Right now the Credit Unions of BC are promoting their Remarkable Micro Loan Program which offers BC residents 18 to 29 years old low interest micro loans of up to $5,000 for starting a Canadian small business.

But BC Credit Unions are not the only places offering micro loans. Here are three more micro loan sources you may be able to tap into for starting your Canadian small business:

• Assiniboine Credit Union Micro Loan Program - Offered through partnership with Western Economic Diversification Canada, the program offers small business loans up to a maximum of $35,000 to start or grow small businesses in the Winnipeg area.
• Alterna Savings; Community Micro Loan Program - small business loans for Toronto and area.
• Ottawa Community Loan Fund - loans of up to $15,000 to start or expand a business in the Ottawa area.

More on Small Business Grants and Loans

• 10 Things You Need to Know About Small Business Funding
• 8 Sources of Business Start Up Money
• The Truth About Small Business Grants in Canada
• 7 Canada Government Grants Your Small Business May Qualify For
• The Self-Employment Program: One of the Best Small Business Grants in Canada
• The Canada Small Business Financing Program
• How to Get a Small Business Loan
• 10 Sources of Business Loans for Canadian Small Businesses
• Small Business Loans for Canadian Women Entrepreneurs

Image © Rick Audet

I hate business networking events. Most of my most successful business networking has taken place elsewhere; at charity and social events, through business organizations, through online venues.

So any tips that make attending business networking events more successful and less of a chore are much appreciated.

Tom Searcy provides some great advice for doing just that in The Schmooze-Hater's Guide to Better Networking (BNET), tips that got me rethinking my business networking moves.

For instance, he points out that when you're meeting new people, you need to ask better questions than the standard "What do you do?" and "Tell me about your company".

Same-old questions get same-old boring answers.

Instead, ask questions that both you and the person you're greeting will find more engaging, such as "What business problem does your company solve?" "What is the best example you have of how you are doing that?" - questions that will make your brief meeting more memorable and maybe even spark a true conversation and a relationship.

Do you have a business networking tip to share? Comment below.

More on Business Networking

• The 10 Commandments of Networking
• 22 Tips to Use at Your Next Networking Event
• Make the Right Elevator Pitch to the Right Person

Image (c) Leukos / Getty Images

What image springs to mind when you hear the word "franchising"? A pair of golden arches? A fresh sugar-coated doughnut? A bucket of chicken?

Maybe the image you should be focusing on is one of dollar signs. Franchising a business has been an extremely profitable business model for all kinds of businesses, not just fast food chains.

Think of Brian Scudamore of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, for example. Or Canadian Tire.

But while franchising your business can truly be the way to riches, it's not for everybody.

Ask yourself these questions to see if your business is ready to become a franchise.

More on Franchising

• Turnkey Operation
• How to Franchise Your Small Business (About.com Small Business Information)
• Entrepreneur Success Story: Brian Scudamore of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? (About.com Entrepreneurs)

Image (c) Lew Robertson / Getty Images

Think you may have missed something? Here's your round-up of the past week at About Small Business Canada so you can catch up with all the new articles and blog posts!

Posts & New Articles

6 Traits You Need to Be Self-Employed

Charging HST & PST on Your Retail Sales

10 Ways to grow Great Word of Mouth

SWOT Analysis: The Swiss Army Knife of Business Planning

12 Facts About Starting a Business in Canada

How to Have a Worry-Free Vacation From Your Small Business

About Small Business Canada: Weekly Roundup May 7 to May 13