This session is designed for people who have a clear idea of the business they want to start, and the customers they plan to serve. Now you have that business idea you will usually need a plan and cash flow forecasts to communicate it to potential funders and other business partners to get them to support your vision. The session will cover what the people you want to persuade are looking for, and equally important, what they don’t want to see. Above all a clearly thought though plan should also significantly increase your chances of success.
Mark Cawley, The Ottawa Community Loan Fund (OCLF) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2000, arranging loans of up to $45,000, but with an average of around $15,000, to start and expand businesses in Ottawa. The OCLF has arranged over $3,000,000 in financing since its inception to individuals and businesses who would otherwise not be able to expect to obtain sufficient, and usually any, funding from commercial lending organisations. Currently the OCLF arranges loans from Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation), as its Community Partner in Ottawa, and loans from Alterna Savings supported by the OCLF‘s guarantee.