The Greater Halifax Partnership can help your company maximize the cost benefits of our business environment when opening a business by:
- Offering you opportunities for networking at our events and making vital connections in the business community
- Providing information to your relocating employees
Other resources available to assist you in setting up your new business in Greater Halifax include:
Nova Scotia Business Registry
Register a business
- Apply for, pay, and renew business licenses
- View and change business information
- Receive tender opportunities by email
Permits & Licences
This directory contains information on more than 450 licences, permits, registrations, certifications, and related services administered by Province of Nova Scotia Departments and Agencies.
Nova Scotia Labour Standards Division
In Nova Scotia, the employer-employee relationship is governed by the Labour Standards Code. The Labour Standards Division, which is part of the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour, is responsible for the Code. The website offers a plain language Guide to the Code, a chart of paid and unpaid holidays in Nova Scotia, and fact sheets on topics such as vacation pay, overtime, minimum wage, exceptions for certain industry sectors, and more.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
ACOA works with its many partners to help individuals involved in small and medium-sized enterprises acquire the financial resources needed to succeed and create jobs in the Atlantic region.
Blue Water Community Business Development Corporation
CBDC Blue Water is one of over 40 Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) serving Atlantic Canada. Being a CBDC, we promote economic development in rural areas by providing financial assistance, training and counselling to small businesses.
Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre
This is the ideal starting point for anyone starting a business in Nova Scotia.
Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)
An innovation centre that assists governments, organizations, and communities in helping people achieve their potential through entrepreneurship. CEED nurtures entrepreneurship in people by acting as a catalyst in the areas of entrepreneurship education, research and program design, professional development, and community entrepreneurship.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI)
NSBI focuses its activities in four areas: business attraction, business retention and expansion, trade promotion, and lending and finance.
Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre
Assisting businesses at all stages of development, from start-up to times of difficulty, the SMU Business Development Centre produces cost-effective solutions for private, public, and not-for-profit clients. Through professional consulting services, international programs, skills development and training, experiential student learning, and university resources, staff can help in all functional areas of business - accounting, finance, human resources, management, marketing, and operations.
Strategis
Strategis is Industry Canada’s comprehensive business information source offering timely business and consumer information, business management tools, government services on the Internet, an extensive directory of Canadian financial providers, a powerful search engine of financial providers, information on different types of financing and financial providers, and tips to help you secure financing.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
The Business Development Bank of Canada is dedicated to helping create and develop Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. As a financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada, the BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services with a focus on the technology and export sectors of the economy.
Invest in Canada
The Invest in Canada website is a one-stop shop for those looking to establish or expand a business in Canada. It provides information and statistics for companies, investors, and entrepreneurs, to ensure that they are able to make informed decisions about venturing into the Canadian business environment.
In addition to these agencies, many Greater Halifax Partnership investors work with companies to help establish and grow businesses. See our list of Investors to find out which companies can help your company.