Small business 101 | How e-commerce insurance can help
Growing your business with Shopify, Amazon, ebay, Etsy or Wayfair. Using Salesforce to target your clients? Delivering products with UberEats or Instacart? Building brand awareness with Zoom calls. Using Buffer, Hootsuite or Sprout Social to grow your social relationships? Keeping connected with remote employees via Slack? Creating your brand content using Canva or WordPress? Engaging potential customers on TikTok and Instagram?Whew! You’re likely not only a bit stretched thin, but you’re also likely a small business owner in Canada.As a result, you are most likely looking to the future and how to gain more clients, customers and marketshare.Above all, you are looking to grow. And that’s great. And according to Canadian Business magazine, you are not alone…keep reading….
Value + Options | A timely look at Ontario small business insurance
If you’re a small business owner in Ontario, you’ve likely got everything you own invested in your business. As a result, this is why protecting it from unexpected perils is so important. So even if you’re on a tight budget, there are small business insurance solutions that can easily fit into that budget and protect your livelihood. We’ve outlined some coverages below that are absolutely necessary for every business owner.
Some surprising Ontario small business statistics…
According to the latest numbers, there are approximately 440,000 employer businesses in Ontario, with about 430,000 of them being small businesses that employ 1-99 people. In other words, this means a whopping 97.7% of all businesses in Ontario are small businesses. Unfortunately, only 63% of new businesses survive longer than five years.
Certainly, there are a number of strategic elements that go into running a successful business, one of them being a comprehensive business plan. And no business plan is complete without a risk-management strategy.
Enjoying success as a small business owner in Ontario depends on more than delivering a great product or service – it also means being prepared for life’s surprises and making sure your business is properly equipped to deal with them when they happen…keep reading…
Small Business 101 | What to know about how liability insurance works
Starting small? You are not alone. Small business is the cornerstone of the Canadian economy and that’s why small businesses matter so much across the country. This is likely why you landed on this page – which is all about small business liability insurance.
If you’re just starting a business, you’ve probably been told you need it. But why is that and what steps are involved in actually acquiring it? We’ve got the answers you need.
Firstly, small business liability insurance is very important. It’s designed to protect you and your business in case someone is hurt or if you damage the property of others while operating your business. Imagine, for a moment, if one of your employees engaged in activity that resulted in one of your clients losing a substantial sum of money. You’d want liability insurance to protect your business and allow it to continue operating.
Don’t think that kind of thing is likely to happen? Fair enough. But even the most dedicated, hard-working small business owner can find themselves too busy to notice everything going on with their business, including the activities of employees…keep reading…
Canadian small business 101 | Where can I get a small business loan?
If you’re wondering “Where can I get a small business loan in Canada?” read on.
As a business owner, you should be nimble. You need to take advantage of unexpected opportunities while managing your exposure to risk.
However, it’s entirely possible that you can get caught up in your day-to-day work and not be prepared for the unexpected. As a result, you might not be in a position to seize an opportunity or, worse still, suffer a setback when something goes wrong. This is why knowing “Where can I get a small business loan in Canada?” is important.
Life is full of surprises. On Monday, you land a big contract or learn about a new space that’s perfect for your business. And on Wednesday, you might be scrambling to fix a piece of equipment. Meanwhile, on Saturday, your small business might be attacked by a hacker.
Today, we’re focused on small business loans and small business insurance, two invaluable solutions that can prepare you for life’s big and little surprises.
Can I get a small business loan in Canada? Yes!
Funding. Do you have what you need to really grow? If not, a small business loan can help you seize opportunities that pop-up without giving up equity. Here are a few ways people use a small business loan…keep reading…
Cannabis Retail 101 | How to get Ontario cannabis retailer small business insurance
Change is in the air. Across Alberta, BC and other Canadian provinces the growth of cannabis retailer small businesses is hard to miss. However, here in Ontario, the pace has been somewhat slower, due in part, to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. So far, only 150 stores are currently open.1
But, this is all changing thanks to a Sept 1, 2020 announcement by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. They note, “At the government’s direction, the AGCO is now moving to double the pace of store authorizations this fall. The AGCO will soon contact all affected retail store applicants directly to advise them of any change to the timing of the issuance of their store authorizations.”2
And with future cannabis retailers flocking to dispensariesnearme.ca to see where market opportunities exist in the province, getting insurance for a new cannabis retail store is top of mind. Meanwhile, unique cannabis retailer small businesses like Superette on Yonge Street are connecting with new target audiences. According to the owner, the Rosedale cannabis retailer is:
“made to resemble an old school deli and flower bodega with a direct line to the Rosedale Diner to order emergency hamburgers for when the munchies strike — increases the value of the neighbouring retailers and will help everybody increase sales during the pandemic.”3
Whether you’re planning your cannabis retailer small business, about to open doors or thinking about expanding, getting the best insurance options is essential…keep reading…
Managing your business risks during COVID-19
COVID-19 is changing how Canadians live, work and conduct business. Bookmark this page and learn more about COVID-19 risks, provincial workplace safety guidance, COVID-19 insurance options, commercial insurance Canada products, insights and much more.
To help businesses understand what’s new, what’s changing and what’s staying the same, we’re constantly updating our Insurance Blog.
