A couple of modest enhancements would help native entrepreneurs. Why not begin speaking about them?
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Municipal elections are across the nook and as a enterprise proprietor, I’m paying nearer consideration than ever. With greater than a decade working companies on this metropolis and one pandemic beneath my belt, I’m hoping newly elected officers will help native Ottawa entrepreneurs.
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As an example, the difficulty of bottlenecks on licensing and allow processes is one thing that retains displaying up. It’s unfathomable that at the present time, the one means we will renew our enterprise permits is by mailing a cheque to the town or visiting a shopper service centre.
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Throughout the pandemic shutdowns, when my licence needed to be renewed, it took greater than per week for somebody to determine they may take my bank card info over the cellphone and course of fee. Why is it that I pays my property taxes and water invoice on-line, however not enterprise permits and licences?
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Lately, a fellow enterprise proprietor shared an concept that appeared easy and never far-fetched: sharing info and dealing with enterprise house owners could possibly be so simple as making a enterprise concierge workplace at metropolis corridor, the place native entrepreneurs might really feel supported figuring out that there’s a one-stop place the place they will begin and finish their business trip — an inviting concept and never stress-inducing. Oh, and up to date too, so it will possibly obtain funds on-line. Sensible.
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As residents, rubbish elimination, recycling and the green-bin program are issues we take without any consideration. Nonetheless, native companies aren’t eligible for rubbish elimination by way of the town. That’s proper: in case you have a bricks and mortar enterprise, the town won’t take away your rubbish — though these companies pay municipal taxes.
As a substitute, waste elimination is one thing we pay on high of our primary lease to landlords. These large rubbish containers within the again alleys of enterprise institutions are a part of a personal service that we should fund, not a city-run operation. And if we need to have somebody take away natural waste, it’s a separate value once more. I’m wondering what number of companies need to determine between doing what’s proper with organics, and saving on prices? I’m conscious of many who don’t or can’t pay individually for organics elimination; this isn’t only a municipal subject however an environmental downside.
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Lastly, the pandemic confirmed me the significance of getting concerned and dealing with different entrepreneurs to outlive and thrive. Throughout the pandemic, many brick-and-mortar companies relied on their native BIAs (Enterprise Enchancment Space), teams that advocate, assist and work with the local people enterprise house owners to deliver enterprise to the areas and help these companies.
Two of my companies are a part of totally different BIAs. My third enterprise is in an space of the town the place there’s none. Upon nearer examination, a number of elements of the town don’t have such places of work, leaving small-business house owners to fend for themselves with no collective neighbourhood voice. That makes their lives harder.
The very best-run BIAs are people who contain residents, metropolis councillors and enterprise house owners to usher in clients and assist with occasions in help of their hyper-local communities.
There’s a number of work for the brand new mayor and elected council to do. Official voting day is Oct. 24 — simply over a month to make necessary selections, Ottawa.
Karla Briones is an area immigrant entrepreneur and proprietor of International Pet Meals Kanata & Hintonburg; Freshii Westboro; founding father of the Immigrants Growing Entrepreneurs Academy; and an unbiased enterprise advisor. The opinions listed below are her personal. Her column seems each two weeks.
