Starting or expanding a small business

A sole proprietorship, registering a partnership, incorporating your business, or amalgamating corporations each have pros and cons. Find out which is best for you.

Find the right business type for you
Province of British Columbia

Compare business types
Province of British Columbia

Do market research

Identify your target market and location, know your industry and competitors, monitor trends, and forecast your costs and revenues.

Get help:
Paid research services
InfoAction – Vancouver Public Library

Find programs and services for your business

Whether you’re looking for help to start or buy a business, increase capital, hire more employees, or sell internationally, find support for your goals.

List of resources
Province of British Columbia

Canada Business Benefits Finder
Government of Canada

Get support

Finance

Explore funding options, including grants from the BC and Canadian governments.

Get government financing

Create your own list of financing programs
Innovation Canada

Find business grants, loans, tax credits, wage subsidies, and other financing
Government of Canada

Get funding for technology startups
Innovate BC

Register

Register your business to prepare for various aspects of operations, such as web domain, taxes, employees, and trade.

Name your business

Request approval for a business name
Province of BC

Review rules for naming your business
Province of BC

Register your business

Register a sole proprietorship or partnership
BC Business Registry

Apply for incorporation
BC Registry Services

Set-up business banking

Open a business bank account. Ask your bank what documents to bring, such as your business registration certificate.

Register a web domain

Choose a domain name that's linked to your brand and easy to remember.

Find out how to choose, register, and protect your domain name
Government of Canada

Tip:
Claim usernames and pages on social media for your business.

Register for PST and GST

If you'll sell taxable goods or provide taxable services, you may need accounts to collect and remit taxes.

Register for PST
Government of BC

Register for GST
Government of Canada

Hire employees

If you'll have employees, you'll need to know about hiring, record-keeping, employment standards, payroll, and workplace insurance.

Find out your obligations
Government of Canada

Import and export goods

If you'll bring goods into Canada or send them internationally, you'll need to follow trade regulations, labelling rules, and tariffs and duties.

Learn about federal export and import controls
Government of Canada

Protect your ideas

How will you protect your innovation, design, and brand to prevent others from copying them – and stand out from your competition?

Learn about intellectual property and how to protect it
Government of Canada

Get insurance

Protect your business with appropriate coverage for everything from damaged stock to malpractice.

Apply for workplace insurance
Worksafe BC

Business insurance
ICBC

Locate and build

Select and set-up your location with confidence. Use market area data from Bizmap and expertise from our Commercial Renovation Centre.

Research and visit locations

Explore and compare data for key business districts. Check locations in person for potential customers and ease of access. If your potential location is within a business improvement area (BIA), ask the BIA how it helps attract customers.

Find business improvement areas

Read location tips
BDC

Check suitability before you lease or buy

Do zoning regulations allow your business to operate at the location you want? Does the space meet building code requirements? Were any past renovations done properly? Ask us.

Get help:
Contact our Commercial Renovation Centre

Look-up the zoning

Read lease negotiation tips
BDC

Build or renovate

Get the right permits so that your space and the improvements you make meet building, zoning, safety, and parking standards.

Check when you need a permit

Get help:
Contact our Commercial Renovation Centre

Permits and inspections you may need

All building and development permits

All commercial business permits

Inspections are needed at different stages of construction based on the complexity of your project.

Learn about and book inspections

Licences

You need a business licence to operate in Vancouver – whether it's commercial, industrial, home-based, or out-of-town.

Business licences

Tips

You can apply by in person, email, and mail.
Include all required documents with your application to avoid a delay in processing.
Your business licence may need engineering, fire, health, and police approvals before it's issued.
Business licences expire every year on December 31.

Apply for a business licence

Renew and manage your business licence

Trades contractors and construction professionals

Save time and money with a business licence that lets you work in Vancouver plus Burnaby, Delta, New Wesminster, Richmond, and Surrey.

Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence (IMBL)

Residential landlords

You need a rental property business licence to rent your home.

Long-term rental
(30 days or more)

Short-term rental
(less than 30 days)

Bed and breakfast

Home-based and online businesses

Don’t need a commercial space to run your business? You may be able to run your business from home.

Check home-based business requirements

Food service

All food service businesses need an annual permit, including restaurants, take-outs, caterers, and mobile food service providers.

Apply for a food service permit
Vancouver Coastal Health

Liquor service

To sell or serve alcoholic drinks, you need a liquor licence. Meet our licence coordinator to discuss your application.

Get application and contact details

Commercial vehicles

To use a vehicle for business purposes, you need an annual commercial vehicle licence.

Get application and fee details

Food trucks

Sell food in public spaces with a vending permit.

Apply for a stationary permit

Apply for a mobile permit

Apply for a park and beach permit

Bike couriers and taxis

Transport people or goods in Vancouver with a vehicle for hire licence.

Read the requirements and apply

Outdoor recreation

Run fitness activities in public parks and beaches with a seasonal private recreation permit.

Apply for a private recreation permit

Taxes

Add locations

You may want to keep track of your tax, payroll, and import / export accounts separately if you add services or staff, or add a location.

Opening more locations, branches, divisions
Canada Revenue Agency

Doing scientific research

You may qualify for federal or provincial tax credits to conduct experimental research and development.

Federal tax incentive program
Government of Canada

Provincial tax credit
Government of BC

Tax credits or exemptions

Check the list of available corporate income tax credits.

Corporate income tax credits
Government of BC

Did you find what you're looking for?

Guide to starting or expanding your small business

Plan

Lay the groundwork for starting or expanding your business with these useful articles, checklists, and templates.

Be sure you want this

Evaluate your idea

Decide on your structure