Part of the WeBC SMART Programs

Part of our SMART Program series, “Access to Capital” is a self‑paced, on‑demand course designed to help women entrepreneurs access the capital they need to start or grow their business. It provides clarity around lending options and terms, the application process, confirming business viability, and communicating that clearly to lenders.

About the Access to Capital Course

Access to capital can open real opportunities for your business — whether that means launching with confidence, investing in growth, increasing capacity, or preparing for your next stage. For many women entrepreneurs, the goal isn’t just to access financing, but to build a strong, viable business and make informed decisions about when and how capital fits into that journey.

If you’ve ever tried to figure out the lending process on your own, you know how overwhelming it can be. Googling “small business loans” or asking AI often leads to conflicting advice, unclear requirements, and processes that only make sense after you’ve been through them. Different lenders have different criteria, terms vary, and timelines are rarely explained upfront.

This course brings clarity to that complexity. It lays out the small business lending process step by step, using practical tools and real‑world examples to help you understand your options, assess business viability, and clearly communicate your plans to lenders.

Built on more than 30 years of WeBC’s lending experience and insights from thousands of loan applications, this course addresses the most common gaps we see — not a lack of good businesses, but a lack of clarity, evidence, or understanding of lender expectations. Women’s careful approach to money, their desire to plan well and grow sustainably is treated here as a strength, not a barrier.

Whether you’re just starting out, preparing to grow, or deciding if financing is right for you at all, this course helps you move forward with confidence, focus, and a clear path so you can invest your time, energy, and money into a business that can realistically survive and thrive.

This interactive on‑demand course will help you to:

• Understand different types of financing and how they may align with your stage of business
• Assess whether your business is viable and ready for financing
• Recognize what lenders look for when reviewing loan applications
• Strengthen your business plan or growth plan with clear, relevant evidence
• Communicate your business story with clarity and confidence
• Decide when it makes sense to apply — and what to work on if it doesn’t (yet)

This self-paced module is offered in four parts:

• Chapter 1 | Business Financing & How to Reset Your Mindset About Debt
• Chapter 2 – Viability Option A: Startup Focus | Business Viability for Start‑Ups
• Chapter 3 – Viability Option B: Growth Focus | Growth Check for Existing Businesses
• Chapter 4 | Creating a Successful Loan Application

What’s Included

• Access to the Access to Capital Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• A step-by-step Business Viability Workbook
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

Chapters Included in the Access to Capital Course

The course is divided into four engaging chapters:

Chapter 1 | Business Financing & How to Reset Your Mindset About Debt

It’s common for business owners to think about repayment before opportunity; to weigh the responsibility of borrowing before imagining what capital could unlock. That instinct reflects a strong sense of responsibility and care for your business, and it’s a valuable starting point. This chapter makes space for both perspectives.

We’ll walk through the real costs and benefits of different financing choices, using practical tools like a cost calculator to compare options side‑by‑side. You’ll look closely at the less visible impacts of self‑funding, credit card use, and personal money, alongside more traditional borrowing, and explore when financing supports your business (and when it doesn’t). Along the way, we’ll share stories of women who have approached borrowing thoughtfully and strategically, based on their business goals and capacity.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand common financing options and when they’re typically used
• Distinguish between good debt and bad debt in a business context
• Compare the true cost of different financing choices, including self‑funding, credit cards, and loans
• Identify types of lenders and what they typically look for when assessing loan applications
• Understand the typical process of applying for financing and what to expect
• Evaluate when financing supports your business, and when it may not be the right fit

Chapter 2 | Viability Option A: Startup Focus | Business Viability for Start‑Ups

This chapter is designed for businesses in the pre-startup or early stages (you’ve been generating revenue for a year or less).

You’ll explore what business viability means from a lender’s perspective and work through a clear viability roadmap that breaks business readiness into manageable sections. This structured approach helps turn uncertainty into clarity, so you’re not carrying unanswered questions or second‑guessing your plans.

Whether you ultimately decide to use your own money or someone else’s, the goal of this chapter is to help you invest in a business that can realistically survive and thrive. By the end of the chapter, you’ll have a stronger foundation, greater confidence in your decisions, and a clearer sense of what your next steps should be.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Define business viability in practical, measurable terms
• Assess key viability factors such as product‑market fit, financial planning, market research, marketing, and business systems
• Use a simple traffic‑light approach to identify where your business is strong and where more work is needed
• Identify your next steps that can strengthen viability before pursuing financing

Chapter 3 | Viability Option B: Growth Focus | Growth Check for Existing Businesses

This chapter is designed for businesses that are already operating and preparing for their next stage of growth.

