INTRODUCTION

The importance of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial culture!

2011: The Year of the Entrepreneur!

Which section catches your eye?

SUMMARY

A 2011 portrait of entrepreneurs in Quebec and the rest of Canada

• Exactly 1.7 times fewer entrepreneurs in Quebec than in the rest of Canada
• A more optimistic future for Quebec entrepreneurs as compared to 2010
• Still fewer businesses closing in Quebec than in the rest of Canada, but the gap is shrinking

Main findings

• A weaker entrepreneurial culture in many ways
• It is not so much language that explains why there are fewer Francophone entrepreneurs in Quebec, but rather the environment in which they are rooted. Quebec is experiencing an exodus of its entrepreneurial potential
• Major obstacles to overcome and future entrepreneurship: Quebec stands out due to its administrative burden
• Inexperience weakens Quebec entrepreneurship
• Lower growth and innovation ambition in Quebec
• Government services are more heavily solicited than in the rest of Canada, but help is more rarely allocated, dampening satisfaction with services received

1. THE GLOBAL PORTRAIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN QUEBEC AND THE REST OF CANADA (2011)

1.1 Quebec remains less dynamic in entrepreneurship than the rest of Canada

1.2 Status quo for Quebec business owners

1.3 A more optimistic future for Quebec entrepreneurs as compared to 2010

1.4 Still fewer businesses closing in Quebec than the rest of Canada, but the gap is shrinking

2. A LESS ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE IN QUEBEC THAN IN THE REST OF CANADA

2.1 A variety of key cultural aspects

2.2 On a positive note: Cultural bases provide leveraging

2.3 T he entrepreneur’s greatest strengths and weaknesses, in the public opinion 

3. WEAKER ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN QUEBEC: IS LANGUAGE the cause?

4. THE MAIN STUMBLING BLOCKS TO BUSINESS OWNERSHIP, OTHER THAN CULTURE

4.1 Not enough time and money, plus administrative burdens, cited as obstacles to business creation

4.2 Business closures due to personal reasons, lack of financial resources, and retirement 

5. LOWER AMBITION AND EXPERIENCE MARK ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN QUEBEC

5.1 Quebec venturers severely lack experience

5.2 Quebec business owners are less experienced: More entrepreneurs have owned their business for less than three years and there are fewer serial entrepreneurs

5.3 Less ambition to grow and innovate in Quebec than in the rest of Canada

5.4 Lack of money and time, entrepreneur age cited as the main obstacles to business growth

6. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO ENTREPRENEURS

CONCLUSION AND ACTION PLANS

Conclusion

Action plans

• Stimulating entrepreneurial culture: It’s everyone’s responsibility!
• Taking action on the obstacles and other weaknesses that characterize Quebec entrepreneurship: The responsibility of both the public and private sectors
• Listening to entrepreneurs to adapt government and private support services to their needs

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Appendix 1: The Quebec Entrepreneurship Index 2011

Survey Methodology