Success in the North depends on more than grit. It requires practical strategies for navigating policy frameworks, transportation bottlenecks, and the realities of doing business at the edge of Canada’s market economy. This section collects the tools, guides, and research that Arctic entrepreneurs need—curated, tested, and framed for Northern conditions.
A practical, Northern-proof sequence to get legal in the NWT so you can open accounts, invoice customers, and avoid rework. Covers structure choice, name search, registering a business name or incorporating, location-based licensing handoffs, and CRA/WSCC basics.
A practical way to identify which permits and licences your NWT business needs—based on where you operate, what you do, and whether you serve the public. Includes a permit-trigger decision tree, lead-time reality checks, and common “gotchas” that delay openings, mobilizations, and payments.
A practical way to choose between grants, repayable contributions, and loans in Northern conditions—where freight, seasonality, and staffing can break a timeline. Includes a “are you ready to apply?” rubric and a funder-ready prep pack you can reuse.
A practical workflow for finding GNWT tender opportunities, setting up notifications, and submitting compliant bids through the GNWT Contract Event Opportunities system. Includes bid/no-bid decision points, a step-by-step submission workflow, and a printable submission checklist.
A practical guide to the NWT Business Incentive Policy (BIP): who can register, how the bid adjustment actually works, and how to protect your bid from BIP-related mistakes. Includes a plain-language “what to do if you’re not eligible” path, a printable checklist, and a copy/paste BIP proof-pack template.
A practical setup guide for CanadaBuys federal procurement: what accounts you need, how to set alerts, and the first realistic way to bid without getting rejected for admin. Includes a “first 30 days” plan, a printable checklist, and a copy/paste capability + bid intake template.
A practical guide to working respectfully and effectively with Indigenous organizations and policies in the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit Settlement Region and Gwich’in Settlement Area). Includes a “how to approach + what to prepare” playbook, a capability-pack checklist, and a copy/paste outreach email template.
A sequencing guide for land access in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) and Gwich’in Settlement Area: whose land you’re on, what activities trigger authorization, and what to secure before you mobilize people or equipment. Includes a printable “don’t mobilize before X” checklist and copy/paste outreach templates.
A practical decision path to figure out whether your project needs a land use permit and/or a water licence in the NWT—and which board or authority applies by region. Includes a “what delays applications” pitfalls list, a printable checklist, and a copy/paste project intake template you can send to a board early.
If you’re hiring or bidding in the NWT, WSCC compliance is a payment gate: registration, incident reporting, clearances, and basic safety system. This guide gives you a “do-this-next” setup path plus a compliance starter pack checklist and templates.
A practical pricing workflow for Northern jobs: how to estimate freight and lead times, plan mobilization and downtime, and choose terms that protect you (fixed-price vs T&M). Includes a copy/paste quote template and a clause library for freight escalation, schedule delays, and standby.
A practical shipping playbook for Northern jobs: how to plan materials so work doesn’t stall, choose the right mode (truck/air/sea/Canada Post), and manage seasonal cutoffs. Includes a Northern logistics checklist, a minimum viable planning timeline, and Arctic-specific small-parcel realities (PO boxes, last-mile handoffs).
A practical setup sequence for Northern operations: pick the right internet type, build a stable network, standardize devices/accounts, and implement backups + security that survive outages and limited local support. Includes a “minimum viable stack” workflow and a quote-ready checklist so providers can price your setup without vague assumptions.
A North-ready sequence to get found and turn searches into real inquiries: fix listings first, standardize your NAP everywhere, publish a simple credibility page, add one clear conversion path, then build reviews/photos and basic tracking. Includes a 30-day launch checklist, monthly maintenance checklist, and a short “where to list” list (including Inuvik.info and WABA).
Arctic Business is brought to you by the Western Arctic Business Association (WABA)—a member-led organization that supports business growth across the region through partnerships, practical programming, and advocacy on the conditions Northern enterprises need to succeed.
