BUSINESS
The Secret to Small-Business Success
What it really takes to turn an entrepreneurial dream into reality.
By Waheeda Harris
ACCORDING TO “KEY SMALL BUSINESS STATISTICS”, a Government of Canada report, Alberta is the province with the most small businesses per capita. We are leaders in small business development with 135,978 businesses as of 2024, including 2,314 new small businesses launched that year. Starting a small business is a dream for many, but what does it take to make that dream come true?
While having the industry knowledge, passion and drive is a starting point, there remains a lot of groundwork and preparation. It can take six months to a year to get from concept to paying customers — and a lot of paperwork and planning. For two small business owners, the journey came with both a formidable learning curve and great rewards.
“We are leaders in small business development with 135,978 businesses as of 2024, including 2,314 new small businesses launched that year.”
Praetorian Studios founder Peter Milne took an unusual path to entrepreneurship. After a successful career in the Canadian Armed Forces, Milne embarked on a new path. He pursued a diploma in game development in 2022 at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, but unfortunately, at the time many of the major gaming companies were downsizing staff.
“I felt like I was flying into the unknown,” said Milne. He realized that could hinder his post-graduation employment opportunities, so he seized the chance to pivot. Milne enrolled in a business certificate program at NAIT, adding 100 more hours of classes, while still pursuing his game development diploma.
By expanding his skill set, Milne planned to launch his own gaming industry studio and work with fellow graduates wanting jobs in Alberta’s gaming industry. “My family settled in Edmonton, so it was a natural choice to start the studio here,“ explained Milne. “There is a very collaborative ecosystem supported by mentor groups and accelerator groups that makes it favourable for small game studios.”
In January 2024, Milne launched Praetorian Studios. His mission was to attract investors and create narrative-driven games with a retro aesthetic and modern mechanics. To start, he knew he needed outside expertise to navigate the basic building blocks of a business, and he found the help of an AMA Business Registry Specialist (BRS) to be a vital resource. “Emily [Walker] at the Edmonton office walked me through the incorporation process,” recalls Milne.
Peter Milne, founder of Praetorian Studios.
Peter Milne, far right, with his core team of developers at his first convention — Game Con Canada — in Edmonton, June 2024. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF PRAETORIAN STUDIOS
Milne needed guidance with the trademark process for his business name, and again with setting up a corporate minute book containing all the essential documents of the company’s history. “I didn’t even know I needed a minute book!” says Milne.
As many small business owners quickly discover, Milne found himself wearing many hats and responsible for more aspects of the business than he’d anticipated. Some were within his area of expertise, some were things he could manage but weren’t the best use of his time, and some were outside of his realm. He needed assistance to navigate, manage, plan for and meet all of those demands while keeping his focus on business development.
With so many moving parts, Milne recommends new business owners define their role — what responsibilities they want to handle and what should be delegated or contracted out. “It can be worth it to pay an expert to do something that might take you longer to figure out — bookkeeping, for example. It will save you from burning out, and let you focus on other priorities, like product development or obtaining funds.”
Milne also says having an ongoing relationship with AMA has been key as his business grows. “Emily has kept the door open, so I can ask questions at any time and seek advice for the future.”
“I now have more flexibility with my business plan for whatever happens in the future.”
Dr. Josh Konu had a much different path to founding his own practice. In 2021, right after earning a chiropractic degree from the University of Western States, in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Konu was hired in Edmonton as a chiropractor, and set to establish himself in the city’s health community. His experience working as a practitioner for an employer was not what he wanted — he was steadily growing his patient list, but not achieving the career growth he desired.
With a wealth of clinical experience and several degrees, Dr. Konu was in the perfect position to establish his own practice. Entering into a partnership with a psychologist, Dr. Konu opened Invicta Performance in 2022, in Edmonton’s Windermere neighbourhood.
Dr. Konu wanted to remove as many barriers as possible between people and the care they need, so the space had to be welcoming, accessible and functional for both patients and practitioners. “Most of our team came through patient referrals or friends who believed in what we were building,” says Dr. Konu.
Dr. Josh Konu, founder of Invicta.
Big care for a little patient — Dr. Konu at work in his Edmonton practice. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF INVICTA
“I met with Kristen Mah from [AMA’s BRS] to register my paperwork,” he recalls. “She asked me many questions, [such as] ‘How many shareholders? Are you considering a holding company?’ The experience with Mah helped Dr. Konu to ensure that his business was not only structured in a way to support his current needs, but also to think of possibilities for the future.
Dr. Konu needed support through the trademark process for his business names and licensing, and needed to learn more about assets, liabilities, risk management and business succession. “I now have more flexibility with my business plan for whatever happens in the future.” In January 2025, Dr. Konu opened a second Invicta Performance location in west Edmonton, with a team of two registered massage therapists, two psychologists and a physiotherapist.
After going through the experience, Dr. Konu advises aspiring entrepreneurs on this approach: “Lead with purpose, not just product. If your ‘why’ is strong, everything else from branding to staffing to decision-making gets a lot clearer.”
Starting a business involves plenty of groundwork, and it’s a major investment of both time and money. It requires administration, legalities and paperwork to set up the necessary business ecosystem and infrastructure. Building the right team is also essential, and solid advice on where to start and how to proceed increases your chances of success and avoiding missteps. By leveraging the right resources, entrepreneurs can lay the groundwork for success, growth and long-term sustainability. AMA
AMA MEMBERSHIP: BUSINESS AND BEYOND
Entrepreneurs not only have access to AMA’s Business Registry Specialists for support in developing small business — but can also also leverage their memberships for savings and benefits that can help make things easier while getting things off the ground.
Members can sign up for automatic vehicle registration renewal; obtain photo ID, an Alberta health card or driver’s licence; get auto, home, renters, health and life insurance, and benefit from AMA’s driver education programs, roadside assistance, travel, online and in-store discounts and rewards.
