SmallBusinessNewz

CFIB Business Barometer Holds Steady In March

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has announced an update to its Business Barometer Index, and - in a good way - the change is insignificant.  Only a slight dip registered despite elections and the crises in the Middle East and Japan.

Google Moves To Get More SMBs Online

Early this month, Google and MYOB Business Monitor launched a campaign called "Get Aussie Business Online."  Now a sort of follow-up program has commenced under the more awkward name "Canada Get Your Businesses Online."This effort has the backing of Google, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, CIRA, the Globe and Mail, RBC, Rogers, Silver Lining Limited, and Yola.com.  Its primary goal is to help more SMBs establish websites (an estimated 40 percent of Canadian SMBs don't have one).

Small Business Group Praises Canadian Federal Budget

When it comes to how the Canadian government intends to spend its money in 2011, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is officially pleased.  The CFIB used that term in a statement on the subject and gave the 2011 budget an overall grade of "B+."

Canadian Small Business Owners Growing More Cautious

Ask the average person to stay on a path that's two feet wide, and he or she should have little problem striding along.  Put that path 50 feet in the air, though, and - at best - crawling will ensue.  Similarly, Canadian small business owners seem to be playing it safe with their money until the economy improves.

Small Biz Confidence Levels Still Elevated In Canada

Conditions for small businesses in Canada weren't at all bad during the first month of 2011, according to new data.  Indeed, judging by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business's Business Barometer Index, the situation was pretty positive in January.You might imagine that there would be a significant drop in positive sentiment following the holiday season; shoppers tend to go into virtual hibernation.  But the Index "finished the month of January at 68.9-only slightly off December's level of 69.3," according to a statement released by the CFIB.

Canadian Confidence Dips Again

Bears, not economies, are supposed to hibernate during the winter, but it's starting to look like things in Canada are getting pretty slow.  The Canadian Federation of Independent Business's Business Barometer Index documented another loss in confidence in September.

Small Business Confidence Falls In Canada

Small business confidence fell in Canada for the third consecutive month in August, according to a new report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).Uncertain market conditions pushed CFIB's Business Barometer Index to 64.9 last month, down from 65.7 in July, and well below 2010's March peak of 69.9. The current Barometer reading suggests the economy is only growing at a modest 2 per cent clip.

CFIB Business Barometer Dips Again In July

The transition between June and July did not go as well for small businesses in Canada as we might have hoped.  The Canadian Federation of Independent Business found that its Business Barometer Index decreased a bit between the two months, indicating declining confidence.

Canadian Small Biz Index Passes Year-Ago Level

Things are looking up - at least compared to somewhat recent conditions - in Canada.  The American Express Small Business Index is at its highest level in over a year, and in terms of letter grades, that puts the situation at what many students would consider an acceptable "C."

Canada's Business Barometer Continues To Rise

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business's Business Barometer Index has gone up for the second month in a row, and even if it's supposed to take three occurrences to start an official trend, this is a big deal.  The index has achieved a feat and reached a level not seen in a while.