Why Supporting Canadian Business Tools Matters
We all know the importance of shopping local. It keeps money in our communities, supports small businesses, and strengthens the Canadian economy. But have you ever thought about where your business tools come from? Because that money circle isn’t really complete if we’re running Canadian businesses on foreign-owned platforms that take their cut and send it elsewhere.
Think about it—every time you send a customer to an international eCommerce platform, you’re not just paying their fees; you’re contributing to a system that’s designed to keep shoppers coming back to them, not to you. If you’re driving your own traffic to a site like Etsy, why are you paying them a commission? They didn’t earn it—you did. And when those customers check out, they’re immediately flooded with recommendations for mass-produced goods that take attention away from small makers. That’s not supporting small business. That’s keeping small businesses dependent.
That’s exactly why we built The Virtual Market—a website alternative made for Canadian small businesses. Instead of handing over commissions to companies that don’t prioritize Canadian makers, TVM provides a space that keeps your money here, with clear, transparent pricing and no surprise fees. And because we’re Canadian-owned and operated, we understand the biggest struggles of selling here—like high shipping costs, marketing challenges, and the constant pressure to “be everywhere” online. The Virtual Market was built to make selling online easier, without making you feel like you have to play the algorithm game just to be seen.
And we’re not the only ones out here making better tools for Canadian businesses. If you’re serious about keeping your dollars in Canada, here are a few other tools that can help you run your business more efficiently while supporting homegrown companies:
Hootsuite – A social media management tool built in Vancouver to help you schedule and optimize your posts across multiple platforms.
Wave – Free accounting software designed specifically for small businesses and freelancers, based in Toronto.
FreshBooks – Another fantastic Canadian accounting tool, offering invoicing, expense tracking, and more, all from their Toronto HQ.
Joist – If you’re in trades or contracting, this Ontario-based invoicing and estimating app makes it easy to send quotes and manage payments.
We talk a lot about supporting small businesses. But part of that is making sure the tools we use every day aren’t quietly funneling money out of our economy. Let’s complete the local money circle—because when we choose Canadian, we all grow stronger together.
