Attention Canadian entrepreneurs!

If you own or operate a small business in Canada you probably are aware that there are almost no grants and loans available to businesses. Money, one of the most important things start-ups need, usually comes from savings, family or friends.

For many years at CanadaOne we have wished we could do more to help entrepreneurs access grants or loans. Well, we can't change the government. What we can – and have – done is to create a fun contest with a terrific grand prize.

Between April 4 and June 18, 2008 we are inviting you* to tell us why you think your start-up or growth business plan is going to succeed. We want to know what is great about your business. We want to hear about your passion for starting or running a business in Canada.

Our editorial team will review all submissions and is going to select the top 20. Unlike other competitions, you don't need to show a hockey-stick project of millions in revenues to have a chance to make it into our final cut. That doesn't mean you'll be excluded if you have a great idea and hope to make a lot of money! What will really count in making it to the final selection group will be your passion, your vision, your uniqueness and yes, the probability that your idea could turn into a successful business venture.

Each business that makes it into the top 20 will get one of the best things a business can get: free publicity on CanadaOne.com® through a profile of your company. On September 24, 2008 we will hold a random draw to select one grand prize winner.

Grand prize (total value $2300):

• Cash grant: $1500

Business productivity software:

• Simply Accounting by Sage 2008
• Maximizer CRM 10 Entrepreneur Edition
• 1 year subscription to Freshbooks Shuttle Bus plan

Office hardware:

• Lexmark™ X9575 Wireless All-in-One printer

* See contest rules for full details on eligibility.