Grow
Innovate. Evolve. Grow.
Propel your business forward in Squamish. Take things to the next level. Develop a strategy and put it into action. The possibilities are endless.
There are countless ways to grow your business, from exporting to innovating new products, services, and processes to new sales channels. All it takes is strategic thinking and the right tools – all here at your fingertips. Set your sights on what’s next.
A great resource to save for future reference is the Squamish Start and Grow Business Guide:
Seeking Trade and Investment Opportunities?
Is your Squamish business interested in exporting to international markets or seeking investment from abroad?
The District of Squamish is working with the provincial organization, Trade and Invest BC, and the federal agency, Invest in Canada, to market Squamish-based businesses in the United States and in other international markets, to bring Canadian products abroad, and foreign investment to Canada.
Complete the online Trade and Investment Readiness form to register your interest in this program.
Grow Your Business
Growing your business can be easy as 1-2-3. Review the below steps for some inspiration or to gain access to resources, tools and information.
1. Boost Productivity
Whether streamlining your manufacturing process by investing in new equipment or creating new partnerships to deliver your products or services in more efficient way, boosting productivity saves you more than time. Advancing your the productivity of your business also saves you money, can lead to increased revenue and make positive contributions to our climate emergency.
3 ways to boost productivity:
- Follow Circular Economy principles creating a more sustainable and efficient business model
- Make use of available funding and financing programs to understand and improve your supply chain or invest in new equipment
- Consider boosting employee engagement levels by reviewing your compensation, benefits, and employee working conditions.
Resources for boosting productivity
Small Business BC
Assisting BC entrepreneurs to grow successful and sustainable businesses, by providing expert business advice, education, grant funding, free business resources & events.
Circular Business Transformation
Business transformation and the Circular Economy - risks and rewards.
Environmental Farm Plan Program
Farmers who have an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) learn how to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment.
B.C. Indigenous Agriculture Development Program
Supporting Indigenous peoples' success in the food and agriculture sector.
Traceability Knowledge Transfer
Providing funding to support agriculture, food and seafood industry organizations through education.
The Circular Economy and the Built Environment in Canada
Download this workshop discussion paper on the Circular Economy and the Built Environment Sector in Canada.
2. Innovate With New Products or Services
Creating new products and services can help expand your customer base and create lifetime customers for your business. But creating new products and services is risky business. According to a survey by the Harvard Business School, estimates that 95 percent of consumer products fail. Approach product development strategies to enhance your chances of success.
3 tips for successful product development:
- Understand your customers and how your product or service meets or doesn’t meet their needs. Learn about research methods and available support here.
- Make your product or service stand apart from the competition. How is your product or service offering different? Use these useful resources to provide insights into the product development journey.
- Don’t go it alone. There is lots of support to help you innovate to create new products and services. Get a round-up of available support here.
Find resources and funding to support your innovation ideas
National Research Council Canada - Support for Technology Innovation
Advice and funding to help small and medium-sized businesses increase their innovation capacity.
Sell Your Innovation Through Innovation Solutions Canada
Bring your innovation to market faster through the Government of Canada.
B.C. Tech Fund
A venture capital fund launched by the Government of BC to invest in emerging technology companies.
B.C. Agriculture and Seafood programs
A list of B.C. business, innovation and market development programs for agriculture and seafood producers and processors.
Canada-BC Agri-Innovation
Accelerating the pace of agrifood related innovation to enhance sector competitiveness and sustainability.
Canadian Agriculture Partnership
A five-year (2018-2023) federal, provincial and territorial investment into Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector.
3. Grow Sales
Whether boosting your online sales with an e-commerce strategy or developing an export strategy to sell abroad is your growth goal, growing your sales can help you increase revenue to re-invest into your business.
3 strategies for growing your sales:
- E-commerce is a great extension to your bricks and mortar sales channels and there is lots of help out there to get you started or grow your e-commerce presence. Check out our related resources below for more inspiration.
