre + Co-working Space, 41 George Street South, Brampton, ON, L6Y 2E1, Canada
BEC is hosting a series of workshops all focused on developing your digital marketing skillset.

Digital Marketing Workshop Series: Create Compelling Content
Join BEC for the second half-day intensive in our Digital Marketing Workshop Series, designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners create professional, engaging content that connects with their audience.
This session features three hands-on workshops:
Canva 101

Learn the fundamentals of Canva and discover how to create professional-looking marketing materials, social media graphics, and promotional content—without needing graphic design experience.

Podcasting 101

Explore the basics of podcasting, from planning and recording to publishing and promotion. Learn how audio content can help you build credibility, connect with customers, and grow your brand.

Crash Course: Mastering Phone Photography

Take better photos using the device already in your pocket. Learn simple techniques for composition, lighting, and editing to create high-quality images for social media, websites, and marketing materials.

Who Should Attend?
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, and anyone looking to enhance their digital marketing and content creation skills.

Digital Series Workshops – Day #3
2026-07-29 10:30 - 14:00 | Brampton Entrepreneur Centre + Co-working Space, 41 George Street South, Brampton, ON, L6Y 2E1, Canada
BEC is hosting a series of workshops all focused on developing your digital marketing skillset.

Digital Marketing Workshop Series: Increase Your Online Visibility

Join BEC for the next half-day intensive in our Digital Marketing Workshop Series, designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners improve their online presence and attract more customers.
This session features two practical workshops:
Website Best Practices & SEO Basics

Learn how to make your website work harder for your business. Discover website best practices that improve user experience, build credibility, and help potential customers find you online through search engines.

Posts to Profits: Leveraging Social Media for Small Businesses

Turn your social media efforts into meaningful business results. Learn how to create engaging content, grow your audience, and use social platforms strategically to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.

Whether you’re building a new online presence or looking to improve your current marketing efforts, this intensive will provide practical tools and strategies you can implement right away.

Who Should Attend?
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, startups, and anyone looking to strengthen their digital marketing strategy.

Validating Your Business Concept:Cash Flow Meets Startup Canvas (In Person)
2026-07-29 13:00 - 14:30 | Invest Ottawa, 7 Bayview Station Road, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 2C5, Canada
For entrepreneurs at the idea stage of starting their business

Note: This event page is for the in-person option of our hybrid model. Click here to go to the virtual event page.

About this workshop:
Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?
This interactive 75-minute session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.
What You’ll Learn:

Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) live through chat during the session.

About the speaker:
Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

Validating Your Business Concept :Cash Flow Meets Startup Canvas (Virtual)
2026-07-29 13:00 - 14:30
For entrepreneurs at the idea stage of starting their business

Note: This event page is for the virtual option of our hybrid model. Click here to to to the in-person event page.

About this workshop:
Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?
This interactive 75-minute session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.
What You’ll Learn:

Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) live through chat during the session.

About the speaker:
Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

*Please note that you will receive an email with the link to join this webinar upon registering and before the session. If you do not receive it, please check your junk mailbox.

Starting a Business in Ottawa: Rules & Resources (In Person)
2026-07-29 15:00 - 16:30 | Invest Ottawa, 7 Bayview Station Road, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 2C5, Canada
Start smart. Know the rules, find the resources, build your future.

Have a business idea but aren’t sure how to take the first step? This engaging and informative webinar is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of exploring business ownership. Whether you’re considering a side hustle, launching a startup, or turning a passion into a full-time venture, this session will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to get started confidently and compliantly.
Led by experts from Invest Ottawa, this beginner-level seminar will introduce you to the key regulatory requirements and business considerations at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. You’ll learn about:

Municipal Requirements: Understand business licensing requirements and zoning considerations in Ottawa.
Provincial Regulations: Explore different business structures (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation), how to register your business in Ontario, and what structure might be best for you.
Federal Obligations: Get an overview of federal requirements including HST registration and obtaining a Business Number (BN).

In addition to regulatory basics, the webinar will highlight valuable resources available to entrepreneurs, including:

Support Services & Community Resources: Discover how Invest Ottawa and its partners can support your entrepreneurial journey through mentorship, networking, training, and more.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the path to launching your business and where to find the support you need every step of the way.
Who Should Attend:

First-time entrepreneurs
Individuals with a business idea but no prior experience
Anyone looking to understand the business startup landscape in Ottawa and Ontario

About the speaker:
Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

Starting a Business in Ottawa: Rules & Resources (Virtual)
2026-07-29 15:00 - 16:30
Start smart. Know the rules, find the resources, build your future.

Have a business idea but aren’t sure how to take the first step? This engaging and informative webinar is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of exploring business ownership. Whether you’re considering a side hustle, launching a startup, or turning a passion into a full-time venture, this session will provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to get started confidently and compliantly.
Led by experts from Invest Ottawa, this beginner-level seminar will introduce you to the key regulatory requirements and business considerations at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. You’ll learn about:

Municipal Requirements: Understand business licensing requirements and zoning considerations in Ottawa.
Provincial Regulations: Explore different business structures (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation), how to register your business in Ontario, and what structure might be best for you.
Federal Obligations: Get an overview of federal requirements including HST registration and obtaining a Business Number (BN).

In addition to regulatory basics, the webinar will highlight valuable resources available to entrepreneurs, including:

Support Services & Community Resources: Discover how Invest Ottawa and its partners can support your entrepreneurial journey through mentorship, networking, training, and more.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the path to launching your business and where to find the support you need every step of the way.
Who Should Attend:

First-time entrepreneurs
Individuals with a business idea but no prior experience
Anyone looking to understand the business startup landscape in Ottawa and Ontario

About the speaker:
Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

*Please note that you will receive an email with the link to join this webinar upon registering and before the session. If you do not receive it, please check your junk mailbox.

Crafting Your Business Plan
2026-08-04 18:00 - 20:00
Learn how to create a Profitable Business Roadmap

A thought-out business plan can provide a small business the ability to transform ideas into a concrete, actionable roadmap for success!
This July, August, and September, we invite you to attend one of our virtual Crafting Your Business Plan sessions.
Hosted by the Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, this session will help small business owners mitigate risks, avoid costly mistakes, and clarify your target market. A business plan explains your business idea, short and long-term business goals and what resources are available to start and operate your business.

In this session, you will learn:

How to create a clear, written plan that outlines your goals and the exact steps to achieve them.
The goals of a business plan
The methods for attaining those goals
The timeframe for the achievement of the goals.

Attention Starter Company+ applicants:
Attendance at both this online session and the Business Financials 101 session is mandatory prior to submitting your program application.
Our Starter Company+ program is only open and applicable to those businesses that reside in the Guelph/Wellington County.
Please visit the BCGW Events page for registration and upcoming session dates: Events Archive – Business Centre Guelph-Wellington
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Diana Train; Operations Manager for the Business Centre Guelph Wellington: diana@guelphbusiness.com