If you’ve been in business for a while, you have an important advantage when it comes to accessing financing: you already know your business works. You have real customers, historical revenues and expenses, and a clearer understanding of your margins and capacity.

This chapter helps you turn that experience into a clear Business Growth Plan: a strategic roadmap that outlines where you’ve been, where you’re growing to, and how you’ll get there. A Business Growth Plan builds on your original business plan and focuses on what’s next, using evidence from your actual operations to support your growth goals.

You’ll work through a structured growth‑readiness framework that helps you assess whether your plans are realistic, well‑supported, and ready to share with lenders. Along the way, many business owners find this process reduces stress and uncertainty—replacing vague growth ideas with clarity, confidence, and a focused path forward.

A key strength of this chapter is its use of real‑world examples. You’ll review sample growth plans and common “do’s and don’ts” that reflect what lenders frequently see in applications. You’ll learn how to move beyond showing that you’ve thought about growth, and instead clearly demonstrate, with specific evidence, how your plans will work in practice.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Understand what lenders look for when assessing growth‑oriented businesses
• Build a clear Business Growth Plan that shows where you’ve been, where you’re growing to, and how you’ll get there
• Use your historical financials, customer data, and operating experience as evidence of viability
• Assess growth readiness using a structured framework that highlights strengths and gaps
• Learn from sample growth plans and real‑world examples of what works (and what doesn’t)
• Strengthen your application by providing specific, relevant evidence rather than general statements or assumptions

Chapter 4 | Creating a Successful Loan Application

This chapter brings everything together. You’ll focus on how to clearly communicate your business story to lenders—connecting your viability, plans, and evidence into a loan application that reflects the reality of your business and where you’re headed next.

You’ll work through what it means to be loan‑ready, using a structured readiness assessment to help you understand your strengths, identify any remaining gaps, and decide whether now is the right time to apply.

This chapter also addresses an important reality of financing: sometimes the answer is “not yet.” You’ll learn what to do if your application is declined, how to interpret lender feedback, and how to regroup productively. In many cases, a decline can be a gift that helps you avoid taking on debt your business isn’t ready to repay and gives you the opportunity to strengthen your plans before moving forward.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll be better prepared not only to submit a strong loan application, but to approach financing as an ongoing relationship with your lender grounded in clarity, readiness, and long‑term success.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Bring together your business story, viability, and evidence into a clear loan narrative
• Use a loan readiness reflection tool to evaluate whether you’re ready to apply now or should continue preparing
• Understand what lenders look for when reviewing applications and how to communicate that information clearly
• Respond constructively to a declined application and use feedback to strengthen your next steps

Thanks to the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, this course is currently free!

Cliquez ici pour voir la description de ce cours en français >>>

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

The post SMART Program | Access to Capital: A Practical Guide to Viability and Business Lending appeared first on WeBC.

WeBC has partnered with Taunya Woods Richardson, Founder of Nail the Numbers, who has created the Cashflow Canvas, a colour-coded tool that breaks down the budgeting process into eight easy-to-understand building blocks. Modelled after the Business Model Canvas (a tool that outlines your business model on one page), the Cashflow Canvas helps you transfer your financial data into a pro forma that’s as easy as painting by numbers.

This spring, we’re hosting a webinar series to teach women entrepreneurs how to use this simplified tool to get a clear picture of your financials. The interactive series takes you through each section of the Canvas, to draft your numbers then build your own palette

This series will give you the knowledge and confidence to:

• Record when revenue and income are received
• Scale your expenses and balance your bank account
• Identify your working capital needs and budget for loan repayment

3 Virtual Sessions | May 19, 20, 21 | 9-10 am PT

Cost: $80; free for WeBC Loan Clients and Vancity Women Entrepreneur Program Clients

Please note: If you’re using a promo code, please enter it at the last stage of the checkout process, and not in the cart. 

Facilitator: Taunya Woods Richardson, Founder + CEO, Nail the Numbers

The post Cashflow Canvas: An Easier Way to Manage Your Financials appeared first on WeBC.

In honour of the day, we’re hosting a discussion to talk honestly about what it looks like to bring purpose into your business in ways that feel realistic, energizing, and aligned with your values. Whether you’re just starting to think about impact, or you’re already taking steps and want fresh ideas, this conversation is about progress, not pressure.

