Small Business Enterprise Centre

In-Person - Master Your Bookkeeping Essentials w/ Rhea Burns
2026-02-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Toronto)
Interested in learning important bookkeeping practices for your small business? Join us for our in-person Bookkeeping 101 workshop!

If you’re interested in learning important bookkeeping practices for your small business, join us in-person for the Bookkeeping Essentials Workshop, facilitated by Rhea Burns, Certified Quickbooks Online Pro-Advisor and part of the CPB Canada – Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada.
The session will cover:
Tracking & Recording Income & Expenses, Cash Flow – Receivables & Payables, Monthly Bank / Credit Card Reconciliation, Allowable Business Expenses, Home Office Allowable Expenses, GST/HST Requirements, WSIB Requirements, Payroll & Source Deductions, T4’s, T4A’s and T5018’s, Income Tax Preparation for Sole Proprietor/Self-Employed, and Partnership and Incorporated Businesses.
Date: Thursday February 5 – 10am – 12pm
Registration Fee: $10
Get your ticket: https://in-person-master-your-bookkeeping-essentials-feb-5.eventbrite.ca
Location: 55 St. Marie Street (Collingwood Public Library – B+C rooms on 3rd floor)
If you have any questions, contact sbec@collingwood.ca or call 705-351-3309.
Resources included:
*FREE 15-minute follow-up consultation* with Rhea will be offered to ticketholders. The presentation slides and a resource booklet will also be shared with you after the session.
We also suggest having a notebook and pen ready to get the most out of the workshop.

Foodpreneur Advantage - Labelling & Packaging your Food Product
2026-02-12 10:00 - 11:00
Labelling & Packaging your Food Product
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs an accurate and compliant label.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Packaging Considerations
Labelling Requirements
Mistakes to Avoid

Packaging and labelling your food product is where marketing meets regulatory compliance and food safety. You know you want your product to look great on a store shelf, but what are you required to put on the label? How do you choose the right package for your product? For this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars. Nicole will guide us through what to consider when choosing a package for your food product, what to include on your label, and what mistakes to avoid when packaging your food product.
You will leave with a better understanding of labelling & packaging in the food and beverage industry!
Next Session: Thursday, February 12th, 2026, at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour
Register: https://creatorapp.zohopublic.com/dproudfoot1/registration-form/form-perma/Registration_Form/yqHtnaFANbM8kGfDjkYPHBm3xBaQYwk22Fkxaty1fMBmR7OKagSvN8e9tK7wpByrQPnZ0MR6w5XxB6JMmjJ4fVn4SAzNtb7vjSd5?Seminar_Id=4206752000140929003

Foodpreneur Advantage - Food Safety Fundamentals for Startups
2026-02-19 10:00 - 11:00
Food Safety Fundamentals for Startups
This session is for you if you are starting a food business and want to make sure you are producing safe products right from the start.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Basic Food Safety Principles Every Business Must Know
Practical Food Safety Practices for Production
Common mistakes to avoid when starting your food business

When you’re launching a food product, understanding food safety is essential not only for protecting your customers, but also for meeting regulatory expectations and building retailer trust. In this session, Lisa Cove, Food Safety Consultant and Founder of Shelf Ready Inc., will walk you through simple, actionable steps you can take to build food safety into your business from the very beginning—without getting overwhelmed by regulations.
You’ll leave with a clear understanding of basic food safety expectations, practical steps you can implement immediately, and the confidence to move your food business forward safely!
Next Session: Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1-hour
Register – https://creatorapp.zohopublic.com/dproudfoot1/registration-form/form-perma/Registration_Form/yqHtnaFANbM8kGfDjkYPHBm3xBaQYwk22Fkxaty1fMBmR7OKagSvN8e9tK7wpByrQPnZ0MR6w5XxB6JMmjJ4fVn4SAzNtb7vjSd5?Seminar_Id=4206752000140461002

Foodpreneur Advantage - Barcodes and Beyond: What You Need to be Market-Ready
2026-02-26 10:00 - 11:00
Learn how barcodes can get you market-ready for retail, online sales, and supply chain success.
In this free 60-minute online seminar, learn about:

GS1 Canada services
The roles played by GS1 Canada across the supply chain
Tools and resources on how to get started the right way.

