By Pauline Clark
There are an estimated 2500 to 3500 small businesses in North Bay, and it is a sector where interest seems to be steadily increasing, says Erin Richmond, manager of The Business Centre Nipissing Parry Sound.
“We don’t have exact numbers, but there’s definitely been an increase in inquiries in our office,” Richmond says. “We’re happy with the level of interest in the small-business sector especially the micro-businesses, that’s one- to two-person businesses.”
“There’s also been an increase in the number of people registering business names and in the number of consultations we’ve been doing with both starting and expanding businesses,” she adds. “Our office deals with a lot of service-based and home-based businesses, such as consultants, sewing and repair workers and Web development companies.”
Richmond estimates 50 to 60 per cent of small businesses in the area are being run from homes.
“People may not see all these businesses when they look around, but they’re there,” she says.
The home-business trend, she says, is one that seems similar to other northern cities.
“In talking with people from other areas, they’re noticing the same increases,” she says.
Richmond attributes the increases to a few factors. One of those is the perception of lack of opportunities in other areas, due to such things as company downsizing.
She says there are also large numbers of baby boomers retiring and seeking out second careers.
“Many of those who come in to see us have 30 or so years experience in a field and want to go into consulting on a freelance basis,” she says.
Richmond also attributes small-business growth to youth entrepreneurship.
“Government youth strategies such as both the Summer Company and My Company programs (offered by us) are providing a lot of incentive for youths to look at entrepreneurship,” she says.
The Business Centre has also organized a business plan challenge for the past two years. Winning students advance to regional and provincial levels.
“There’s definitely been a lot of activity in the area of youth and entrepreneurship,” she says.
The Business Centre is one of eight offices across the north whose primary function is to assist with business startups and expansion, as well as offer business planning and other services for entrepreneurs. Ministry of Northern Development and Mines co-ordinate the Northern Ontario centres.
The North Bay office employs two people and shares an intern with the North Bay Economic Development Commission.
Formerly the Blue Sky Regional Business Self-Help Office, The Business Centre has recently become an enterprise centre, which allows it to bring on other partners.
Richmond says the North Bay office has secured 10 new partnerships since becoming an enterprise centre.
The centre offers a variety of seminars and workshops. One of those is the “Bridges to Better Business” which will take place Friday, Oct. 18 and includes round-table discussions and sessions, a luncheon and a trade show.
