Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Legal / Regulatory 2
E-Business
Basics for Getting Started 2
Acts and Regulations 2
Taxes 3
Business Insurance 5
Funding / Financing 5
Financing Your Business 5
Sources of Financing 5
How-To / Educational 7
How-To Publications 7
Websites 8
Contacts / Directories 10
Business Associations 10
Magazines and Newsletters 11
Market Data / Statistics 12
Sales Forecasting 12
Sources of Market Data 12
Appendix 13
Consumer Taxation Offices 13
2 E-Business
The following is meant solely to help you understand the main features
of primary regulations governing this activity, and is not meant in any
way to provide a legal interpretation.
All existing laws that apply to traditional commerce apply equally in an
electronic environment. Companies must comply with the law of any
jurisdiction where it is deemed to be “carrying on business.”
In Addition, for sales that require the shipment of goods to within a
country other than Canada, all exporting regulation apply. See the
Exporting Sourcing Guide located at:
http://www.sb.gov.bc.ca/smallbus/lotus/sbguides.htm
The following regulations are just some of the more important ones
relating to a business in any retail environment.
Trade-marks
A trade-mark is a word, a symbol, a design -- or a combination of these
(such as a graphic logo with a slogan) -- used to distinguish the wares or
services of one person or organization from those of others in the
marketplace. Trade-marks come to represent not only actual wares and
services, but the reputation of the producer. As such, they are
considered valuable intellectual property. A registered trade-mark can
be protected through legal proceedings from misuse and imitation.
Sources of Financing
Government Program
E-tailing Etailing
This book provides a step-by-step guide for consumer retailers wishing Publisher: Dearborn Financial
to enter the e-commerce market. It addresses both technological and Publishing
customer concerns. ISBN: 1-57410-129-3
Web Commerce: Building a Digital Business Web Commerce: Building a Digital
Indentifies the many different Web commerce solutions available and Business
helps to decide which system best fits the needs of your company. Also Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
describes how to best reach your target audience and how to personalize ISBN: 0-471-29282-6
and promote your Web site effectively.
Futurize Your Enterprise
Futurize Your Enterprise Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A guide to doing business on the internet, it is designed to help ISBN: 0-471-35763-4
businesses focus on e-customers, and includes case studies, and
Cyber Law Canada
common pitfalls to avoid.
Publisher: Self-Counsel Press
Cyber Law Canada: The Complete User’s Legal Guide ISBN: 0-1-55180-125-6
This publication provides comprehensive coverage of every aspect of
Websites
retail buying and how to manage the buying process in order to
maximize profits and minimize losses. It also offers in-depth E-Commerce Software
discussions of the numerous skills and techniques to succeed as a buyer http://www.bigstep.com
or merchandise manager in today's competitive retail environment, http://www.digitrends.com
including: organizing and controlling the buying process; http://ecommerce.internet.com
understanding consumer demographics and psychographics; identifying http://www.e-bizbuilder.com
consumer trends and forecasting demand; analyzing and interpreting http://www.freemerchant.com
sales records; using computers to increase competitiveness; and http://goshopping.canadapost.ca
shopping vendor lines and negotiating prices and services. http://www.homestead.com
http://mypage-products.ihost
.com/canada/en_us
Websites
http://www.scotiawebstore.com
http://www.storesonline.com
E-Commerce Hosting Sites
(others…)
There are many websites that offer to set up a companies web presence
which includes: ‘x’ number of web pages, secured transactions, and Online Payment Services
credit card acceptability. It’s important to look at as many hosting http://www.cybercash.com
companies as possible and decide based on options, service, and price. http://www.eaccount.com
Some internet companies are giving certain service free to first time http://www.emoneymail.com
users. An example is eParcel Solutions which give small businesses a http://www.gmoney.com
website with free shopping cart and shipping guide http://www.internetsecure.com
http://www.canadapost.ca/eparcel/ http://www.moneyzap.com
http://www.payme.com
Online Payment Services http://www.payplace.com
These services allow you to send and receive cash over the internet. http://www.x.com (paypal)
Other services allow you to accept payment from customers using any (others…)
major credit card in a secure environment. Debit money directly in
someones account to be withdrawn with an ATM card. Again, there are
many different companies offering similar services – check services and
prices for the best for your needs
GoSoloCanada.com
A site for small and new businesses – information, on-line help, tools,
directories, e-commerce guide and marketing strategies
EResolution
Private company offering on-line arbitration and mediation services, in
particular regarding “domain name” disputes. The Company is
affiliated with the Public Law Research Centre from Université de
Montréal
Guerilla Marketing
This website complements the best selling book that was first released
in 1983 and has since sold over 1 million copies. It particularly focuses
on small businesses and how proper marketing can enable a business
owner to succeed and compete with businesses much larger then
themselves.
Directories
There are multitudes of search engines on the internet each having their
own strengths and weaknesses: They all have different search
capabilities, gather information in different ways and relay the
information using different criteria. It is believed that all the search
engines have categorized a maximum of 25% of the internet – it would
be imperative for any business with a website to be within that
percentage.
A comprehensive listing of search engines and search engine
submission tips can be found at:
http://www.searchenginewatch.com
Internet Directory 2000 - A Canadian Guide to the Best Web Sites and
Publisher: Prentice Hall
ISBN: 0-13-016419-4
Tools
A directory of 2000 Canadian web sites with information on: advanced Magazines and Newsletters
search techniques, avoiding crashes and system conflicts, finding plug-
Digitaldesk.com
ins and add-ons, security and privacy issues, e-commerce and online
investing, books and more. http://www.digitaldesk.com
ebiz Magazine
Magazines and Newsletters Publisher: Media Hill Publications
Inc.
http://www.ebizmag.com
Digitaldesk.com
Digitaldesk.com is a Canadian based website which looks at current globetechnology.com
internet / technology issues. It’s possible to subscribe and receive news http://www.globetechnology.com/
directly to your email address.
Information Highways
ebiz Magazine Publisher: Shinwell Media Group
ebiz Magazine is the only dedicated e-commerce magazine for business http://www.informationhighways.net
managers in Canada. Articles on Web Site Development, Venture Web Commerce Today
Capital, Marketing, Human Resources, Transaction Processing, Case
http://www.wilsonweb.com/
Studies, Web Statistics and more.
commerce
globetechnology.com
globetechnology.com is the online extension of The Globe and Mail's
Technology section. This is the Canadian destination for technology
news, information and community.
Information Highways
A Canadian based periodical whos mission is “to help Canadian
professionals create and deliver relevant, actionable electronic resources
to users.” On their website can be found a portion of the magazine free
to viewers.
FP Markets: Canadian
Market Data / Statistics Demographics 1999
Publisher: Financial Post Datagroup
ISBN: 1-55251-022-0
Iconocast, Inc.
Sales Forecasting
http://www.iconocast.com
Sales forecasting is the process of organizing and analyzing information Media Metrix, Inc.
in a way that makes it possible to estimate what your sales will be.. For http://www.mediametrix.ca
a more information on sales forecasting, visit the Canada/BC Business
Service Centre's web site at: NUA Internet Surveys
http://www.nua.net/surveys/
http://www.sb.gov.bc.ca/smallbus/workshop/salefore.html
The nature of the internet makes forcasting for an ecommerce
business difficult due to the industry being in its infancy, the lack
of historical data, and the variables involved.
Iconocast, Inc.
Committed to bringing creative and enlightening techniques to
subscribers and fellow marketers via ground-breaking events that both
entertain and inform. The award-winning ICONOCAST e-mail list,
delivers provocative and insightful reporting on news, analysis and
trends affecting the Internet marketing industry
Appendix