I'm a solo founder in Toronto. The tech/networking events I've gone to usually leave me with like random LinkedIn connections that I can't even recall once I get home.

I realized I wanted to meet people I actually have something in common with. But I also want to ask someone who's already built a company or exited, and ask them stuff I'm still figuring out. Like how did they get started? What did they waste time on? What did they do to get funding in Toronto or outside? You know like the basic questions I want to actually hear from another person who's made it.

So along with a couple of friends, we're planning to do something new, like bring experienced founders and investors to share what they’ve learned and take questions from the room but in a chill setting like a bar!

We're talking to a prominent VC who actually built his startup in his Toronto basement and then sold it to a Fortune 500, and asking him if he can speak!🤞

The idea is simple:
- We start with introductions for you to meet other founders in the room
- Then the VC shares his experience building a company and how he thinks about backing founders today.
- Then we have a Q&A so you can actually ask about the things you’re figuring out.
- Afterwards, go chat with him, you can chill, stay for food, drinks, and conversations

Lmk what you think, we're keeping it open to founders, operators, builders, investors, or literally anyone who is curious about building a startup in Toronto. Like we all start somewhere right? As long as you're Toronto-based, join in. If this sounds like something you might wanna checkout for a fun weekday evening, Imk!

I'm a commercial banker. Most owners assume a business loan works like a car loan. It doesn't, and that costs people months.

The saying in banking: banks are 3-to-1 cash flow lenders that look for a second way out. Here's what that means.

1. Bring your own money
   For every $3 the bank lends, expect to put in about $1 (roughly 25%, sometimes 10–50%). It needs to be in a bank account before you apply. Money already spent on deposits may not count, so set it aside first and ask before spending it.

2. Prove the business cash flows
   Your financials need to show enough to cover expenses, make payments on all your debt including the new loan, and still leave a profit. Startups use projections, and every assumption gets tested. Know your own numbers: I regularly see people apply when their statements show a loss.

3. Give the bank a second way out
   If the business fails, what can the bank rely on? Collateral and net worth, personal and business. About $3 of net worth per $1 borrowed is ideal, not required. Expect to be asked for a personal guarantee.

Your personal credit counts
Young businesses have no credit history, so the bank pulls yours, even if you're incorporated. Pay down balances, pay on time, and check your report for errors.

Keep the business plan short
A few clear pages: what you do, who's involved, competition, and how you'll operate. Not 100 pages.

Paperwork decides 3 weeks vs. 3 months
Bring everything to the first meeting: accountant-prepared statements, a personal statement of affairs, matching bank statements, property tax bills, asset values, and a list of what you need financed (including tax, which many banks won't finance). One client did this and had financing in about three weeks. Most take around three months.

Happy to answer general questions below.

General information, not financial advice. Lender criteria vary. Views are my own.

Recently, I found myself at a point where I had to rethink my next step. Instead of only looking for another job, I decided to put my skills to work and build something of my own.

I'm a software developer, and I've launched TRI-H — https://trih.ca

Through TRI-H, I'm helping small businesses improve their online presence, build better websites, manage their social media, and use technology to work smarter and grow their revenue.

I know a lot of small business owners don't have the budget to hire a full-time developer or marketing team. My goal is to make these services more accessible and give businesses one person they can rely on for their digital needs.

I'm still at the beginning of this journey, and building a business from scratch isn't easy. But I'm excited to see where it goes.

If you're a small business owner, or know someone who could use help with their website, social media, or digital presence, feel free to reach out. I'd genuinely appreciate the support.

And if you've ever lost your job and decided to build something of your own, I'd love to hear your story too.

I'm a geologist and software engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in geoscience and mining technology.

Over the past year, I've been developing a new generation of mining software combining professional geological workflows with AI. I've interviewed around 100 geologists, tested ideas, iterated and pivoted based on feedback. The product is now live and already being used by customers.

The product and technical vision are in place. I'm now looking for someone who can help turn it into a scalable business.