In this free WeCafé, we’ll explore:

• Simple, meaningful ways to build social and environmental care into your business
• How values can guide everyday decisions, big and small
• Tools and supports that can help you turn good intentions into action
• Why doing good can also make your business stronger and more resilient

Join us this Earth Day for an honest, inspiring conversation about building a business that cares for people and planet.

Wednesday, April 22 | 10am to 11am PT | Free Virtual WeCafé

Facilitator: Kelly Masson, WeBC Business Advisor
Panelists:

• Hilary Henegar, Impact & Engagement Strategist
• Natalia Hahn, Operations & Sustainability Director with the Impact Toolbox
• Maddy Best, Project Manager with the Synergy Foundation

Free and open to everyone!

The post Earth Day WeCafé: Where Values Meet Everyday Business appeared first on WeBC.

Description

This two-hour advanced session is designed for participants who have already completed the WeBC AI Foundations series or who are actively using a paid generative AI platform in their work. The focus shifts from basic prompting to structured implementation. Participants will explore how to design AI-supported systems, build reusable assistants, and to make the most of their paid versions of Generative AI Tools. The session covers capabilities available across leading generative AI platforms, including no code features such as: Projects, Custom GPTs, Deep Research tools, Gems, and Claude Skills. Emphasis is placed on practical business application rather than theory.

What This Session Covers

Participants will learn how to:

• Design and manage AI-supported Projects to organize ongoing work
• Build and deploy Custom GPTs/Gems or equivalent no-code assistants tailored to specific business needs
• Evaluate when and how to use Deep Research tools to synthesize information, compare sources, and support strategic decision-making
• Leverage platform-specific tools such as Claude Skills to extend functionality

Who This Is For

This workshop is intended for professionals, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and business operators who already use generative AI and want to deepen their capability; this is considered an intermediate session. Participants should have an active paid subscription to at least one major AI platform and a working understanding of prompt development. The session is hands-on and application-focused. Participants will work directly within their chosen platform to build practical assets they can continue using after the workshop.

Cost: $95.00 ($350 value) – Free for WeBC Loan Clients and Vancity Women Entrepreneur Program Clients

Please note: If you’re using a promo code to register, please enter it on the last page of the checkout process when you enter your order information. 

Prerequisites: Participants MUST have a paid AI account such as CHATGBT, Claude, Gemini etc. and they have ideally gone through some basic/fundamentals AI course.

Facilitator: Jennifer Hufnagel, Hufnagel Consulting

The post Advanced Generative AI: Operationalizing AI in Your Business appeared first on WeBC.

WeBC is welcoming back Jennifer Hufnagel, from Hufnagel Consulting, one of Canada’s leading AI Educators, and recent award recipient of the Women of Influence in STEM for 2026 to deliver a practical, hands-on workshop series designed to move you from curiosity to confident application. Participants will move beyond exploration and develop a clear framework for integrating AI into their work.

Why it matters:
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are becoming embedded in modern business workflows. Many professionals are exploring these tools without structure or guidance. This series provides a clear framework for responsible, practical, and business-aligned use so participants can integrate AI into their daily operations with confidence.

What you’ll learn:

Over three 1-hour sessions, you’ll gain a strong foundation in how to use Generative AI strategically and effectively. You’ll leave with real-world skills you can put to use right away.

You’ll learn how to:

• Explain basic principles of AI
• Write better, more effective and high-quality prompts
• Practice live, guided AI use during the session
• Discover ways to implement AI in your business or daily work immediately

This series also includes pre and post work and a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, your chance to check in, ask follow-up questions, and continue building your skills and AI Fluency.

Who this is for:
This workshop is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners who want to stay current in a fast-changing digital world. No tech experience required, just a curiosity to learn and a willingness to experiment! Your imagination is your only limitation. This is also ideal for anyone who has not had formula AI training before and has been learning on their own. Previous participants are welcome. Content has been refreshed to reflect recent platform updates, evolving tools, and new practical applications.

Cost: $149.00 ($450 value) and free for WeBC Loan Clients and Vancity Women Entrepreneur Program Clients.

Please note: If you’re using a promo code to register, please enter it on the last page of the checkout process when you enter your order information. 

Facilitator: Jennifer Hufnagel, Hufnagel Consulting

The post AI Made Simple: Practical Generative AI for Business Growth appeared first on WeBC.

