Announcements & Programs
Restaurant & Retail Map in Waterloo Region
With patio season upon us and some businesses starting to reopen, please check out the maps below to find out what's open!
If you're looking for restaurants, cafes or food shops to service you during the temporary closures in Waterloo, this list has everything that is open.

If you're looking for clothing and accessory stores, health and personal care, sporting goods and hobbies, electronics, gardening supplies or general merchandise to service you during the temporary closures in Waterloo, this list has everything that is open.

If your business is not currently on the map and would like to apply to be, please use the link here.

To view DTK's Patio Map, click here.
To view Uptown Waterloo's Patio Map, click here.

Don't forget to check out the Art Fresco Table Trail by Explore Waterloo Region with 50 tables hand-painted by local artisans!

While we are excited that many small businesses are able to reopen at limited capacities, we recognize that not all businesses are able to do so. We can't wait until all businesses are able to be open and will continue to support them as much as possible.
Webinars & Workshops
This half day program is to provide entrepreneurs who may be small or medium-sized food product business owners a brief, 5-hr overview of what is needed from a knowledge and resources aspect, to grow their food product business, with an emphasis on packaging your recipe or product for retail or wholesale markets. This program offers a brief overview of the legalities, realistic costs, logistics, food safety, and basic food business principles needed to take your business to the next level. LIMITED 17 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by WRSBC & Foodventure Program

June 23 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm | Getting Started with SEO
SEO is the most important part of enhancing your business' online presence. We'll walk you through the 5 biggest SEO opportunities for small business including: Google My Business; Keeping copywriting simple; Building backlinks; Optimizing images; and creating long form content. The workshop is going to touch on all the areas a small business owner should be made aware of and a Q&A at the end. Presented by WRSBC

June 30 | 11:00 – 12:00 pm | Peer2Peer: Ask the Advisor
Have questions about starting or growing a small business? Need guidance on developing a business plan, applying for business loans, navigating the government assistance programs or identifying new target markets? Join this weekly Q&A session hosted by a Waterloo Region Small Business Centre Advisor every Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Presented by the WRSBC

Jul 15 | 9:00 – 12:00 pm | Shopify - Beginner
One of the best-supported eCommerce platforms a small business owner can use to sell online is Shopify. This intuitive Canadian platform is highly expandable and packed with amazing features out of the box. This workshop is hands-on; you will create a product listing from scratch, learn to add or remove a shipping method and learn to manage the content on your homepage. LIMITED 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by the WRSBC
 
Jul 19 | 9:00 – 11:00 am | Google My Business - Beginner
Google My Business (GMB) is a free and powerful tool for bringing awareness to your local business. From initial setup to getting verified by Google, this workshop covers the essential steps to harnessing the power of Google My Business in local searches. LIMITED 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by the WRSBC
 
Jul 19 | 12:00 – 2:00 pm | Google My Business - Advanced
Enhancing your GMB profile listing will help customers find your products and services much easier (SEO) and will help you stand out from your local competition. Learn to manage good and bad reviews, list upcoming events and special product offerings from an easy-to-control dashboard. Learn to use the reporting features and gain insight into how your customers are interacting with your brand on Google. LIMITED 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by the WRSBC
 
Jul 29 | 9:00 – 11:00 am | Intro to e-Commerce
Selling a product to a customer you have never met is the holy grail of commerce. From Shopify to Amazon and Etsy, we break down all the misconceptions of selling online. Is your brand ready to launch? LIMITED 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by the WRSBC
 
Aug 9 | 9:00 – 10:30 am | LinkedIn for Small Business
One of the best tools a small business owner can use to connect with other professionals is LinkedIn. For connecting with professionals, posting business news, or discovering future employees, LinkedIn is the only social network that's purpose built for businesses. This workshop is hands on; you will create a basic LinkedIn Company Page from scratch, specific to your industry and product offerings. LIMITED 15 SPOTS AVAILABLE. Presented by the WRSBC
Article of the Week
The executive summary is the opening section of a traditional business plan, but it’s relative brevity compared to some of the longer and more daunting sections mean that it’s often overlooked. Don’t be fooled by their short length: executive summaries can make or break a business plan, so read on to find out how to make your executive summary as strong as possible.
Resources & Tools
Trying to stay organized? Check out these essential tools for business