Fulfilling Legal Obligations

There is no name protection for either sole proprietorships or partnerships. However, with the exception of the circumstances outlined above, name approval from the BC Government is still required prior to registration. 

Incorporated businesses, societies, and cooperatives are guaranteed the exclusive use of their name. This name must be distinct and follow the rules outlined here in order to receive approval.

Platform used to register your sole proprietorship or partnership in BC. Requires a BC Registries Account.

Platform used to incorporate your business provincially. Requires setting up a Customer Profile ID. 

Platform used to incorporate your business federally. Requires an ISED Account.

After incorporating at the federal level, you still need to register in each and every province or territory where your corporation will conduct business. This is known as extra-provincial or extra-territorial registration.

A one-stop-shop for regulatory requirements that apply to Canadian businesses. Answer a few questions to quickly and easily find out which licences and permits might be relevant to your business.

Also known as an inter-municipal business licence, this type of licence allows certain businesses to operate across local government boundaries. There are currently 17 available in BC, including Metro West which covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta, and New Westminster.

If your business involves a regulated profession in BC (e.g., accounting firm, architectural consultant), specific certification and licencing requirements may also apply.

A plain-language guide that will help you to determine what types of sales tax, if any, you will be required to collect at point-of-sale.

A guide explaining the basics of provincial sales tax (PST) for anyone starting or operating a business in BC. If you have questions, you can contact the PST Branch at 1-877-388-4440 or CTBTaxQuestions@gov.bc.ca.

Everything a business owner might need to know when it comes to income tax, GST/HST, payroll deductions, business numbers, customs rates, and much more.

Use this helpful checklist to find out which tax obligations will apply to your business. 

A free and convenient online tax application in BC that provide 24/7 secure access to register and manage your account, file returns, and make payments.

Small business owners and self-employed individuals can request a free, personalized visit from a CRA liaison officer. They can help you to understand your tax obligations and provide recommendations on how to strengthen your bookkeeping system.

Links to all the forms needed to start and maintain any type of business or organization in BC, as well as information about the associated fees for each form and detailed instructions regarding how to submit them and make payments.

 Links and instructions regarding forms and filing requirements for federal corporations.

Learn about the additional legal record keeping obligations that apply to federal corporations under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). 

In order to start a business in BC, you must be legally entitled to work as a self-employed person in Canada. Check with the IRCC to ensure that you have the correct working status to work on your business in Canada.

Non-citizens are subject to the Investment Canada Act and must submit a Notification or Application for Review.

Residency requirements apply to federally incorporated businesses, so it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing a business structure.

Guide aimed primarily at non-Canadians looking for general information about laws, regulations and taxes that apply to starting and operating a business in BC.