Canadian Soapers wanting to sell

[Lindy]

I thought I would share what I am doing and perhaps there are those of you out there who can benefit from this as well. EI has a program called "The Self Employment Program" which helps you determine if you are ready to open up your own business. If you qualify through EI you can get a living allowance for 12 months as you go through your start-up.

For those of you who would like to have their soaping as a full-time business this is definately worth checking out. For most of BC Community Futures handles this program, but I don't know about the rest of the country. If it is something that interests you, you could contact your local EI office for more info.

For me it is definately worth the pursuit.....

Cheers
Lindy

 

[Tabitha]

That sounds awesome!

 

[ChrissyB]

We have a government funded program over here that sounds the same this is called NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme).
The basic outline is:
Meet with a NEIS consultant who you propose your business plan to.
They assist you in formalising your business plan and ironing out the legal nuts and bolts, things like that.
You are required to attend a small business certificate course, upon completion you have a nationally recognised qualification.
If you plan is successful, NEIS will pay you a living allowance for 12 months while you set your business up, any money that you make is not counted, for that first 12 months, you keep all profit (if there is any, not likely) and the living allowance to make sure you eat and have a house to live in.
Then at the end of 12 months, hopefully you have a successfully established secure business (secure as can be in these tough economic times), and you no longer receive the living allowance.
There are certain basic eligibility criteria, such as you can't open up a soap shop if there is a soap shop in the same street as where you want to open up. Also the idea has to be fairly original in some way, and not have the same type of shop on every corner in town!
Food for thought for any Australians wanting to start up their own business. Centrelink, NEIS, or any Job Network Office would be the place to go.

 

[AshleyR]

I'm going to look into this next week. I'm currently on EI that runs out this fall.... when I was hoping to start selling my soaps in craft fairs.

I'll let you guys know what I find out. Sounds like a great program that I could really get some use out of!

Thanks Lindy!