Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

Small Business

This guide contains resources that can help you to research, start, and grow a small business in British Columbia. Topics include business plans, registration and licensing, financing, market research, and more.

Useful Websites

Helps BC entrepreneurs grow successful and sustainable businesses through expert business advisors, educational services, easy-to-use free resources and engaging community events.
Offers free online access to reliable business information and tools for secondary market research for BC businesses and entrepreneurs.
An online and in-person resource centre that provides a wealth of information to help you start a business in BC.

Digital Library Resources

Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

A comprehensive research resource for all areas of business and economics. It includes such noteworthy publications as The Economist, and major news sources such as The Wall Street Journal.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

Provides company, industry, and macroeconomic market research from three sources: Hoover’s Company Profiles, OxResearch, and Snapshots Series.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

This resource offers unprecedented access to full-text magazines and resources – from historical info to current trends in business.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
General Reference Subject Icon

CBCA is a Canadian-focused database that offers access to newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals and reference sources. *Also suitable for research at the elementary, high school and undergraduate levels.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

Contains directory information on businesses, consultants and consulting organizations, print, publications media and broadcast media.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
Education Subject Icon

LinkedIn Learning offers video courses in business, computer technology, software, and creative skills, all conducted by experts in their fields.

Visit the LinkedIn Learning FAQ page for more information.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
Home and Consumer Info Subject Icon

Provides information on more than 1 million businesses throughout Canada. Tutorial available.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

In-depth corporate data on Canadian companies.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

Trial update: This resource will continue to be offered on a trial basis through December 2024.


Contains a vast collection of technology and business ebooks, videos, courses, and more. A great resource for professional development.

Access:
Everywhere for Vancouver residents
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

Regional Business News provides full-text business resources including newspapers, trade publications, magazines and newswires.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders
Image
Business and Careers Subject Icon

Provides demographic information including Canadian census data, household spending on hundreds of goods and services and detailed business profiles from Dun & Bradstreet. Digital lifestyle data providing mobile phone ownership/usage, detailed social media behaviors and activities, and online shopping insights is also provided. Limited to 5 simultaneous users. Resource will time-out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Not optimized for phones and tablets.

For more information see our help guide.

Access:
Everywhere for VPL cardholders