- Did you know that of all BC-based good producing businesses that exported in 2020, only 6 percent were small businesses? But of those small businesses that did, they accounted for 36 percent of the total value of goods exported from the province and $15.1B worth of goods. Learn more about developing an export strategy for your business.
- Selling to the government is a great way to boost your sales. According to Buyandsell.gc.ca the federal government purchases roughly $22B per year while the Province of BC spends over $6B, according to Small Business BC. The District of Squamish, with a recently adopted social procurement policy, lists its procurement opportunities online. Check out government procurement opportunities.
Tools and resources for export, sales, and market expansion
Export Navigator
Non-profit provides free mentorship from regional Export Advisors.
Export Resources
Are you looking to grow your business beyond Squamish? There are great resources available to kickstart your export journey.
Funding for Export
Obtain expert advice and support to pursue export goals for your business.
Destination B.C.'s Co-operative Marketing Partnerships Program
This is an application based program providing marketing and promotion support.
Do Business with MERX
Procurement opportunities from the public sector, private sector and more.
Exporter Solutions
Exporter Solutions connects you to the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) and its network of trade experts.
4. Develop Talent
Attracting and retaining talent is a key challenge faced by businesses across BC including the Sea to Sky region. That is why investing in the staff you already have has never been more important. One way to grow your business is to support the development of your staff. Better trained and skilled staff equals better productivity and innovation and is proven to increase revenue.
3 ways to develop talent:
- Access affordable training for staff via organizations like the Squamish Chamber of Commerce and Small Business BC. Sometimes it is even free!
- Access funding for on-the-job and technical skills training from WorkBC and the Province of BC.
- Consider co-ops, internships and work-integrated learning programs from accredited post-secondary institutes.
Ensure your talented workforce is challenged and engaged
Small Business BC
Assisting BC entrepreneurs to grow successful and sustainable businesses, by providing expert business advice, education, grant funding, free business resources & events.
Grants through Innovate BC
Digital skills for youth and innovator skills for the tech sector through hiring grants.
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
Find resources, funding, knowledge hubs for women entrepreneurs in Canada.
Hire a Skilled Worker from Abroad
Learn about recruiting skilled staff through the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program.
Beneficial Management Practices Program
Project funding to increase agricultural sustainability through the Beneficial Management Practices Program.
Traceability Knowledge Transfer
Providing funding to support agriculture, food and seafood industry organizations through education.
5. Access Funding
Have you considered offsetting business expenses in one area by using tax credits in order to make investments somewhere else? Use this strategy and others to make use of available funding in the form of grants, tax credits, and low-interest business loans.
3 financing sources to grow your business:
- The Province of BC has an online database of available funding support for businesses and non-profits as well as a portal dedicated specifically to COVID-19 support.
- The Federal Government through Innovation Canada has a funding concierge service dedicated to helping you identify the right type of funding for your business.
- Low-interest financing is another great way to scale your business. Organizations like the Community Futures Howe Sound, WeBC and Futurpreneur can help you with business advising and accessing low-interest loans.
You may be surprised by the funding streams available
Small Business Financing Program
The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions.
Small Business BC
Assisting BC entrepreneurs to grow successful and sustainable businesses, by providing expert business advice, education, grant funding, free business resources & events.
BDC Project Financing Options
Your project’s characteristics will dictate what type of financing best suits your needs.
When to bring investment into your business
Weighting financial and non-financial factors will help you make a decision.
Community Futures Howe Sound
Non-profit offering small business loans and advising in the Howe Sound area.
B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program
Supporting producers and food processors through three business planning streams.
Growing a business – Squamish Water Kefir
Sabrina Horlyck and Kristin Campbell quite literally had a gut feeling that their business idea was a good one. From brewing their ownwater kefir in their kitchen at home to expanding into a thriving beverage business over several years – the founders shared the story of their growing business’ success.
Read the full story
Get Informed
Visit our Business Tools and Resources page to access a library of helpful information on growing your business in Squamish.