Free Legal Information for Saskatchewan Entrepreneurs: Inside WESK's Know Your Business Program

If you've thought about leaving the corporate world to start your own business but felt overwhelmed on where to start, there's a new resource designed with you in mind.

I'm happy to share that I'm currently working with Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) to support their Know Your Business program, a free legal information initiative built specifically for women entrepreneurs and small business owners in Saskatchewan.

What Is the Know Your Business Program?

Know Your Business is a two-phase initiative designed to demystify the legal side of running a business. The goal is straightforward: protect businesses from common legal pitfalls and help entrepreneurs make informed decisions about their legal requirements. 

The first phase is a series of live monthly webinars where Saskatchewan lawyers explain business obligations and answer real questions in real time. Topics include contracts, lease agreements, trademarks, intellectual property, business structures, the legal distinctions between employees and independent contractors, and the process of buying or selling a business. These sessions are free to attend and offer something genuinely valuable: direct real-time access to credible legal information from qualified professionals, in a setting that is accessible and low-pressure.

The second phase, currently in development, is a self-paced e-learning course made up of short, practical modules, each under 30 minutes. These lessons are built directly from the legal information provided by lawyers, questions Saskatchewan business owners are actually asking, and will include downloadable worksheets you can apply in your own business.

Why Credible Legal Information Matters

One of the most common and costly mistakes entrepreneurs make is acting on secondhand legal information, whether from a well-meaning friend, an online template, generative AI, or advice that may apply in another place but not in Saskatchewan. Business law varies by jurisdiction, and the decisions you make early, about your business structure, your contracts, your employees, and your obligations as an employer, can have significant long-term consequences.

Programs like Know Your Business matter because they connect entrepreneurs with lawyers who understand Saskatchewan business law and can speak to the real regulatory and legal environment you'll be operating in. That kind of credible, jurisdiction-specific information is foundational to building a business on solid ground.

My Role in the Project

I'm transforming the webinar content into a 10-module on-demand e-learning course that will be free to access this year. That means taking Saskatchewan lawyer-sourced legal information and reshaping it into something clear, structured, and accessible for entrepreneurs at any stage.

As a lawyer and consultant, I bring a particular focus to making sure the legal information in this course is not only accessible but accurate and grounded in Saskatchewan law. Clear language should never come at the expense of legal precision, and that balance is something I take seriously in this work.

This project also aligns with a broader value I hold: quality legal education should be inclusive and available to those navigating the bold transition into business ownership, particularly women and underrepresented entrepreneurs who have historically had less access to professional legal guidance.

Who Is This For?

Know Your Business is designed for anyone considering entrepreneurship, launching a startup, growing a side hustle, or running an established small business in Saskatchewan. If starting or scaling a business is on your horizon for 2026, this program is a practical and trustworthy place to start building your legal foundation.

You can learn more and register for upcoming webinars at wesk.ca/programs-services/know-your-business.

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Alanna is a lawyer, consultant, and educator who works with organizations to create custom trainings and educational materials. For more on this, see her consulting services page.