Most small businesses are invisible in AI today—but that can change.

Join us for an interactive WeCafé session with WeBC Business Advisor Archana Samtani Singhania. She’ll explore AI Engine Optimization (AIEO), the new frontier of discoverability. You’ll learn practical steps to help AI “see” your business clearly so you can show up in answers, not just search results.

We’ll cover:

• What makes AI search different from traditional SEO
• How AI chooses businesses to recommend and the key signals it looks for (plus ways to strengthen them)
• How to make your business info clear and consistent, and use conversational content and FAQs to boost visibility
• Common mistakes that keep businesses hidden from AI, and how to avoid them

Join us for this informative, interactive session to learn actionable strategies to position your business for the AI era!

Wednesday, March 11 | 10am to 11am PT | Free Virtual WeCafé

Free and open to everyone!

Facilitator: Archana Samtani Singhania, WeBC Business Advisor

The post When Customers Ask AI: Make Your Business Part of the Answer appeared first on WeBC.

On Thursday, March 12, join us for a candid fireside chat with Trisha Miltimore, a dynamic leadership expert and WorkLife Wellness Activator who has spent 25 years helping professionals ignite their impact without burning out. Trisha will share practical insights and personal stories on how to speak with clarity, confidence, and authenticity when introducing yourself and your work.

In this interactive fireside chat, we’ll explore:

• How to shape your story so your elevator pitch feels natural—not forced
• The 3 Vultures: mindsets that sabotage confidence—and how to rise above them
• Simple, empowering ways to show up with greater visibility in conversations
• Tools to communicate your value and strengthen connections in networking moments
• How to step boldly into your own voice and own your impact

Whether you’re meeting new clients, networking, or pitching your ideas, this is your chance to learn real-world strategies that make your message resonate—plus ask your questions in an open, supportive environment.

Thursday, March 12 | 10am to 11am PT | Free Virtual Fireside Chat

Free and open to everyone! Closed captioning in French will be available.

Host: Dawn McCooey, Management Consultant
Facilitator: Trisha Miltimore, WorkLife Wellness Activator & Leadership Expert

Trisha’s Bio

Trisha Miltimore is an international keynote speaker, Certified Management Consultant (CMC), and communication coach who helps professionals speak with confidence, clarity, and impact. With over 20 years of experience on stages, in boardrooms, and behind the mic, she blends humour, storytelling, and practical tools to empower people to use their voice with purpose.
She is the creator of SPEAK+, a coaching program designed to help emerging and established leaders elevate their presentation skills, craft compelling messages, and show up with authentic confidence in any room. Known for her energetic presence and highly engaging approach, Trisha’s work supports audiences and clients across industries in stepping into their voice and visibility with courage and ease.

Titre :

Améliorez votre présentation : une discussion informelle sur la communication authentique au service de la croissance

Il vous est déjà arrivé de trébucher lorsque quelqu’un vous demandait : « Que faites-vous? ». Vous n’êtes pas seule! La rédaction d’une présentation qui se veut sincère (et inoubliable) ne se résume pas à un simple scénario.

Le jeudi 12 mars, rejoignez-nous pour une discussion informelle et sincère avec Trisha Miltimore, experte en leadership dynamique et activatrice du bien-être travail-vie (WorkLife Wellness), qui aide depuis 25 ans les professionnels à renforcer leur impact sans s’épuiser. Trisha partagera des conseils pratiques et des histoires personnelles sur la façon de s’exprimer avec clarté, confiance et authenticité pour se présenter et présenter son travail.

Au cours de cette discussion informelle et interactive, nous explorerons les sujets suivants :

• Comment façonner votre présentation pour qu’elle se fasse naturellement, et non de manière forcée
• Les 3 vautours : les états d’esprit qui entravent la confiance en soi et comment les surmonter
• Moyens simples et efficaces pour accroître sa visibilité lors des conversations
• Outils pour communiquer votre valeur et renforcer vos relations lors d’événements de réseautage
• Comment faire entendre votre voix avec assurance et affirmer votre impact

Que ce soit lors de rencontres avec de nouveaux clients, d’événements de réseautage ou lorsque vous défendez vos idées, c’est l’occasion d’apprendre des stratégies concrètes qui permettront à votre message de toucher son public et de poser vos questions dans un environnement ouvert et encourageant.

