Aboriginal Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Canada

Lynn Bestari is a community development consultant in Guelph, Ontario.

This excellent small-business manual for Native entrepreneurs covers all
the major topics: deciding whether or not to start a business; preparing
for small-business ownership (e.g., the business plan, acquiring a
business or franchising, and financing); managing the small business
(e.g., marketing, financial management, operations management, personnel
management, and aboriginal tax issues); and issues related to business
growth. All these topics are examined in the context of Native ownership
and the aboriginal community. For instance, the section on financing
looks at the different lending institutions a Native person could
access, including the Aboriginal Business Canada program and Aboriginal
Capital Corporations.

Case studies are included, along with discussion questions at the end
of each chapter. The final chapter lists sources of capital (including
federal, provincial, and private-sector programs), export assistance
agencies, government labor departments, and Web sites relating to
aboriginal business.

All in all, a well-organized and valuable reference for Native
entrepreneurs.