One-Stop for Business: putting Hamilton businesses on the right path for success

Why One-Stop for Businesses? Corporate-wide strategy Enhance and improve customer service One location saves businesses time and money Offers complimentary services that assist businesses at all stages in their development or expansion

Why One-Stop for Businesses? Save Time and Money: Understand what your business needs to do BEFORE you begin to develop, build or expand. Make Informed Decisions: Know the timelines, application costs and processes for starting or expanding your business. Get the Right Resources: Access customized resources, key contacts and information to moving your business forward faster and more efficiently.

Who does One-Stop serve? Business Owners Development Industry Prospective business owners and the general public

What are One-Stop’s key services? 1.Small Business Assistance: Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) 2. Business Facilitation: Development Planning Section – municipal applications and processes 3. Business Licensing: Municipal Law Enforcement – Licensing and Permits team

How does the Economic Development team fit in to One- Stop? Economic Development Business Consultants provide: Site selection assistance for business location requests Repository and analysis of all economic data and business information particularly in key industry groups Businesses and developers with a conduit to the municipal processes Internal referrals and approvals Collaboration with SBEC and Business Facilitators

Business Licences Information on Required Licences Licence Applications By-law information and Interpretation Business Facilitation Step by Step Planning Application Guidance Customizable Development Kit Small Business Enterprise Centre Consultation & Access to BizPal How could you use One-Stop?

Understanding the Three Key Services

Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC):  Receive assistance and resources to help, start, run or expand your business (including business registration)

SBEC Background Provided assistance to small businesses in Hamilton since 2001 Receives 39,223 general inquires/year Created 725 jobs in 2009

Resources Comprehensive on-site business library with demographic info, trade & association directories Computer workstations with internet access Access to on-line databases of business information, suppliers, competitors or customers Business name registration kiosk

Training Programs and Worksops Business Development Series Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Business Planning Marketing Legal and Insurance Considerations Book keeping and Taxes for Business New Importer/ Exporter

Consultation Services One-hour session with an SBEC consultant: Help entrepreneurs prepare and review a business plan Monitor a client through the crucial start-up stages Assist in identifying rules and regulations that can impact a client’s business Identify government and private sector programs and services 818 consultations in 2009

Youth Programs Two Key Programs: Canadian Youth Business Program (18 – 34 yrs of age): Loan of up to $15,000 combined with mentor 26 loans to date 43 jobs $450,000 invested Summer Company (16-29 yrs. of age): Grant of up to $3,000 mentorship 53 students over $250,000 investment 126 jobs

Business Facilitation

Business Facilitation: Provides a central contact to help businesses through the municipal processes of starting and/or expanding their business Facilitates, coordinates and provides advice on development proposals Reduces and resolves issues and problems relating to Development proposals Advocates on behalf of the customer

Business Facilitation: The Big Picture The key role of the Business Facilitators is to provide an overview of what to expect for your particular planning process including: Timelines Required Applications Costs

How Business Facilitators can help your business: Guides you through the clearing of Conditions of Site Plan Approval Move more quickly and easily through the approval system Reduces and assists with the release of securities Suggests creative solutions to facilitate development Prioritization of Infrastructure Funding Projects and Corporate Projects

What is the link with Economic Development’s Business Development Consultants? Business Facilitators: attend Corporate calls at the request of Economic Development to provide companies with Planning perspective, knowledge of the Planning Process, and additional internal an external contacts to help speed up the process act as the front-line (physical main floor presence) to ensure businesses and developers connect with experts from Planning and Economic Development and other City departments

Development Checklist & Development Application Brochures Official Plan Amendments Zoning By-law Amendments Draft Plan of Subdivision Land Division Site Plan Control Part Lot Control Minor Variance Sign Variance

Land Division Part Lot Control Minor Variance Sign Variance Customizable Development Kit Official Plan Amendment Zoning By-law Amendment Draft Plan of Subdivision Site Plan Control Development Checklist Parkland Dedication Development Charges Consent Agreements

Licensing

The Licensing counter at the One-Stop is primarily focused on new businesses, but will also process licence renewals Staff help businesses: Understand if their business needs to be licensed; Find out what their business needs to become licensed; and Process business licence applications

Examples of Business that Need to be Licensed Taxi Cab (driver, broker and owner operator) Residential Care Facilities and Lodging House Trades: Contractors and Masters Restaurants (includes refreshment stand) Public Garages Kennels and Pet Shops Cigarette/Tobacco sales Hairdressers, Piercing and/or Tattoo Parlours Adult Entertainment Establishments Body Rub Parlours

Why Businesses Need to be Licensed Public health and safety Consistency across similar types of businesses or licensing categories Consumer protection Nuisance control

Why Licensing is Essential at One-Stop and How Services Work Together Services provided by SBEC and Business Facilitators will help businesses understand and locate information required to complete their licensing application faster and more efficiently. Two essential requirements to get your business licensed include: a copy of the business registration and Zoning Verification Certificate. SBEC can help get your business registered and Business Facilitators can assist with understanding the Zoning associated with the business.

One-Stop for Businesses Opened on June 7, 2010

Where to Find One-Stop: Hamilton City Hall 71 Main Street West, 1st Floor Phone: Make an appointment or just walk-in Website: