AREA COVERED AND SERVICES
To call on PME MTL services, your business must be on Montréal Island or be plannign to locate there.
You must have a certificate of occupancy in all cases (see above). In addition, you need specific permits for certain types of activity. For instance, if you are opening a restaurant, you will have to have a permit from the Québec department of agriculture, fisheries and food (MAPAQ).
Your business plan
Legal form and constitution of your business
The legal form you choose will depend on what your business will be doing, the number of people involved, risk management, financial and social objectives, etc. Each form has its advantages and disadvantages.
The six PME MTL hubs all have the same structure and the same local economic development mission, so they do offer the same support services for entrepreneurs. However, the services are organized differently to suit each area, and may reflect different priorities and criteria.
You are best to consult a lawyer or notary, to make sure you fully understand the clauses of this kind of agreement.
A social economy enterprise may be created as a non-profit organization (NPO) or a co-operative (co-op). In Québec, when a social economy enterprise is a NPO, it is registered under Part III of the Companies Act (see Registraire des entreprises). Co-operatives must be created under the Co-operatives Act.
Social economy and social entrepreneurship
All businesses carrying on commercial operations in Canada must register for GST and, in Québec, QST, the only exceptions being small suppliers with annual sales of less than $30,000. These small suppliers are not required to collect sales taxes, but if they choose this option they cannot be reimbursed for any sales taxes they have paid.
FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS
If you and your business meet certain criteria, you may be eligible for the subsidies offered by PME MTL.
A business plan is a planning tool that lets entrepreneurs structure their ideas. It identifies the mission of the business, the vision and values of the entrepreneur(s), and the services/products to be offered. It also analyzes the market (segmentation) and the competition and lays out the marketing strategy, financial forecasts, etc. Your business plan will be used as a management tool and a way of presenting your organization when seeking financing or partnerships.
Some industries are excluded: any business that is sexual, religious, or political in nature, and any business whose activities are degrading, discriminatory or controversial (war games, tarot card reading, astrology, pawn shops, etc.); seasonal projects, unless the developer can show that the business provides him or her with full-time employment.
Yes, if the planned expansion qualifies.
GROWING YOUR BUSINESS – EXPANDING
Nearly all the services offered for entrepreneurs and businesses are free.
A social economy enterprise: serves members of the community rather than simply generating profits; includes a democratic decision-making process, allowing users and workers to participate; places greater emphasis on individuals and jobs than on capital when distributing surpluses and income.
TRANSFERRING YOUR BUSINESS – ACQUIRING AN EXISTING BUSINESS
PME MTL offers advisory and support services for transferring a business or purchasing an existing business. Find the advisers in your area.
PME MTL offers advisory and support services for acquire or purchasing an existing business. Find the advisers in your area.
You have a business idea and you’d like to launch a business? Here is some useful information. Whether your business is still in the planning stage or is already in operation, you can meet with a PME MTL adviser. Find the advisers in your area
LAUNCHING YOUR BUSINESS
Every entrepreneur is different, but there are certain common motivations, aptitudes and skills shared by people who successfully build their own businesses.
Of course, PME MTL advisors will be happy to give you their opinion. Find the advisers in your area.
Financial forecasts
Market study
Yes, PME MTL advisors can guide you and give you some ideas. A market study is a very important part of planning a business, to make sure that your goods or services are suited to the target market. A detailed market study will help your business understand the market it is entering, better face the competition and take advantage of opportunities. Find the advisers in your area.
Generally speaking, a co-operative serves its members, while an NPO serves the community. The members of a co-operative usually make regular use of its goods or services. They may be users or customers of the goods or services offered, or work in the co-operative. There are different kinds of co-operatives: workers, producers, consumers, solidarity or worker-shareholders. NPOs are more flexible and tend to have a less formal structure.
Form a group of promoters/founders (at least 3 people) Register the NPO with the Registraire des entreprises Draw up its statutes and by-laws Hold a general assembly to found the organization, elect a board and adopt the statutes and by-laws.
The term “social entrepreneurship” doesn’t refer to the legal status of an organization but rather describes a business with a strong mission, regardless of its legal form (it may be either a social economy enterprise or a for-profit business). The concept of social entrepreneurship places the emphasis on the entrepreneur, his or her values, mission and approach and the social impact of the business, rather than being concerned (as in the case of a social economy enterprise) with the social and community distribution of profits.
Find experts in your area
Enter your business postal code or select your area
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Ouest-de-l'Île
1675, Transcanadienne
Bureau 301
Dorval, Québec, H9P 1J1
514 426-2888 -
Centre-Ouest
1350, rue Mazurette
Bureau 400
Montréal, Québec, H4N 1H2
514 858-1018 -
Grand Sud-Ouest
3617, rue Wellington
Montréal, Québec, H4G 1T9
514 765-7060 -
Centre-Ville
630, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Bureau 700
Montréal, Québec, H3A 1E4
514 879-0555 -
Centre-Est
6224, rue Saint-Hubert
Montréal, Québec, H2S 2M2
514 723-0030 -
Est-de-l'Île
7305, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Est
Bureau 200
Montréal, Québec, H1E 2Z6
514 494-2606