Key resources to help you start or expand your business in Vancouver.
Plan
Lay the groundwork for starting or expanding your business with these useful articles, checklists, and templates.
Be sure you want this
You need certain motivations, attitudes, and skills to run a small business.
Evaluate your idea
How do you know if your idea will be the next big thing? Here's what to think about before you start a business plan.
Some types of business aren't allowed in Vancouver, generally to protect human and animal rights.
Decide on your structure
A sole proprietorship, registering a partnership, incorporating your business, or amalgamating corporations each have pros and cons. Find out which is best for you.
Read an information sheet
Small Business BC
Get help:
Legal advice
Small Business BC
Do market research
Identify your target market and location, know your industry and competitors, monitor trends, and forecast your costs and revenues.
Follow a checklist
Small Business BC
Book a market research advisory session External website, opens in new tab
Small Business BC
Get help:
Paid research services
InfoAction – Vancouver Public Library
Prepare a business plan
Your business plan is vital for success and financing. It's your roadmap: your goals, strategies, target market, financial forecast, and much more.
Get support
Immigrant entrepreneurs
Skilled Immigrant InfoCentre External website, opens in new tab
Indigenous entrepreneurs
Small Business BC External website, opens in new tab
Entrepreneurs with disabilities
Community Futures Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program External website, opens in new tab
Women entrepreneurs
Women’s Enterprise Centre External website, opens in new tab
Young entrepreneurs
Finance
Explore funding options, including grants from the BC and Canadian governments.
Register
Register your business to prepare for various aspects of operations, such as web domain, taxes, employees, and trade.
Name your business
Get tips for choosing a name
Small Business BC
Register your business
Register a sole proprietorship or partnership
BC Business Registry
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 External website, opens in new tab
Government of BC
Register for GST External website, opens in new tab
Government of Canada
Get help:
Paid accounting advice External website, opens in new tab
Small Business BC
Hire employees
If you'll have employees, you'll need to know about hiring, record-keeping, employment standards, payroll, and workplace insurance.
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.
Read an import guide
Small Business BC
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 help:
Attend a live webinar
Small Business BC
Get insurance
Protect your business with appropriate coverage for everything from damaged stock to malpractice.
Apply for workplace insurance External website, opens in new tab
Worksafe BC
What you need to protect your business External website, opens in new tab
Small Business BC
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.
Identify your target market
Small Business BC
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
Build or renovate
Get the right permits so that your space and the improvements you make meet building, zoning, safety, and parking standards.
Get help:
Contact our Commercial Renovation Centre
Permits and inspections you may need
- Development permit
- Building permit
- Plumbing and gas permits
- Electrical permit
- Fire sprinkler permit
- Occupancy permit
- Sign permit
- Sign By-law user guides
- Sidewalk retail permit (patios, displays)
All building and development permits
All commercial business permits
Inspections are needed at different stages of construction based on the complexity of your project.
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.
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.
Residential landlords
You need a rental property business licence to rent your home.
Long-term rental
(30 days or more)
Home-based and online businesses
Do you only need an office to run your business, not a commercial space? You may be able to run your business from home.
Food service
All food service businesses need an annual permit, including restaurants, take-outs, caterers, and mobile food service providers.
Liquor service
To sell or serve alcoholic drinks, you need a liquor licence. Meet our licence coordinator to discuss your application.
Commercial vehicles
To use a vehicle for business purposes, you need an annual commercial vehicle licence.
Food trucks
Sell food in public spaces with a vending permit.
Bike couriers and taxis
Transport people or goods in Vancouver with a vehicle for hire licence.
Outdoor recreation
Run fitness activities in public parks and beaches with a seasonal 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 External website, opens in new tab
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 External website, opens in new tab
Government of Canada
Provincial tax credit External website, opens in new tab
Government of BC
Tax credits or exemptions
Check the list of available corporate income tax credits.
Corporate income tax credits External website, opens in new tab
Government of BC
