Are you a non-Canadian interested in doing business in Canada? Canada's open for business, and welcomes foreign investment and business immigrants.
Why do business in Canada? Why not? Operating a business in Canada is better for your bottom line than operating your business in the United States, and thanks to NAFTA (the North American Trade Agreement), you'll still have access to the entire North American market.
Currently, according to a detailed 10-month study of international business costs in 11 countries in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific by KMPG, Canada's business costs are the lowest recorded in the study, and roughly 9 percent lower than in the USA after taxes depending on the industry.
One reason for this is the lower labour costs in Canada; total labor costs, including wages and salaries, statutory benefits, and other benefits, are lowest in Canada. In the United States, benefit costs are 32 percent of total salary, while in Canada these costs are only 29 percent. And the cost of wages is also lower in Canada than in the USA (Invest in Canada).
Production costs are also lower in Canada. The cost of electricity, for instance, is 22 percent lower than the cost of electricity in the USA (based on annual electricity costs for the average manufacturer), and Canadian land and building costs are 8 percent lower. And Canada not only has a world class technology infrastructure, but has the lowest business telephone and wireless charges of all the countries involved in the study.
Are you convinced yet? Canada also has a high quality, available labour force, a positive business climate, and an outstanding quality of life. If I didn't already live here, I'd move here myself!
Perhaps one of the best reasons to consider doing business in Canada, though, is that Canada welcomes business investment. Continue on to the next page to read about the Canadian government's special services for foreign investors and sources of information on Canadian industries.