Ideally, you're based in Australia or Canada and have:

• A track record selling B2B SaaS or enterprise software, ideally at a successful software company.
• Experience winning customers, navigating complex sales cycles and building repeatable go-to-market strategies.
• Strong commercial instincts, initiative and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• An interest in helping shape fundraising and strategic partnerships as the business grows.

Mining software experience would be a plus, but isn't essential. I'm looking for someone curious enough to learn about mining, geology and 3D modelling, and motivated to work in a technically complex industry.

I'm the technical and product person: I bring the software, product vision and domain expertise. I'm looking for complementary commercial skills, someone who can challenge assumptions, open doors and build the business alongside me.

Involvement is flexible. It could start with a few days a week alongside an existing role, with the possibility of moving to full-time if there's a strong fit and the business develops. I'm open to an equity-based partnership, with the structure reflecting the actual commitment, responsibilities and contribution.

I'm not looking for a conventional salesperson or someone to simply execute a predefined plan. I'm looking for someone who wants to help build a company.

If this sounds interesting, feel free to DM me with a little about your background and what you'd be looking for in a partnership.

Hello,

I am planning this for a while to start an online clothing brand and if the business make money, I will go for physical store eventually but not too soon for sure. I am seeking advise, comments, concerns, pros and cons. Although i did my own research but I need genuine and practical response.

The plan:

At first i will start with hoodies for all gender, sizes will be (M,L,XL) and then later on, I will move to the ladies and gents jeans but slowly will add products bases on the business revenue and all. My brand name, logo, packaging everything is fixed already, and all the goods will come from ASIA- (BANGLADESH), As this is my country , I have reliable manufacturer, shipper.

Concern:

I am currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Should i start with Facebook marketplace only or try to somewhere else if yes, then where ? Will clothing business be a good idea in this economy ? I am putting my all saving for this and will to take risk. What should I consider to reduce the risk level?

I run a small business in Canada, and every year around tax time I lose a weekend (sometimes two) to the same stuff:
Digging through email for invoices I know I received
Receipts faded to blank on thermal paper
Card charges I can't remember: "was that a business expense?"

A supplier invoice missing the GST/HST number, which I only notice when I go to claim it
None of it is hard. It's just slow, and it comes at the worst time of year.
A few things that have saved me time, in case they help:
Capture the receipt the day you get it. A photo that day beats an email search in April.

Check anything over $100 right away. Over $100, the CRA wants the supplier's GST/HST registration number and a description on it. Over $500, the buyer's name too. If it's missing, ask for a corrected invoice now, because the supplier is much easier to reach this week than next year.
Keep records for six years. It's easier if they're all in one place.

Separate business and personal spending early, so you're not sorting hundreds of charges at year-end.
Curious how others handle it:
How many hours do you spend on this each year?
Spreadsheet, accounting software, a bookkeeper, or "I'll deal with it in April"?
Ever lost a deduction or ITC because a receipt wasn't good enough?

Disclosure: I'm the founder of RubiWo, a Canadian expense tracking app, so I think about this problem a lot. I'm not here to pitch it, though. I want to hear what's actually painful for people, and I'll share what I learn.

Hi guys,

I'm a 26M starting his first business and I've just incorporated a company in Vancouver, BC about a month ago that focus on importing goods from Indonesia (healthy food products) like:

1. Granola and oat-based snacks
2. Fruit and plant based chips
3. Tempeh (Fermented Soybean Snacks).

Original Idea: My original idea was that I would focus on B2B sales, because the logic was that for the same amount of time and effort, we would be doing bigger volume (vs D2C) which we had to spend a lot of time doing marketing, branding, developing the online sales channel, etc. Fast forward, B2B is really costly (for a solo-preneur like me to do) because:

1. Paying for the freight / logistic is expensive - I was just recently quoted about $5K USD on just logistics.
2. Lead time - For the good to arrive here in Vancouver (it takes about close to 2 months by sea fright). The supplier (manufacture) wants a 100% up-front payment or gives at most 14 days term of payment. This puts me in a difficult spot because the time from order to arrival (2 months), not including selling the item.

