Seminar Centre FAQ

Common questions about our centre can be found in the Small Biz Education Centre FAQ and common questions about business startups, regulations, business structures and more can be found at Small Business Startup FAQ.

Send us your question at: askus@smallbizeducation.ca

• How do I register for a seminar or workshop?
• How do I book a room at the Small Biz Education Centre?

• What do I need to open a business bank account?
• Is it legal to run a business from the location I've chosen?
• Who issues business licenses?
• Will registering my business protect its name?
• What do I need to buy wholesale products for my business?
• What do I need to know before planning a home-based business?
• I plan on working as a contractor. Do I need to register my business?
• How and why do I register for GST?
• Do I need to register for PST?

Small Biz Education Centre FAQ

You can register online by going to our Seminars area (click on Information & Registration for the seminar you want to register for) or you can call the Seminar Line at 604.775.5477

Please call Bridget Field at [604] 775.5086 or email her at: bfield@smallbizedication.ca

Small Business Startup FAQ

In order to open a business bank account, most banks will require proof that you have registered your business with the Corporate Registrar's office.

In most cases, cities and municipalities can give you information on the zoning requirements for the area in which you wish to set up business.

The municipal business license office issues business licenses; this is something that most businesses will need to acquire before starting up.

Registering your business name as a sole proprietorship or a general partnership does not protect the name. You can protect your business name:

Provincially, by setting it up as a corporation
Federally, by setting it up as a corporation

Wholesalers need to see your Social Services Tax (PST) number. You can get one by contacting the office for a form (1-877-388-4440), or by registering a PST number online at www.bcbusinessregistry.ca.

It's advisable to research the regulations for the area where you live. Some types of home businesses may not be allowed in your area of the city (zoning is determined by the municipality's business license office.

Some businesses require industrial space. For example food products can only be manufactured in an industrial kitchen that has been inspected by the local health unit. Therefore, a catering business would need access to an industrial kitchen.

Be forewarned, not disappointed. Check with your municipal business license office before expending any effort or unnecessary expense.

If you plan to operate a self-employed, non-incorporated business under your own name, without adding anything to your name, (eg: John Smith), then there is no need to register the business with the corporate registrar. Keep in mind that in order to open a business bank account, most banks require proof that your business is registered either as a sole proprietorship, or as a corporation.

If you decide to add something to your name (eg: John Smith Services), then you would need to register it. (Note that registering the name does not necessarily protect it.)

Depending on the kind of work you are doing, you may require a business license. It is best to check with your local municipality to make sure that you are fulfilling requirements.

It is possible to register a GST number at any time, however it becomes mandatory at the point that you reach 30,000 dollars worth of gross sales in any consecutive 4 quarters (basically any one-year period). You cannot charge GST unless you are registered for GST.

CRA contact info: toll free: 1-800-959-5525 web site http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca .

The PST (social service tax) is a provincial sales tax administered by the Consumer Taxation Branch. You are required to register as a vendor and collect PST on your taxable sales and leases if you sell goods at retail, lease goods as a lessor, provide legal services, provide taxable services (for example, repairs to goods), or provide telecommunication services. For more information, phone 604 660-4524 in Vancouver or toll-free at 1-877-388-4440 elsewhere in Canada, or check out the website: http://www.rev.gov.bc.ca/ctb/.