Be Your Own Boss

Employment Consultants assist individuals in identifying and pursuing the most effective, suitable, and direct route to sustainable employment. Typically, they focus on the following strategies:

1. Supporting individuals to complete a thorough job search based on their existing skills
2. Exploring training options

If you are actively working with one of our employment consultants and have reviewed the first two steps above but are still not able to secure sustainable employment, exploring the suitability of self employment may be an option for you.

Candidates must be referred by their Employment Consultant prior to being accepted into the Self Employment program. The referral process includes documentation of the candidate’s job search activities and their self employment readiness assessment.

Not sure where to start?   Attend a 1 hour FREE virtual information session!

The Self Employment info sessions are held once per month and will help you start to answer a few questions.  Do you have the related skills, product and service knowledge and industry experience to start your own business?  What are the various resources, including WorkBC’s Self-Employment Services, which could support the development and implementation of your business plan? 

Info sessions are hosted virtually by Inspired Strategy. Clients must pre-register to receive link.

The Self Employment program provides participants with business start-up training, coaching, entrepreneurial support, and financial assistance while they develop and implement a business plan and create their own employment opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for Self-Employment Services WorkBC clients must: 

• be receiving Employment Insurance (EI), OR have received EI benefits within the previous 60 months, OR have earned more than $2,000 in insurable earnings and paid EI employee premiums on those earnings in at least 5 of the last 10 completed taxation years. The current tax year cannot be considered at this time. (Note: The 5 years do not have to be consecutive years), OR
• be designated a BCEA Persons With Disability(PWD) or a BCEA Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers to employment (PPMB), OR
• have a general disability designation, AND
• have proven access to capital and in-kind assets required to launch the business

*NOTE: Speak to your WorkBC Employment Consultant to confirm all eligibility criteria and if you may be eligible for the Self Employment Program. Individuals who have quit their jobs generally cannot be approved for Self-Employment Services.

Individuals who are already operating their business (e.g. advertising or selling products or services) prior to approval for Self-Employment Services would be considered already self-employed and would not be eligible.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

With some exceptions, participants in the WorkBC Self-Employment Program are eligible to receive financial support. They may also work part-time in a position unrelated to the self-employment opportunity.

HOW THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT SERVICE WORKS:

1. Orientation, Assessment and Business Concept Development (4 weeks)

To be considered for Self-Employment Services, and as part of the Self-Employment Orientation and Assessment process, participants will demonstrate:

• an entrepreneurial aptitude
• sufficient product/service knowledge
• experience related to their business concept
• a business concept that is viable in the local labour market that will not negatively impact the community and is suitable for public funding
• a lack of entrepreneurial skills, training and/or experience.

After attending a Virtual Orientation Workshop (4 hours), WorkBC clients may be accepted to apply to the self employment program by developing a business concept and completing the required application forms. In this phase, participants begin to plan out the basic elements of their business concept: conducting preliminary market research, exploring financial projections and confirming program eligibility.

2. The Self-Employment Program

The Self Employment Program is a 48-week program (it can be extended to 65 weeks for some Persons With Disabilities (PWD) or general disability clients to allow for a reduced workload).

Business Plan Development (10 of 48 weeks) – In the initial weeks, the program provides business development and planning training. WorkBC clients then prepare a comprehensive business plan with the support of their business coach for the remainder of the 10 weeks. Approved plans will act as the road map for participants to launch and grow their business over the remaining 38 weeks of the program (and beyond).

Business Launch and Implementation (38-weeks) – WorkBC clients work directly with their business coach and other community resources to launch their new business. Over the 38-week period, business coaches provide business and leadership coaching support, conduct site visits, and ongoing financial and operational reviews to support the effective launch and successful operation of the new business.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT AS A CAREER OPTION

The 3 videos below have been prepared to help you explore the concept of self-employment and address questions you may have as you consider self-employment as a career option.

Business Start-up:  What You Need to Know About Money

Business Start-up:  4 Must Have Strategies

Traits and Attributes of the Successful Business Owner

SELF-EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

Regional:

• Community Futures Development Corporation Central Vancouver Island –  A non-profit organization that provides a variety of support services, including financing alternatives, to those wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business.
• City of Parksville – Business licensing information, including information on the inter-community business license
• Town of Qualicum Beach – Business licensing information
• Regional District of Nanaimo – Information on zoning and population statistics and other general information on operating a business within the Regional District of Nanaimo.
• Chambers of Commerce – The “Voice of Business”, the region’s two Chambers of Commerce offer networking opportunities and information on doing business in the region
  • Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce
  • Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce

Provincial:

• WorkBC Small Business Planning Resources – WorkBC’s all-inclusive Resource Centre for planning, starting, financing, growing or exiting a small business in BC.
• Small Business BC– a resource centre for business products and services, and information on starting and operating a small business in BC – everything from how-to’s & checklists to registering your business. Small Business BC is a non-profit organization.
• BC Business Registry – manages the creation (incorporation and registration) and listing of businesses and organizations in BC.
• Women’s Enterprise Centre – Established to assist women in starting and growing businesses in BC, the Women’s Enterprise Centre provides essential business services and resources, including skills training, business loans, mentoring, and other resources.

National:

• Canada.ca – providing you need to comply with Canada’s tax regulations, including information on business structure and registration, payroll, deductions and GST/HST rules.
• Entrepreneurial Potential – Self Assessment Test – a useful tool to assess your aptitude, motivation and drive to run your own business, from the Business Development Bank, which is a financial institution owned by the Government of Canada.
• Futurpreneur Canada – (Formerly Canada Youth Business Foundation). Provides mentorship, financing and resources for Canadian entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 years old.