Jeudi 12 mars | De 10 h à 11 h (heure du Pacifique) | Discussion informelle virtuelle et gratuite

Gratuite et ouverte à tout le monde! Le sous-titrage en français sera disponible.

Animatrice : Dawn McCooey,Consultant en gestion

Facilitatrice : Trisha Miltimore , activatrice du bien-être travail-vie (WorkLife Wellness) et experte en leadership

Bio de Trisha

Trisha Miltimore est une conférencière internationale, une consultante certifiée en gestion (CMC) et une coach en communication qui aide les professionnels à s’exprimer avec confiance, clarté et impact. Avec plus de 20 ans d’expérience sur scène, dans les salles de réunion et derrière le micro, elle allie humour, narration et outils pratiques pour aider les gens à utiliser leur voix à bon escient.
Elle est la créatrice de SPEAK+, un programme de coaching conçu pour aider les leaders émergents et reconnus à améliorer leurs compétences en matière de présentation, à concevoir des messages convaincants et à se présenter avec une confiance authentique dans n’importe quelle salle. Trisha est reconnue pour sa présence énergique et son approche très engageante. Son travail aide les auditoires et les clients des différents secteurs à faire entendre leur voix et à gagner en visibilité avec courage et aisance.

The post Elevate Your Pitch: A Fireside Chat on Authentic Communication for Growth appeared first on WeBC.

Part of the WeBC SMART Programs

Part of our SMART Program series, “Step-by-Step Market Research” is a self-paced course that walks you through the process of conducting market research using exercises and examples.

About the Market Research Course

Who are your customers? What do they really want? How can you stay ahead of the competition? Many business owners make decisions based on assumptions rather than real data. But successful businesses use market research to minimize risk and maximize success.

With effective market research, you can answer critical business questions such as:

• Are there enough customers to buy my product or service?
• What gaps exist in my industry that I can fill?
• How much are customers willing to pay for my product or service?
• What trends or innovations could create opportunities or challenges for my business?
• What risks might I face, and how can I prepare for them?

Besides giving you peace of mind that you’re headed in the right direction, effective market research can help you apply for a loan or pitch to investors, because you have concrete evidence that your business is a strong investment.

This interactive on-demand course will teach you how to:

• Refine your target market and figure out which questions you’re trying to answer
• Gather and interpret secondary research from credible sources
• Conduct primary research through surveys, interviews, and observations
• Analyze your findings to make strategic business decisions
• Apply research best practices

This self-paced module is offered in three parts:

• Chapter 1 | The Market Research Roadmap: Where to Begin
• Chapter 2 | Secondary Market Research: How to Find and Use Existing Data
• Chapter 3 | Primary Market Research: Collect and Analyze Your Own Data

What’s Included

• Access to the Mastering Market Research Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• A step-by-step Market Research Workbook
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

Chapters Included in the Market Research Course

The course is divided into three engaging chapters:

Chapter 1 | The Market Research Roadmap: Where to Begin

Are you making your business decisions based on facts, or assumptions? This chapter introduces you to the four essential steps in the market research roadmap and helps you to understand the power of market research and the insights it can unlock in your business.

In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify your target market and challenge your assumptions about them
• Test whether your business is viable using market research
• Determine which questions you’re trying to answer, so you know where to focus your time and energy
• Set your Research Objectives so you have a strong foundation for your work

Chapter 2 | Secondary Market Research: How to Find and Use Existing Data

Why start from scratch when there’s already a wealth of information available? Secondary research involves gathering existing data to understand your industry, customers, and competitors. This is the big picture thinking that shows trends and opportunities.

In this chapter, you’ll:

• Discover credible sources of information that answer your questions
• Learn how to collect, organize, and interpret data without being overwhelmed by all the information out there
• Practice turning raw data into actionable steps by preparing summary statements

Chapter 3 | Primary Research: From Data Collection to Meaningful Insights

The best way to understand your customers is to ask them directly, because it shows you whether that ‘big picture’ secondary research applies to your specific market. This chapter walks you through the process of gathering firsthand data through surveys, pop-up test markets, and other methods—in other words, Primary Market Research. Then, you’ll summarize all your research that you’ve conducted throughout the course so you can answer those key questions you identified at the beginning and make adjustments to your business plan to ensure your business is viable.

In this chapter, you’ll:

• Select the best primary research methods for your business needs and resources
• Design effective questions so you get meaningful responses
• Create a research launch plan
• Put all your findings together into a clear and concise summary you can use for business plans, pitch decks and more.

