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Do you want to start your own small business, but don't have the funds? Have you been turned down by the bank for a loan?
Conventional lenders (such as the big banks) are convenient in that they have product lines that many individuals and businesses rely on. But they are profit motivated. They have money available to lend, and are looking for the best businesses. Approvals often happen at "HQ" and are determined using loan approval software. Their loan decisions are based on your ability to repay the loan, competent management, economic viability of the business, reasonable personal investment, and adequate security. If your personal net worth is not high, personal equity in the business is low, or the lending officer's view of your industry is poor, your request can be denied. If you meet these requirements, you will be fine.
However, the path to financial security as a small business can be bumpy.
As a developmental lender, Community Futures Central Island is a relational lender not a transactional one. We manage a community loan fund built over years by all the businesses and individuals that we have helped. When you borrow from us you are contributing to the success of future businesses. We offer flexibility that the big banks can't., and we will work with you to support you during the bumpy times. We can say "yes" when the big banks say "no".
For information on how we make our decisions regarding loan requests, read the article The 5 Cs of lending on our website.
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Has provincial policy or the BC budget made it harder to run your business in our region? Please tell us.
This short, confidential survey (spearheaded by Nanaimo Properity Corporation) collects real, local experiences and converts them into aggregated evidence used in advocacy and policy discussions, including conversations tied to BC Budget 2026. It takes 5 minutes, and your answers remain confidential.
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In recognition of International Women’s Day, we invite you to join us for a special evening celebrating the impact of women supporting women in our community.
Event Details - Give to Gain; No One Advances Alone
📅 Date: March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Nanaimo Golf Club, 2800 Highland Blvd, Nanaimo, BC
🎟 Tickets: Early Bird tickets $45 until March 13th; $55 after that
For more information and to purchase your ticket, register here.
Give To Gain emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.
Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women's advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world
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When it comes to AI, the old adage "garbage in equals garbage out" is so true.
Learning to craft efficient and precise prompts is key to getting the results you are seeking from AI.
To help you improve your AI prompting skills, we offer the following advice.
Firstly, think "what is the problem I am trying to solve?" - and don't be afraid to ask Chat GPT to ask you what it needs to answer your question!
Then format your question in POWER mode:
P = PURPOSE - what outcome do you want?
O = OUTPUT - what format do you want your answer in?
W = WHO - who is this for/your audience/avatar?
E = EXTRAS - tone, length, constraints
R = RESTRAINTS - Ask it to improve, shorten, make it punchy.
Using this simple format will iimprove the results you achieve.
Give it a try.
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High Impact Strategies to improve cashflow by 5% or more.
For the next 5 months we would be sharing practical high-impact, fast-implementation cashflow strategies that businesses can execute within 1–4 weeks —that can improve net operating cashflow by 5% or more if implemented accurately.
Each strategy can improve cashflow on its own, but most effective and significant when implemented together and incorporated as part of daily operations.
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Strategy #1 - Accelerate Receivables. (This strategy has the most immediate Impact if implemented accurately)
**The Goal is to pull cash forward faster.
Quick Actions
• Move from Net 30 → Net 14 or Net 7 for new and future invoices. It can be difficult to apply this in retrospect. New and future invoices is the way to go.
• Add 2–3% early payment discount to encourage your clients or customers to pay early.
• Send invoices same day work is completed. Being fast is not just on your clients or customers, it starts with you!
• Add a payment link directly on all invoices. It's all about psychology. "Tasks that are halfway done are easier to complete".
• Turn on auto-reminders at Day 3, 7, 14 to help move the payment process forward for clients or customers that are yet to pay.
• Require deposit upfront (30–50%) for new work. This is instant liquidity!
Typical Impact
👉 Implementing these quick actions alone (and accurately) can generate significant immediate cashflow improvements of 5% or more.
👉 By reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), you are converting receivables into usable cash faster = instant liquidity.
See you next month for Strategy #2.
To connect with Kenny, please visit her website at Synced-CFO.ca
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When he learned his grandmother had died from an unflagged pre-existing condition, Chirag Jadhwani set out to create a tool to prevent errors in overloaded systems.
Canadian Business Magazine has published an article on their website outlining Mr. Jadhwani's journey to build an AI platform to tackle clinician burnout and improve the healthcare system.
Read the inspiring story in the full article.
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Wellness
Month 6: Evening Reset: Recharge and close the day with calm.
- Spend 10-15 minutes on a winding-down ritual (journaling, stretching, or tech-free activitiy).
- Set a "shutdown ritual" at a consistent time.
- Keep electronics out of the bedroom to improve sleep quality.
Goal: Improve rest, reduce burnout, and build resilience for the next day.
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Workshops for Startups, Businesses and Non-Profits
Our workshops offer opportunity for deeper engagement, asking questions, and the chance to participate in hands-on activities (where applicable). Led by experienced professionals, these sessions focus on practical skills in areas like marketing, human resources, strategic planning, and more - designed to help you quickly apply what you learn.
How It Works
Create an account, or login, visit this webpage, then select your webinar and click "Register".
Pricing
Workshops are free of charge in the Central Island Community Futures area.
March workshops
- March 2 - Understand AI and Build your Own Assistant
- March 3 - The Confident Leader
- March 4 - Sell Without the Ick - How to Love Selling
- March 5 - Instagram Ads
- March 10 - Strategic Partnerships for Small Businesses
- March 11 - Time Management for Women in Business
- March 12 - Money Nerves - Pricing, Invoicing & Collections Without
Meltdown
- March 18 - Digital Transformation for Small Business
- March 19 - Intro to Meta Business Suite
- March 24 - The Leadership Edge - Lead with Intention & Mastery
- March 25 - Strategies for De-Risking Your Business
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