While there are obvious things that I need to pay regardless (whether it's B2B or D2C) like packaging & labelling (making sure it's bilingual in both english and french), B2B is very costly for a solo-entrepreneur like myself.

I have now decided to go D2C selling to amazon and planning to do in small batches shipment. I was thinking of applying to Futurpreneur (a non-profit organization), they have a program with Canadian banks which gives you about up to $25K in loan. The uncertain thing about this is that since it's a loan, the exact amount depend on your credit score and how much the bank is willing to give.

Right now what would really help me is:

1. Advice on people who've done this or in the same field (trading or import, etc). Even anyone in the same industry (like importing goods from Japan, Korea (k-beauty, etc would be helpful, insights).
2. Connections / Support - entrepreneur to entrepreneur (any resources, leads, mentors or referrals) that you think would be helpful or beneficial.
3. Advice from people in the food business, distributors and retailers.

Been with Moneris since 2014, always been satisfied until they got purchased by a USA company.
Looking to switch to another Canadian Debit and credit card processing supplyer.

Good quality service and reasonable fee's

What are your thoughts on the following and are they Canadian?

Inkas
RapidCents
Square
Shopify
Clover
Stripe
Nuvei

Stats:
210k sales per month
34 % debit
10 % Credit

open to other suggestions and thank you for sharing your experiences with your suppliers.

Truly

Would u like to gimme me feedback about that ?in comment's?

Hey everyone! Has anyone cancelled their Ownr subscription for a corporation (not a sole prop) after it auto-renewed? I'm within the 14-day window (it’s been 2 days, totally slipped my mind) and their support said they'd refund once I cancel and confirm. Did you get the full refund, and how long did it take to hit your card?

Looking for advice from other Canadian small business owners who ship primarily to the US.

We’re a Manitoba based business selling books and paper goods. Before the de minimis changes, we used our contracted Canada Post rates through Shopify, which made shipping to the US and internationally relatively affordable.

Since the changes, we haven’t been able to use those rates for US shipments through Shopify, even with a Zonos account. We’re now stuck with Shopify’s shipping rates, which are pretty expensive and turning off customers from purchasing.

Buying individual labels directly through Canada Post isn’t feasible because we process too many orders to purchase them individually. Chit Chats isn’t available in Manitoba either.

What are other Canadian Shopify sellers doing?

Have you found affordable alternatives for shipping products to the US that integrate with Shopify and allow bulk label purchases?

Also, has Shopify shared any plans to fix this and allow us to use our contracted Canada Post rates for US shipments again?

Would love to hear what’s working for others. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I'm a Canadian small business owner building WingBeerSpecials.com, a platform that helps people find local food & drink specials as well as local entertainment or live music.

I'd love for Canadians from coast to coast to give it a try and share some honest feedback!

🍗 Check it out and tell me what you think.

📍 Where are you from, and what would make this useful in your city?

💡 What's missing, and how could we make it better?

We're a small business trying to build something people will actually use. Honest feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Canada! 🇨🇦

Hi everyone!

I am inviting accountants, CPAs, bookkeepers, and accounting firms across Canada to join our accounting software platform as Authorized Representatives.

Our accounting software is ready to use and designed to help Canadian businesses manage their accounting operations efficiently.

Key features include:

• 📊 Sales, purchases, expenses, and financial reporting
• 🧾 Invoicing, quotations, credit notes, and customer/vendor management
• 📦 Inventory management
• 🏦 Banking and payment workflows
• 💰 Payroll and Canadian payroll-related requirements
• 🇨🇦 Accounting workflows for businesses across Canadian provinces

Who are we looking for?

• Independent accountants and CPAs
• Bookkeepers managing multiple clients
• Small and medium-sized accounting firms
• Accounting professionals looking to expand their services

Why become an Authorized Representative?

The platform offers an opportunity for accounting professionals to manage their clients' accounting activities through one software platform and build their practice with the support of digital accounting tools.

We’re looking to connect with professionals interested in using the software in their day-to-day work and building a long-term partnership with us.

Interested in joining?

Comment below or send me a DM to learn more about the software and becoming an Authorized Representative.

