Small business is big business in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON -Small businesses are a big business in Saskatchewan, and especially Saskatoon.

Saskatoon had the largest number of small businesses in the province fro 2012 at 21.2 percent.

One of those entrepreneurs is Dwayne Turcotte and his wife, who recently moved to Saskatoon from Yorkton to start a business.

They design custom organizers for laundry rooms, closets and pantries and own the only Stor-x franchise in the province.

“If you like the challenge of starting a business there’s no better time to start when the economy is going full steam,” said Dwayne Turcotte, Stor-x Saskatoon franchise owner.

“This is an entrepreneurial city, it always has been and always will be,” said Saskatoon Sutherland MLA Paul Merriman.

“Saskatoon is growing at 6.9 per cent as far as small businesses year over year, so that’s a huge boost as far as complementing other small independent businesses but it also shows that our economy, people are coming across the province and around the country and certainly around the world.”

It can get easier for entrepreneurs starting out.

Under Wednesday’s newly announced small business loan program, the West Small Business Loans Association allows people who meet the criteria in the west part of the city to access up to $20,000 to advance an existing business or start a new one.

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed this week Business Development Bank of Canada Small Business Week in the province.