This webinar will demystify barcodes by explaining why unique product identification is key when selling your product on a website, through a retailer or an online marketplace. Having an authentic, licensed barcode, coupled with proper support systems, will help you navigate regulatory and trading requirements while ensuring you are in conformity with your trading partners.
Presented by GS1 Canada.
Next Session: Thursday, February 26th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Duration: 1 hour
Register: https://creatorapp.zohopublic.com/dproudfoot1/registration-form/form-perma/Registration_Form/yqHtnaFANbM8kGfDjkYPHBm3xBaQYwk22Fkxaty1fMBmR7OKagSvN8e9tK7wpByrQPnZ0MR6w5XxB6JMmjJ4fVn4SAzNtb7vjSd5?Seminar_Id=4206752000143816002

IP Power Hour (Virtual, Free)
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:30
IP Power Hour (Virtual, Free)
Calling all innovative entrepreneurs and founders. This is a fast-paced session on how IP supports and interacts with innovation and business growth across different areas. We will start with lightning talks from four experts, then attendees can choose a breakout room for live Q&A and deeper discussion.
Speakers/topics:

David Schnurr (Miller Thomson LLP), IP considerations in AI: risks and opportunities
Alexandra Barlow (Canadian Food Innovation Network), food innovation trends
Alethia Cadore (Mindsilike Consulting & Community Practice), social enterprise and IP
Montana Cardinal (University of Ottawa), Indigenous IP, heritage, law, and knowledge

When: Thursday, Feb 26, 2026, 12:00-1:30 pm ET
Registration link: tinyurl.com/IP-Hour

Making Connections: Women as Changemakers (waitlist)
2026-03-05 12:00 - 14:30
SOLD OUT – JOIN OUR WAITLIST
When women grow businesses with intention, everyone benefits.
Join us for a meaningful afternoon of conversation, collaboration, and connection in celebration of International Women’s Day, hosted at one of Collingwood’s newest restaurants, Bocado.
This year’s Making Connections gathering invites women in business—and those who support women in business—to come together around a powerful idea: when women build strong, intentional businesses, they create ripple effects far beyond profit. From local impact to broader social change, women entrepreneurs play a vital role in shaping resilient communities, creating opportunity, and leading with purpose.
Typically open only for dinner service, Bocado is offering our group exclusive daytime access for a relaxed, intimate lunch gathering—creating the perfect setting for thoughtful conversation and genuine connection.
Over lunch and guided conversations, we’ll explore:

The change we want to see in our community and beyond
The challenges we’re most passionate about solving
How growing our businesses can increase our ability to lead, influence, and give back

The event will also include interactive small-group discussions designed to help participants:

Strengthen and support one another’s businesses
Explore collaboration and thought partnership
Identify tangible next steps to build momentum and revenue in the year ahead

We’ll close by reflecting on how increased capacity—whether through time, talent, mentorship, or financial resources—can be intentionally reinvested to create meaningful impact.
When: Thursday March 5, 2026 | 12pm – 2:30pm
Where: Bocado – 31 Huron Street, Collingwood
Investment: $50 + tax – lunch included
Tickets: https://making-connections-2026.eventbrite.ca
Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, community leader, or supporter of women-led work, you’re warmly invited to take part in an event that celebrates connection, intention, and collective change.
Grab your ticket!

Foodpreneur Advantage - Starting a Food Business & Regulatory Compliance
2026-04-16 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you are in the early stages of development and are looking to gain knowledge in the food and beverage industry.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Creating a Business Model
Doing your Market Research
Analyzing the Competition
What is Your Value Proposition?

Do you have an idea for a food business? Want to learn more before you venture into food production? Do you have a delicious recipe you wish to cook up into a money-making business?
Make sure you are complying with applicable codes and regulations.

Fire Code Compliance & Building Permits
Zoning Requirements, Municipal Bylaws & Licensing
Food Safety Requirements

Be sure to attend this valuable workshop on “Starting a Food Business”.
You will leave with a better understanding of how to get started on your path to success in the food and beverage industry! This webinar will assist you in navigating the permits and legislation requirements for a food and beverage business. You will leave with a better understanding of how to navigate the regulatory compliance in the food and beverage industry!
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights that will help you avoid costly mistakes!
Next Session: Thursday, April 16th, 2026 at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour

Build a Stronger Brand with Strategic Imagery
2026-04-21 09:30 - 12:00
Develop visual literacy, understand commercial photography, and make smarter creative decisions for your business.

Think like a commercial photographer to create stronger images now and build the foundation for working with creative professionals as your business grows.
Great branding photography is about more than taking pretty images—it’s about communicating value, building trust, and supporting how your business shows up in the market. This workshop is designed to help small business owners become more visually literate, gaining a clear understanding of what makes a strong commercial image and how strategic photography supports brand growth.
Participants will learn how professional images are planned and used across marketing platforms, along with foundational concepts like composition, lighting, styling, and visual consistency. The workshop will also introduce what it looks like to work with professional creatives, including understanding commercial photography, image licensing, and how to hire and collaborate effectively.
While the focus is on understanding and strategy, attendees will also leave with simple, practical tips to help improve their own photography in the early stages of their business—along with a clearer roadmap for elevating their visual presence over time.
When: Tuesday April 21, 2026 | 9:30 – 12pm
Where: In-Person – Collingwood Public Library
Tickets: https://build-a-stronger-brand-with-strategic-imagery.eventbrite.ca
AGENDA:
Part 1: Photography Literacy for Your Business

Why photography matters for your brand
What makes a strong commercial image
Practical tips to improve your photos now
Thinking ahead: building a visual foundation for your business

Part 2: Working With Creative Professionals

Commercial vs Consumer Photography
Understanding image copyright, licensing and usage
What working with a professional actually looks like
Hiring and Collaborating with the right creative
_____

About Heather Goldsworthy, Commercial Photographer & Art Director
Heather is a commercial photographer and art director with over 20 years of experience helping businesses create clear, compelling brand imagery. She has worked across food and beverage, product, architectural interiors, and corporate branding, collaborating with agencies, designers, and independent business owners. Heather’s approach blends practical strategy with thoughtful execution to help businesses create visuals that support long-term brand growth.

Foodpreneur Advantage - How to Sell Your Food Product
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you want to learn how to sell your food product at markets, online, or to retailers.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

How to set your pricing for success
Positioning your product on the market
Building an audience of raving fans
The key things you can do to secure the sale

You have worked hard to develop a great product but you’re struggling to make sales. What gives?
Successfully selling your product involves more than just having great tasting food. Pricing, marketing, and how you position your product all play a key role in ensuring that people will buy it.
In this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars, a national energy bar company. Nicole will guide us through the key factors to consider in successfully selling your product, whether you’re selling at markets, online, or to retailers.
You will leave with a better understanding of how to successfully sell your product in the food and beverage industry!
Next Session: Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour

Foodpreneur Advantage - Costing and Pricing to Make Profits
2026-04-30 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you want to know how to price your food or beverage product appropriately.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Understanding your COGS
Cash Flow Management
Planning for Profits

If you want to run a successful business it’s important for you to know the ‘numbers’. Learn how to cost and price your products and services for profitability and how the decisions you make about your operations and production processes affect your bottom line. Understand how to budget and spend money so you can pay all your bills and still have money left in your pocket at the end of the year.
Each participant will receive an Excel Financial Forecasting spreadsheet (blank) and completed examples for both a product and service business to assist you through the process. Use the spreadsheet to develop your individual timeline, operating and capital costs, and pricing calculator to create a cashflow projection and income statement for your business.
You will leave with a better understanding of how to properly cost and price your product to make a profit in the food and beverage industry!
Next Session: Thursday, April 30th, 2026, at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour

Foodpreneur Advantage - Marketing and Branding Your Food Product
2026-05-14 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs the perfect brand to suit the right market.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Why YOU are your brand as a new food or beverage business
What to consider when creating a visual identity for your company
What does marketing in 2026 look like?

Amanda DeVries of Eye Candy Design specializes in branding food and beverage companies. In this webinar, Amanda will share her expert insight, from how to create your brand, how to retain and grow your brand to what sort of colours and typography styles are right for your product. You will learn the difference between designing for store shelves vs. food markets vs. digital spaces. She will also cover tips for working with a graphic designer and determining exactly who your product is for. As Amanda advises, “if your product is for everyone, then you are selling to no one”. Know your target market.
You will leave with a better understanding of how to brand and market your product in the food and beverage industry!
Next Session: Thursday, May 14th, 2026, at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour

Foodpreneur Advantage - Food Safety Fundamentals for Start-ups
2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you are starting a food business and want to make sure you are producing safe products right from the start.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Basic Food Safety Principles Every Business Must Know
Practical Food Safety Practices for Production
Common mistakes to avoid when starting your food business

When you’re launching a food product, understanding food safety is essential not only for protecting your customers, but also for meeting regulatory expectations and building retailer trust. In this session, Lisa Cove, Food Safety Consultant and Founder of Shelf Ready Inc., will walk you through simple, actionable steps you can take to build food safety into your business from the very beginning—without getting overwhelmed by regulations.
You’ll leave with a clear understanding of basic food safety expectations, practical steps you can implement immediately, and the confidence to move your food business forward safely!
Next Session: Thursday, May 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1hour

Foodpreneur Advantage - Labelling and Packaging Your Food Product
2026-05-28 10:00 - 11:00
This session is for you if you have a food or beverage product that needs an accurate and compliant label.
In this free 60-minute online seminar learn about:

Packaging Considerations
Labelling Requirements
Mistakes to Avoid

Packaging and labelling your food product is where marketing meets regulatory compliance and food safety. You know you want your product to look great on a store shelf, but what are you required to put on the label? How do you choose the right package for your product? For this session, we will be joined by Nicole Haney, former Founder & CEO of Boho Bars. Nicole will guide us through what to consider when choosing a package for your food product, what to include on your label, and what mistakes to avoid when packaging your food product.
You will leave with a better understanding of labelling & packaging in the food and beverage industry!
Next Session: Thursday, May 28th, 2026, at 10:00 am (This session is offered 4 times per year.)
Duration: 1 hour
