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Member Resources

Helpful resources for starting and running your small business in North End Halifax

Business Resources

Starting or managing a small business can be both exciting and challenging. To support business owners on their journey, a variety of resources are available to help navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. By leveraging these resources, business owners can gain valuable insights, connect with like-minded professionals, and develop the skills needed to ensure their ventures thrive. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, these resources are designed to empower you every step of the way.

Halifax Regional Municipality Information for Businesses

Information for businesses such as licensing, development, land management and more.

Starting a Business in Nova Scotia Guide

Overview of how to start a business, including steps and requirements you need to consider.

Starting a Business in Canada

The steps to consider before operating a business in Canada.

Small Business Safety Tool Kit

The Small Business Safety Toolkit will help you:

put a health and safety system in place to protect your workers and yourself from injury and illness at work
learn your basic duties and responsibilities under the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations
understand how health and safety plays a role in the day-to-day operation of your business

Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce

Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) is the only chamber of commerce uniting and advocating for the over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+ owned and operated businesses in Canada.

Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program for 2SLGBTQI+ Friendly Spaces

Rainbow Registered is a national accreditation for 2SLGBTQI+ friendly businesses and organizations. When you see a Rainbow Registered symbol, you know the business or organization meets a stringent set of standards to ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ customers feel more welcomed and accepted.

Black Business Initiative

The BBI is the longest serving Black business development initiative in Canada. They support Black entrepreneurs every step of the way—from start-up and development to growth and expansion. Their goal is to help our clients compete both nationally and internationally within the broader business landscape.

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia

ISANS Business Services has a dedicated team of business professionals to help you understand what you need to know to start or grow your business in Nova Scotia. They connect you to the community and provide resources and tools to help you build a successful business.

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Center

A non-profit and a charitable organization that provides culture-focused programs, services, and support to urban Indigenous people and their families in Halifax, Nova Scotia, since 1973.

Toolkit for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomer Service Providers

RRANS developed the Toolkit for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomer Service Providers to help organizations better support, advocate for, and understand the unique experiences of LGBTQI refugees and 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers in Nova Scotia. This resource was created through community conversations, and facilitated and written with care, by RRANS team member, Dineh Hernandez.

🔹 Toolkit / Boîte à Outils - A guide designed for service providers, featuring:

✅ Unique challenges faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers

✅ Best practices for inclusive, trauma-informed support

✅ Legal and social resources in Nova Scotia

This resource was made possible with funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), and it is available in English and French!

Learn More (English)

En savoir plus (français)

Plastic Reduction Awareness Tool Kit for Businesses

Plastic Awareness and Reduction Toolkits help your business start reducing plastic use and waste – in a cost-effective way.

The toolkits show you how to:

1. Perform a waste audit & detect weak points

2. Identify plastic alternatives to switch to

3. Find workplace avenues for plastic packaging reuse

Business Development Bank of Canada

BDC helps create and develop strong Canadian businesses through financing, advisory services and capital, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)

CEED delivers innovative educational and solutions/supports that empowers and enables entrepreneurs to progress toward their full potential in a robust entrepreneurial community.

Halifax Partnership Local Business Support

Halifax Partnership's business advisors, economists, investment attraction specialists, and labour market experts can help you navigate and connect with the right programs and resources to support your business growth and success.

Halifax Chamber of Commerce

The Halifax Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy organization committed to creating value and prosperity for its members.

Canada Business Benefits Finder

Find programs and services to help your business grow.

Nova Scotia Business Navigators

Business Navigators help you understand the steps you need to take when starting a business, including regulations and requirements (like licences, permits and registrations) you need to follow.

Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development

The Department of Growth and Development works with Crown corporations and special operating entities to develop plans, programs and policies that encourage entrepreneurship, help attract venture capital investment and grow sectors of the economy. They also work with other government departments and levels of government, universities, NSCC and the private and social enterprise sectors to create a shared strategy for business growth.

Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage helps protect and promote Nova Scotia’s culture and heritage. They help businesses and communities grow by providing program and event funding for arts, culture and heritage, sport and recreation and cultural identity and languages.

ACOA Business Information Services

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is here for you. The Business Information Services team can help you with your next steps and find the resources you need to start or grow your business.

Nova Scotia Graduate to Opportunity Program

Hire a recent graduate and the Government of Nova Scotia will cover a portion of their salary.

Canada Summer Jobs Wage Subsidy

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) provides wage subsidies to support employers to create quality summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years.

North End Events Calendar

The North End events calendar is a digital platform that lists upcoming activities and gatherings, keeping residents and visitors informed about local events. Send your event information to NEBA Marketing & Events Coordinator, Tristen, to have your event added to the North End events calendar.

Email NEBA Marketing & Events

Nova Scotia Tourism Business Tools & Resources

Work with Tourism Nova Scotia to identify opportunities in the tourism industry and improve the quality and competitiveness of your business. From business coaching to guides and toolkits, Tourism Nova Scotia has a range of resources to help you reach your business goals.

Tourism Nova Scotia Programs & Partnership Opportunities

Tourism Nova Scotia offers a range of programs and partnership opportunities that can help you grow your business and attract visitors. Work with them to market Nova Scotia as a vacation destination, create new packages or experiences, or enhance your business to become more competitive.

Discover Halifax Member Resource Center

Discover Halifax is a non-profit, aiming to maximize economic and social benefits resulting from the tourism industry for the benefit of the people who live, visit, and invest in the Halifax region.

Discover Halifax Events Calendar

Submission form for the Discover Halifax online events calendar.

The Coast Events Calendar

The Coast online events calendar.

HRM Special Event Planning Guide

The Special Event Planning Guide outlines the timelines, costs, procedures, and responsibilities of the event organizer and the municipality to ensure the delivery of safe, efficient, and accountable events.

HRM Events Grants

The Events division of Halifax Regional Municipality administers two different event grant programs: the Marketing Levy Special Event Reserve (MLSER) Grants and the Regional Special Events Grants.

Nova Scotia Food Safety Guidelines for Temporary Events

Prepared by Nova Scotia Environment to help operators meet food safety requirements at temporary events—events of 14 days or less.

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