Statistics show that it is small and medium-sized companies that are responsible for a large segment of the economic growth across Alberta - even in a province where oil and gas giants play a dominant role.
Businesses that employ less than 10 employees account for 74 per cent (106,000) of all companies with staff in Alberta.
Bump that employee number up to companies with less than 50 workers and that represents 95 per cent (135,000) of all businesses with employees in the province, according to Alberta Economic Development (AED).
And small business is getting bigger - at least their numbers are.
Based on the latest AED data covering the period from 2000 to 2005, the number of small businesses employing less than 50 employees has grown by eight per cent.
"Small businesses are a very important component of our business base," says Adam Legge, director of research and business information for Calgary Economic Development.
"I'd say it's one of the key areas that drives innovation and growth in the economy. While big business has a significant economic impact in its own right, it's a small business that typically grows faster and stronger."
Legge notes while Calgary is known for its large number of head offices, it is also a strong centre for small business.
"We have the highest number of small businesses per capita in all of Canada," he says, referring to a Bank of Montreal study.
"The EnCanas, the Imperials, the Shells, for every one of those that starts or relocates here, there's 10 small companies - people with new or innovative ideas - that open or move to Calgary," says Legge. "Small business has the ability to be a little more nimble and more responsive, which makes them ideal for the Calgary economy."
In Edmonton, small business also plays an important role, says Jackson von der Ohe, chair of the board of directors of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.
"They're the unsung heroes of our local economy," he says, noting that these companies are generally thriving in the city's strong economy.
"They're busy and optimistic, but they're feeling the same tensions we feel everywhere - the tensions of a good opportunity horizon," says von der Ohe.
"It's not the opportunity that's restricting the growth, it's the opportunity to staff up to service that growth."
The comment is echoed by von der Ohe's Calgary counterpart, Heather Douglas, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
"Calgary is booming. The one dark cloud looming is the labour shortage. We've had a number of successful companies who had been in business a number of years that have had to shut their doors," says Douglas.
However, that's how events such as the upcoming Small Business Week can help companies, she adds.
"It's up to the entrepreneur to find a better way to get the work done and build a newer mousetrap with fewer bodies," says Douglas. "I think it's an exciting opportunity and certainly we welcome small entrepreneurs to come and join us to learn and celebrate their colleagues' successes."
Calgary's Small Business Week Expo, which takes place from Oct. 17-19 at the Mount Royal College Centre for Continuous Learning, features a series of seminars from starting to growing a small business.
William Taylor, founding editor of the business magazine Fast Company, opens the activities with a keynote speech on how small companies and their leaders may not be able to out-muscle the establishment, but can out-think the establishment.
Edmonton's Small Business Week runs Oct. 23-27 and events include a seminar on retention and succession planning in a multi-generational workplace, along with a business mixer.
Both cities will cap their weeks with respective Small Business Award functions.
Darrell Holowaychuk, vice president of Axe Music, with stores in both Edmonton and Calgary, was an award winner last year.
Nominated for its Edmonton operation, Axe won in the category of 10 to 50 employees, taking one of the three Small Business Owner of the Year awards from the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce - the others being for companies with under 10 employees or for more than 50 staff members.
"When we won (in 2005) it was our 25th year. To go from building a business from two guys in a garage, to be recognized by our peers is very gratifying," says Holowaychuk.
More importantly, he says, "it provided our staff with a sense of pride. When you look at the employees, they're a big part of what grew our business. It's recognition for the work they've done. As you get bigger, it's no longer (just about) the owners - it's the people you have, they're the faces, they're the ones dealing with the customers."
Winning brought additional recognition and exposure, he adds. "It's recognition that can't be bought and really helps the brand recognition in the marketplace."
The Small Business awards are important, adds von der Ohe, noting that his comment also applies to other chambers across the province.
"The chamber is proud of small businesses. We appreciate the contributions they make to our community. This is our way to show them we care about them and that we value those contributions."
Web Watch: www.sbwalberta.ca
www.edmontonchamber.com (Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)
