If you are thinking about starting a business, you're not alone; it just seems that way. Each year thousands of Albertans start up new businesses. In fact, the small business sector is responsible for creating the majority of jobs in Alberta, and in Canada. About 75 per cent of all businesses in Canada employ fewer than five people, and 97 per cent have fewer than 50 employees.

Starting your own business can be a great opportunity, and for many people the idea of being their own boss is very attractive. But while entrepreneurship can be exciting and rewarding, it can also be challenging and time-consuming. A great idea is only the start. Putting that idea into practice and finding the money to finance your new business are the real battles.

So where can you go for help, both in fleshing out your idea, and in finding the funding to make it a reality? There are lots of information sources, people, and organizations that are willing to help; your job is to find them. To help you out, we've put together a list of some places, people, and resources that can help you make your dream a reality. While the list is not meant to be exhaustive, you should be able to find something here to get you started.

We've divided our links to self-employment into two categories, those resources that provide information on how to start up your own business, and those that provide funding to beginning entrepreneurs.