Hello

Just looking to see if there is anyone from Ontario on here? I am thinking about starting a business, however have some issues to sort out with the dear ol' government first. Thought I might gain some insight from some of you/

Hi From Uxbridge, Ontario....and !!!
I don't know if I'll be much help but I'd be happy to try. Let me know. I'm just in the process of starting up my VA business too.

~Mj

Thanks - I dont think anyone can help right now unfortunatly. A quick background on my reluctance to start the business right now... just over a month ago i left a secure job to take a different one after being recruited by an Ad agency. I wanted to get into something different and thought this was the perfect opportunity. It was until Friday, when they laid me off because they are downsizing due to the economy. Biggest problem is that i am 4 months pregnant.
So in my searching of what to do next, I thought being a VA is defintley something of interest to me. I just need to see how starting up a business will affect my EI and my Maternity EI. I dont want to lose time with my baby but also would love the opportunity to make some money before I am due.
Oh my drama

What stage are you at in starting up your business?

Welcome to the forums. There are a few of us from Ontario. I'm from Burlington, Julia is from Oakville, Maria is from Toronto, Janet is from Hamilton, Ness is from Georgetown, Erin is from Ottawa.

Good luck in starting your business. You'll find a lot of help here.

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Shari Sultana
Online Business Manager (marketing for retail ecommerce)

I have lived in Burlington most of my life. Now in Waterdown - not far from you!

Hi there and welcome. Hope you get things sorted out. If you are self-employed, you may have some issues with EI but I think you're allowed to make so much before they start docking your payments. The reality is that EI pays so little now, if you can make more money with a business then you're ahead of the game.

Another thing to consider is that if you are on EI, you probably qualify for the SEB program which allows you to receive EI while starting a business. Here is a link to the program: http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/...self-emp.shtml

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Julia

Thank you for the link I am goign to look into it. I find the whole tihng confusing and when you call they give you different answers. Bottom line is that I want to be able to stay home and with my baby for at least 6 months. My hope was to use the time that I have - I know there wont be a lot, to try to get the business going. if it works it works if not, I havent lost anything.
I also may already have my first contract job. They came to me for a 1 year contract being a virtual asssistant. I just need to figure out the baby part.

Hello! I live in Harrow, ON - just outside of Windsor. I'm also in the process of starting my own business and I'm also working on getting into the SEB.

I'm from Toronto and I have been in the process of getting my business going. Thank you for the SEB information. This is really interesting. I launched my website November 24 and still don't have an official client. I do have some people who have been paying me under the table but I haven't registered my business just yet with the government. Did you register your business right away? or wait until it was proving to be a success first?

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Caroline Pigott
VIP Assistant Solutions

Originally Posted by CarolineCloutie

I do have some people who have been paying me under the table but I haven't registered my business just yet with the government. Did you register your business right away? or wait until it was proving to be a success first?

Registered right away! Under the table is not a good way to go; you lose the tax write offs, especially in your first year of business - writing off expenses especially. In my case I had every confidence that my business would succeed and I operated on that assumption.

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Julia