Resources For Small Businesses
Please note: This page is subdivided into several sections.
- The first section contains recent news and blog posts.
- The second - great downloads free in PDF format for you.
- Links to a variety of small business and entrepreneurial resources that we believe you will find helpful - especially useful for Canadian small businesses or those thinking of starting a new business.
DOWNLOADS
Getting Started Business Plan
Did you know that the majority of businesses fail? You probably have a great business idea - but one of the reasons so many businesses fail is because they did not spend some time working on a business plan and a committment to implementing it.
A business plan can be a very long document - but when you are starting out, it is best to keep it short and precise. You can expand on it later as your business expands. Here's a great mini-business plan template you can use no matter where your business is located - Manitoba or the rest of Canada and even any part of North America:
Employee Relationships Strategies
At some point, your business may need to hire. Your relationships with your employees could have a huge impact on whether the business succeeds to the level of it's highest potential, or crashes. Positive relationships are key! A good beginning point to learn more is to read this guide from HR Strategies:
Three Key Employee Relations Strategies (PDF)
Opportunities For Influence
Great Performance! Effective Employee Relations! Retention of Valued Employees!
They don’t just happen by accident. Successful Managers develop strategies to systematically and positively influence employees and the organization.
They don’t just hire great employees and hope for the best! They think ahead, plan for success, then put a lot of discipline and hard work into making sure the right things happen, consistently.
Another great guide from HR Strategies:
OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFLUENCE (PDF)
Performance Partnerships
All Managers need Employees to perform well and succeed. In surveys, Managers state that the vast majority of Employees are quite willing and able to do a good job. So far, so good!
Logically then, performance management meetings should be positive, win/win discussions as\both parties collaborate on plans, processes and results. (In some cases, this actually happens.)
Unfortunately Managers and Employees, consistently say performance discussions are stressful and discouraging (a recent survey indicated 46% of Employers consider appraisals ineffective.)
HR Strategies has a guide to help you out:
Performance Partnerships (PDF)
LINKS