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The Ottawa Small Business Summit 2025 is your chance to connect, learn, and celebrate with local entrepreneurs, experts, and business advocates as Small Business Week kicks off in Ottawa. Whether you’re a startup founder, a seasoned business owner, or a future business owner, this full-day event at Bayview Yards features networking, expert panels, and actionable workshops designed to empower small businesses.

Why Attend?

• Get inspired by stories of longevity and resilience from Ottawa’s longest-standing small business legends.
• Engage with workshops on pressing topics like AI for business, new HR and employment law changes, accessing funding, digital presence, and ecommerce.
• Discover fresh perspectives on mental health and wellness for small business owners, hear from keynote speakers, and connect over breakfast, lunch, and coffee breaks with local catering.
• Network and celebrate Ottawa’s vibrant entrepreneurial community with prizes, sponsor sessions, and a variety of breakout sessions focused on real solutions and growth.

Join Ottawa’s business community at Bayview Yards on Monday, October 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and be part of a summit dedicated to empowering and celebrating small businesses in the National Capital Region.

$25 admission includes full day of programming + breakfast, lunch, & coffee catering.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

Proper record keeping and effective financial organization are critical pillars of business success—no matter the size or stage of your enterprise. As part of the Logan Katz Learning Series, this interactive and practical workshop is designed to equip business owners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring bookkeepers with the foundational skills needed to manage financial information with confidence.

In this engaging session, participants will learn:

• The key principles and terminology of bookkeeping
• How to set up and maintain a simple, efficient record-keeping system
• Best practices for organizing receipts, invoices, and financial documents
• Techniques for tracking income and expenses accurately
• How to avoid common pitfalls that can lead to errors or missed opportunities
• When and how to delegate bookkeeping tasks effectively

Whether you’re managing the books yourself or supervising someone who does, this workshop will provide you with the tools and clarity to stay on top of your financials and make informed decisions for your business. Designed to be accessible and actionable, the content is suitable for beginners and those looking to refresh their knowledge.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

What’s your impact, and how do you know?

In today’s world, businesses and organizations are increasingly expected to do more than just turn a profit – they’re expected to create real, measurable social and environmental value. But how do you track that impact? And why does it matter?

In this foundational workshop, Social Impact 101: Incorporating Social Impact into Your Business Model, you’ll explore the benefits of measuring your social impact and learn how it can help guide decision-making, build trust, and strengthen your mission.

We’ll dive into several practical tools and frameworks used globally, including:

• B Corp certification
• Social Return on Investment (SROI)
• Theory of Change

You’ll also gain insights into how to integrate social impact into your business model, and examine hybrid business structures (like social enterprises, co-ops, and nonprofits with earned revenue streams). Through local and international case studies, we’ll explore what works in balancing profit with purpose.

Whether you’re just beginning your impact journey or looking to deepen your current efforts, this session will give you the clarity and tools to move forward with confidence.

Join us for Social Impact 101 — and start measuring what truly matters!

About CSED:

The Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) offers a continuum of support for social enterprises in the Ottawa area, including access to technical expertise, coaching, learning communities, training, and cross-sector partnerships. CSED works with its clients to develop their social enterprise plan and provide them with the tools, strategies and support to perpetuate positive social change and grow profitably.

REGISTER HERE

About this workshop:

Do you have a great idea, but aren’t sure if it could become a great business?

This interactive 1.5-hour session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to explore whether their idea has the potential to become a successful venture. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey or re-evaluating an existing concept, this webinar will help you take a critical first step.

