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Great North Business Consulting

Practical help for Canadian small businesses

More time for the business you built.

We help Canadian small businesses simplify the busywork, strengthen their online presence, and connect the tools they already use.

See what we could simplify

Who we are

A practical partner for the work behind the work.

Most small businesses don't need a big technology project. They need the enquiry that came in on Saturday to get an answer, the invoice to go out on time, and a website that does its job while they're busy doing theirs.

We look at how things actually run today, then improve the parts that cost you the most time — with better processes, a stronger website and marketing, connected tools, and AI where it genuinely helps. Then we make sure you and your team are comfortable running it.

More about how we workGreat North Business Consulting logo with mountains, a lake and the northern lights

Plain English

We explain what we'd change and why, without jargon or hype.

Your tools first

We start with what you already pay for before suggesting anything new.

People stay in charge

Automation handles the routine. You keep the judgement calls and the relationships.

Training is part of the work

We train owners and team leads on whatever we set up, and on using AI tools sensibly and safely in your own business. In-person team workshops and on-site content visits — photos, video or website content captured at your location — can be discussed separately.

What we help with

Recognise any of these?

The everyday problems that quietly cost small businesses the most time.

From the mountains to the desk

What would you like to make easier?

Choose your industry and a frustration. We'll show how it often works today, how it could work, and what should stay with a person.

1. Your industry
2. A common frustration

Matched against our list of common problems by keywords — not analysed by AI, and not sent anywhere.

Pick a frustration to see an example.

Choosing an industry tailors the wording and the objects on the desk.

Try it yourself

Start with what's bothering you.

Three ways to explore before you talk to anyone. Nothing here requires an account, and nothing you type is sent anywhere unless you choose to send it with an enquiry.

Improvement library

Small changes, explained properly.

Each example shows the before and after, what you'd provide, and what still needs a person.
Explore all 17 examples

Small business AI briefing

AI, explained for your business.

A few checked stories at a time, with what they mean in practice — and an honest view on whether to act.
Read the briefing

  • Google (The Keyword blog)

    Worth watchingour assessment

    New Gemini tools for small business owners (opens the original source in a new tab)

    What was reported

    Google announced a business area inside the Gemini app that brings together branding, finance and customer-insight tasks. It can connect to Google Business Profile, Google Ads and Workspace, plus apps such as Shopify, Wix, Xero, Canva and Dropbox. Owners can upload a brand kit so generated images stay on-style, and turn spreadsheets and receipts into charts. Google says the rollout is gradual and global.

    Our view: If you already use Google's tools, some marketing and finance tasks may become easier inside software you have. Connecting business apps to an AI assistant also means deciding what it's allowed to see.

    MarketingProductivityDocumentsOriginal source

  • Zensurance press release (GlobeNewswire, via BNN Bloomberg)

    Low priorityour assessment

    Most Canadian Small Businesses Haven't Felt AI's Impact, Survey Shows (opens the original source in a new tab)

    What was reported

    An online survey of 1,000 self-employed Canadians, run for small-business insurer Zensurance in June 2026, found that about a third felt AI had little or no effect on their business and over a quarter weren't sure how it applied to them. A minority reported clear productivity gains or savings, and relatively few planned to invest in AI this year.

    Our view: If AI hasn't changed much for you yet, you're in the majority. The businesses getting value tend to start with one specific, repetitive task rather than a general goal of “using AI”.

    ProductivitySkills and trainingOriginal source

  • Future Skills Centre

    Worth watchingour assessment

    Bridging the AI Skills Gap in Small and Medium-Sized Organizations in Canada (opens the original source in a new tab)

    Project page; the underlying report is dated September 2025.

    What was reported

    Research from the Diversity Institute and Magnet at Toronto Metropolitan University, published through the Future Skills Centre, finds that skills — not cost — are a major barrier to AI adoption in Canadian SMEs. Few small firms report access to formal AI training, and many staff who use AI at work receive little guidance. The authors recommend practical, workplace-based training and clear internal policies.

    Our view: The gap is less about buying tools and more about people knowing how to use them well and safely. Short, practical training on your own tasks tends to pay off more than another subscription.

    Skills and trainingOriginal source

Tell us what you'd like to make easier.

A few short questions about your business. We'll read every answer properly and reply personally — no automated sales sequence.