Who is this for?

This introductory-level course is open to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and startups at early stages of business development or key turning points in their business, such as new product/service development or markets. It is particularly helpful for business owners who want to improve their business viability through data-driven decision-making.

Thanks to the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, this course is currently free!

Cliquez ici pour voir la description de ce cours en français >>>

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

The post SMART Program | Step-by-Step Market Research: Build a Viable Business appeared first on WeBC.

“Mastering Business Operations” is part of our SMART Program series, which are courses designed to help you understand key concepts, work through interactive case studies and complete activities that apply the learning to your own business.

About the Business Operations Course

Running a business can feel like juggling a hundred tasks at once. When you grow your business, that number multiplies, and can lead to frustration, inefficiencies, and a sense that you’re always putting out fires rather than making progress.

Many business owners face these challenges, but understanding the core principles of effective business operations can transform your business!

WeBC presents, “Mastering Business Operations,” a self-paced course to teach you the fundamental strategies behind setting up your business operations. Using the Business Operations Framework as a guide, you’ll learn how to ensure that your team and stakeholders are on the same page, your processes are documented, and everyone is set up to work towards your business goals.

What’s Included

• Access to the Business Operations Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

Chapters Included in the Business Operations Course

The course is divided into three engaging chapters, each focused on key elements of mastering your business operations:

Chapter 1: The Business Operations Framework

In this chapter, we’ll introduce you to the Business Operations Framework—a tool designed to help you visualize all the components that contribute to your business growth. You’ll start by defining your Vision and the goals that will help you get there. Then, you’ll ensure they align with your values and your business’ unique strengths.

By the end of this chapter, you will have:

• Defined your business vision and set meaningful goals.
• Identified the factors that set you apart from your competition.
• Created a one-year plan to make measurable progress on your long-term goals.

Chapter 2: Identifying and Documenting Processes

In Chapter 2, you will document your way of doing business. Who is responsible for what? How will you measure your progress?

The goal of defining your processes is to create simplicity, scalability, efficiency and profitability. In this chapter, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify and document the key processes that drive your business.
• Outline your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure your progress towards your goals.
• Prioritize where to focus your time and energy for maximum impact.
• Create clarity and consistency in your operations.

Chapter 3: Rolling Out Your Operational Plan

You’ve created your Business Operations Framework—now let’s bring it to life! Whether you have a team behind you, or you’re a solopreneur, you need to communicate your vision to stakeholders. This is where your dream—your vision for the business—really gets traction, and where you share it with others who can help to make a difference.

In this chapter, you’ll discover how to:

• Communicate your operational plan effectively to engage your team and foster collaboration.
• Maintain momentum and track your progress as you implement your plan.
• Identify and overcome obstacles as you execute.

Who is this for?

This course is designed for established entrepreneurs who are ready to take a systematic approach to running and growing their businesses. This might be you if:

• You’re ready to scale and you’ve outgrown the systems that you originally used to launch your business
• You have a vision for your business, and you need to break it down into actionable steps
• You have a growth opportunity, and you need to get systems in place to act on it
• You’ve transitioned from solopreneur to employer, and you need to share your processes with your team
• You feel like you’re constantly reacting to issues instead of proactively managing your business

Thanks to the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, this course is currently free!

Available in French and English. Cliquez ici pour voir la description de ce cours en français >>>

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

The post SMART Program | Mastering Business Operations: Align Goals, Processes and People for Growth appeared first on WeBC.

WeBC is delighted to present this self-paced course to teach you how to create a cohesive strategy that helps you make better marketing decisions that maximize your time and budget.

Part of the WeBC SMART Programs

“Strategic Marketing” is one of our most popular training series, and now it’s available On-Demand! Part of our SMART Program series, these courses are designed to help you understand key concepts, work through interactive case studies and complete activities that apply the learning to your own business.

About the Strategic Marketing Course

Should I advertise here, or there? Why aren’t my followers turning into customers? Do I really need to be on TikTok? These are common questions WeBC Business Advisors hear all the time.

When a business owner is asked about their marketing strategy, many think about their website, social media or advertising.  All those things are a part of marketing, but they are not strategy. They are tactics. Tactics are only as effective as the strategy behind them— the WHY of marketing.

WeBC’s “Strategic Marketing: Build a Marketing Plan for Your Small Business” is a self-paced module to help you organize your ideas into a marketing playbook for your business.

This interactive on-demand learning works through the six keys and seven steps of effective marketing so you can create a cohesive strategy that helps you make better marketing decisions that maximize your time and budget.

This self-paced module is offered in three parts:

• Chapter 1 | Strategic Marketing: Work Smarter, Not Harder
• Chapter 2 | Research: Understand Your Most Valuable Customers
• Chapter 3 | Strategy: Deliver the Right Message in the Right Place

All chapters are available on-demand, and include the downloadable Focused Marketing workbook ($15 value) to work through each step.

By the end of this module, you will have the skills and resources to create a strategic marketing plan for your business. Plus, you can connect with a Business Advisor for complimentary support to expand your Marketing strategy.

What’s Included

• Access to the Strategic Marketing Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

Chapters Included in the Strategic Marketing Course

Chapter 1 | Strategic Marketing: Work Smarter, Not Harder

When you have limited resources, you want your time and money to make the biggest marketing impact.  In this chapter, we will introduce you to the six keys of “common-sense” marketing. You’ll discover how to apply tried and true maxims to your work, so you can spend less time on marketing tasks and focus on what really works for your business.

This Chapter will help you to:

• Take stock of the time and money you’ve spent on marketing in the past, and what you can reasonably invest in the future
• Understand the 6 keys that help you zero in on a more strategic approach to marketing

Chapter 2 | Research: Understand Your Most Valuable Customers

When you know who your customers are, where they are, and what they care about, your marketing decisions get significantly easier. Understanding your target market allows you to focus on the most valuable segments that convert to sales, so you’re not just casting a wide net to see who will buy from you. In this chapter, we cover the first four steps of strategic marketing to help you identify and understand your best potential customers.

This chapter includes interactive activities to encourage you to get curious about your clients and do some research:

• Step 1: Personal Foundations – Remember your ‘why’
• Step 2: Segment Your Customers – How to sort your clients into manageable groups
• Step 3: Target Your Customers – Determine which segments have the most potential to buy
• Step 4: Understand How & Why They Buy – Be clear about their motivations and behaviours

Chapter 3 | Strategy: Deliver the Right Message in the Right Place

Now that you understand who you’re talking to, this chapter helps you to deliver a clear, consistent and appealing message. Your message is more than what you say, it includes the types of products or services you offer and how you deliver them, your pricing, what customers can expect from you, and more!

In this chapter, you’ll use the accompanying workbook to complete the last three steps of strategic marketing:

• Step 5: Create the Message – Explore all the ways you send a message
• Step 6: Choose the Marketing Tools – Find the best places to connect with your customers consistently
• Step 7: Map Your Marketing – Put all this knowledge into a cohesive plan

Who is this for?

This introductory-level series is open to anyone who would like to learn how to target their marketing efforts, drive tangible results, successfully connect with their optimum customer and feel more confident about building their marketing strategy.

Thanks to the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, this course is currently free!

Available in English and French! Cliquez ici pour acheter ce cours en français >>>

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

The post SMART Program | Strategic Marketing: Build a Marketing Plan for Your Small Business appeared first on WeBC.

“Financial Fitness” is one of our most popular training series, and now it’s available On-Demand! Part of our SMART Program series, these courses are designed to help you understand key concepts, work through interactive case studies and complete activities that apply the learning to your own business.

About the Financial Fitness Course

When your business is financially healthy, many other aspects of your business become stronger. You can feel more confident making decisions, applying for funding opportunities, or hiring new staff to free up your time.

This self-paced module, created by WeBC, contains the tools, tips, and resources you need to help you feel in control of your finances, achieve your goals, and set your business up for success!

This interactive on-demand learning module includes three chapters:

• Chapter 1 | Understanding Your Finances
• Chapter 2 | Your Business Finances
• Chapter 3 | Financial Management

All sessions are delivered on the WeBC On-Demand Learning Platform, and include downloadable workbooks. After you’ve completed the course, you can connect with a Business Advisor for complimentary support to expand on your financial strategy.

Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, the WeBC SMART Program is free for 2026!

What’s Included

• Access to the Financial Fitness Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

About the Sessions

Chapter 1 | Understand Your Finances

In Chapter 1, you’ll explore basic financial concepts in the context of your personal finances, so you can develop the confidence to apply those same concepts when it comes to managing your business finances. This chapter introduces the following concepts:

• Understanding your personal cash flow
• Creating a personal balance sheet
• The importance of keeping your personal and business finances separate

Chapter 2 | Your Business Finances

Chapter 2 covers three commonly-used financial statements: the cash flow statement, income statement and balance sheet. Working through each statement step-by-step, you’ll learn how to create, read and understand these statements for your own business.

