Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 20/02) - The light goes on. A great money-making idea wants to burst from a genius' brain. But getting started in a new project is always a problem.

Claudia Kelly, left, and Wallace Burke help out entrepreneurs at the Canada Business Service Centre. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

In Yellowknife's Scotia Centre, Claudia Kelly is just the specialist to help entrepreneurs make their ideas come to life. She works with the Canada Business Service Centre (CBSC), a joint initiative with Industry Canada and the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

"We provide people with business information," said Kelly, who explained the organization provides information and referrals to business people. The centre has a great library with information on all types of businesses, a computer with Internet access that anyone can use and research databases.

A business start-up assistant takes clients through all the steps of starting up a business, "right from thinking about it to deciding whether it's a viable business. It will help them to decide if they are suited for business right up to a business plan," she said.

A lot of the CBSC's plans are available on their Web site at www.cbsc.org/nwt.

The business centre isn't just for new business people. Those looking for ways to improve can also expect help from Kelly and her co-workers.

"I might not know what's new but I will know where they can find it."

The most common questions asked at the business centre are: How do I start up a business? How do I write a business plan? How do I get funding?

Kelly said she gets inquiries from outside of the territory about registering existing businesses in the NWT.

"They will also ask things like 'Where do I register for a business number?' or 'Who are my competitors?' or 'Are there any other businesses like mine in the territories?'"

Last month the business centre recorded 71 inquiries -- most of them walk-ins.