What You’ll Learn:

• Assessing Your Business Idea: Learn how to evaluate your idea through key questions that entrepreneurs should ask before launching. We’ll discuss factors such as customer needs, value proposition, market fit, and feasibility.
• Introduction to the Lean Startup Canvas: You’ll be introduced to the Lean Startup Canvas – a powerful, one-page tool designed to help you visually map out the key components of your business model. We’ll guide you through each section, helping you start validating your idea right away.
• Understanding Basic Cash Flow: Finances are critical, especially in the early stages of a business. We’ll walk you through a simple cash flow projection tool to help you understand your potential income, expenses, and financial runway. cash flow template will be provided to all attendees for ongoing use.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals with a new business idea they’d like to explore
• Early-stage entrepreneurs seeking validation tools
• Anyone considering self-employment or launching a small business

What You’ll Leave With:

• A solid understanding of what makes an idea viable
• A draft version of your Lean Startup Canvas
• A cash flow worksheet tailored to small businesses
• Greater confidence in deciding whether to move forward

Note: This session does not cover writing a full business plan. All attendees will be receiving a copy of the lean startup canvas & cash flow worksheet (with formulas pre-saved) in their follow-up email.

About the speaker:

Paula Hopkins is a passionate entrepreneurship advocate. She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship Team, and has worked with Invest Ottawa for over 10 years to help people start and grow their businesses.

REGISTER HERE

About the workshop:

Join our comprehensive E-commerce workshop where we’ll explore the essentials of launching a successful online business.

From identifying your target audience and sourcing products to choosing the right platform and designing your brand, we’ll touch on each crucial step.

Get introduced to topics such as:

• Sourcing your products
• Registering your business
• Building your online store
• Discovering the essentials of effectively marketing
• Attracting customers

We’ll run through 10 steps to help you turn your idea into your first sale. Perfect for beginners and those looking to get started with an e-commerce strategy.

About this workshop:

Are you worried that privacy laws are another obstacle slowing down your growth? The truth is, privacy compliance isn’t just a legal box to check, it’s a secret weapon for earning trust and unlocking opportunities that can take your startup to the next level.

Customer, investors, and partners are now looking for privacy-forward businesses. If your company can’t answer privacy questions confidently, you might be missing out on game-changing deals before the conversation even begins.

Join Navio Law’s webinar for founders and teams who want to turn privacy risk into business advantage. We’ll give you a clear, non-legalese roadmap so you can win the confidence of customers, investors, and strategic partners, without getting bogged down in legal jargon.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to scope your privacy needs (and stop being caught off guard by questions)
• Choosing the right Privacy Officer and making smart privacy investments
• Mapping your data and knowing your legal must-haves
• Designing real-world policies that impress clients and partners
• Preparing for breaches and future-proofing your customer trust
• Managing vendors and navigating third-party risks
• Building a team culture that makes privacy part of your brand
• Auditing, monitoring, and continually improving

Why Privacy Can’t Wait

Privacy concerns are now closing (or opening!) business doors every day. Make sure you’re seen as a trustworthy, future-ready company and never lose a deal to compliance doubts. Take the stress off your shoulders and join us to get practical, actionable guidance that protects your business, your reputation, and your growth.

About the workshop:

Understanding your market is not just helpful—it’s essential for launching and sustaining a successful business. Whether you’re developing a new product, entering a new industry, or refining your current offerings, market research equips you with the insights needed to make informed decisions and reduce risk.

This comprehensive webinar will guide you through the fundamentals and strategic applications of market research. You’ll learn how to gather, interpret, and apply data to better understand customer needs, identify trends, assess competition, and validate business ideas.

Key Topics Covered:

• What is Market Research?Discover what market research is and why it’s a cornerstone of any business strategy.
• Planning Your Research ProcessUnderstand how to define your research objectives, identify target audiences, and choose the most effective methods for collecting data.
• Free and Low-Cost Tools & ResourcesExplore a variety of publicly available databases, reports, and online tools to support your research—many of which are often overlooked.
• Real-World ExamplesSee how entrepreneurs and small business owners have successfully used market research to launch products, enter new markets, or refine their value propositions.
• Actionable Tips for SuccessLearn best practices for conducting efficient and meaningful research, avoiding common pitfalls, and turning insights into action.

Who Should Attend:

This session is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, small business owners, and anyone seeking a practical, hands-on introduction to market research.

Outcome:

By the end of the webinar, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to conduct your own market research confidently and cost-effectively—setting a strong foundation for business growth and innovation.

About the speaker:

Marlene Zaikab is a Business Librarian with the Ottawa Public Library.