In this chapter, we’ll work through practical exercises to help you understand the type of financial statements you should be using, and what they can tell you about the health of your business.

By the end of this chapter, you will:

• Understand how to forecast when cash will be going in and out of your business, to reduce the risk of shortfalls, and provide projections to potential lenders
• Create a cash flow statement, income statement, and balance sheet for your business
• Calculate your Cost of Goods Sold
• Understand depreciation

Whether you’re managing your own finances, or have the help of a bookkeeper or accountant, this chapter will help you understand the data so you can make informed financial decisions.

Chapter 3 | Financial Management

As the key decision-maker for your business, it’s paramount that your management style is proactive rather than reactive. Financial management may not be your passion, but it is your job. In this chapter, you’ll learn about two considerations for effective financial management:

• Breakeven analysis – what is the magic number where you start to make a profit?
• Credit and collections policies – should you offer credit, and what should you consider?

Who is this for?

This introductory-level module is open to anyone who would like to improve their financial literacy, master new skills and feel more confident managing the money for their business.

Available in English and French! Cliquez ici pour acheter ce cours en français >>>

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

The post SMART Program | Financial Fitness: Keep Your Business Financially Healthy appeared first on WeBC.

WeBC is delighted to present this self-paced course to help small business owners hire, train and lead their teams!

“HR for Small Business” is part of our SMART Program series, so you can work through the content on your own schedule on our On-Demand Learning Platform. The course is designed to help you understand key concepts, work through interactive case studies and complete activities that apply the learning to your own business.

About the Course

Having the right people on your team creates a positive work environment, helps you deliver quality service, lowers your training costs and frees you up to work on your business instead of in it. So how do you attract and keep great employees on your team?

WeBC has created this three-part module jam-packed with tools, tips and resources to help you develop useful HR strategies to implement at any stage of your business.

In this interactive module, you’ll work through a case study to practice your hiring skills, communicate with your team and learn proven culture-building strategies so you become the employer of choice. 

This module includes three chapters, which each take about one hour to complete: 

• Chapter 1 | Hiring 101: Finding Great Employees
• Chapter 2 | Employee Retention: Strategies That Engage
• Chapter 3 | Trust and Leadership: How to Foster a High Performing Team

What’s Included

• Access to the HR Module on our On-Demand Learning Platform
• Guidance from a Business Advisor

Price: Thanks to funding from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, this course is currently free (valued at $149)!

About the Sessions

Chapter 1 | Hiring 101: Finding Great Employees

What is the key to business success? Engaged and productive employees!

Recruiting is more than just finding workers to fill jobs. It’s a thoughtful process of finding, attracting, evaluating, and selecting candidates, so you hire someone who has the right skill set for your business. 

Each person and each business is unique, and there are some solid practices that help you find the people who have the right balance of knowledge, experience and personality – and entice them to join your team!

In this interactive chapter, you’ll learn: 

• How to write a job description that’s accurate, appealing and inclusive
• Where to advertise so you have a strong pool of candidates
• Tips to shortlist applicants and conduct interviews that will make your decision‐making easier

Chapter 2 | Employee Retention: Strategies That Engage

Once you’ve compiled your dream team, the next step is making sure they stay.

Fortunately for small business owners, salary is only one part of the equation. Studies show that engaged employees are 59% less likely to seek out a new job in the next year, and there are many practices you can implement to keep your employees engaged.

In this chapter you’ll learn:

• Simple communication techniques that can unite your team
• Ideas to create a retention plan that will keep employees motivated and engaged so they want to stay

Chapter 3 | Trust and Leadership: How to Foster a High Performing Team

Do you trust your team enough to delegate key tasks so you can work on your business, or do you feel the need to micromanage? 

Beyond training your employees properly, the key to building a cohesive team is trust – in their abilities, and in yours, as their leader. There are many strategies you can use to unite your employees around your vision, and most can be successful without spending much at all. 

During this chapter, we’ll share the strategies that you can use to empower your employees, including:

• Motivating your team around your business’ mission
• Focusing on your own leadership and communication abilities so you can better manage your employees
• Creating a safe and respectful work environment, for your team and customers

This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

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