If you serve Canadian businesses and are looking for an accounting software platform for your practice and clients, I’d love to connect!

To all fellow Canadian small business owners, a reminder that you don’t have to figure everything out alone.

Wanted to share a scenario that really makes you think about how unpredictable running a small business can be.

A business owner in my circle suddenly faced an unexpected $12500 expense. The business still has rent, salaries and other bills to pay. Asking family or friends for money wasnt easy, and neither was borrowing an option.

Thankfully, someone pointed them toward business overhead expense insurance. They discovered that, depending on the policy and circumstances, insurance may help cover eligible business expenses.

That kind of financial support made a difficult situation much more manageable and brought some much-needed peace of mind.

To anyone feeling alone in their business journey: don’t be afraid to explore your options before an emergency happens. Ask questions, seek advice and look into whether it could fit your needs.

Edit: firstly, this is not an ad. Secondly, the emergency was that the business owner became disabled and after that they needed the urgent funds.

I'm Loveish, a Canadian founder. TaxSnap scans receipts/supplier invoices, extracts GST/PST/HST and the supplier's GST/HST number, keeps the original file and exports CSV. 7-day free trial, then CA$35/month. Not an accounting integration and not CRA-certified — just faster record-keeping. Feedback welcome.
https://invoicefairy.app/?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=first_20
My dad owns a small business i saw him struggling with invoices hes pretty old now. So i thought why not make him something instead of just being on tiktok all day.

I hired a fairly new company from my hometown to build me a new website. I came to find out that the owner who I had been communicating with with, hires a local manager but then gets a guy in India to build the site. I paid $5000 (a discounted rate!) and promised it would be done in 4-6 weeks. We are going on 15 weeks now because the back and forth revisions are not getting though, as there is clearly a communication/language barrier with their builder, who I’ve come to find out is in India. I am
Being clear with what I want and they are misunderstanding EVERYTHING!!!
I now have a Mickey Mouse website no better than the last one I built myself!
If I had known he was going to hire someone who barely speaks inflating from India, I never would have hired him. I’ve used Fiverr enough to know that asking for a simple task to be done is never easy and takes dozens of back and forth revisions because they don’t understand what I’m saying. So imagine an entire website!
I paid half upfront and at the 6 weeks mark he asked for the rest. I told him it’s not due until the site is done. He said yes it it’s almost done! I complied. The website has been live for just 3 days now and still not happy. He is now wanting to discuss SEO and going forward with that but there is no way I would trust him with that! However the contract says if I don’t continue with SEO, I owe him 15% more of the $5000.
What are your thoughts on this? Not just the SEO part but what should I be expressing to him? I haven’t said too much as I’m trying to just get this website done asap.

Running a small business can feel like a solo sport. Most small business owners do everything and barely have time to take care of their wellness, or their families.

The business owners I see doing it best usually aren't doing it alone. They have the right services, good advice and a few trusted people in their corner.

So I'm curious....who or what would you say has been "in your corner" and genuinely extremely helpful? And how did they help?

I’m looking to acquire a bookkeeping firm’s client list in Canada through an asset purchase. I’m a Canadian citizen but currently live in the US as a green card holder.
What financing options might be available for this type of acquisition? Would Canadian banks lend to someone residing in the US, or are there other institutional funding options worth exploring?
Seller financing is not an option. I’d appreciate recommendations for lenders experienced with cross-border acquisitions. Thanks!

Hi guys,

We are a small design studio based in Toronto. Recently we are trying to find a packaging supplier here in Toronto for our jewelry. Initially we were thinking about ordering in China, but we dont meet their MOQ and the shipping timeline is too long. That’s why we decided to source locally here. I just got the quote this week and we were so shocked by the pricing. Both my business partner and I are immigrants here and we dont know if there will be a few back and force negotiations until they give you a huge discount, or that’s just the reality here. I just dont understand how small business can afford that? Let me give more context here - it’s literally a thick card box with a small jewelry box inside. If we are ordering less than 150, the unit price is almost 100 CAD…..

Any local business owners can share their experiences here? Thank you so much.