Where to go when something in your business is stuck.
279 places to get help, from government, regulators and non-profits in British Columbia and Canada, sorted by the problem in front of you. Each one says what it is for in plain English. Links open the official site in a new tab. Last checked 22 SEP 2026.
Where are you stuck?
I need to register, incorporate or change how the business is set up.
Names, registrations, business numbers, licences and trademarks. Most of this is done online with BC Registries and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Registering the business
- BC Registries and Online Services Province of British Columbia (BC Registries) · BC · Fees apply
The provincial front door for registering and maintaining a BC business: name requests, incorporation, filings and business searches. Start here to find the right online system for your business type.
- Name Request Province of British Columbia (BC Registries) · BC · Fees apply
Search for and reserve a business name before you register a proprietorship or partnership, or incorporate. A request costs $30, or $100 for priority service in 1 to 2 business days; an approved name is held for 56 days.
- Request approval for a business name Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
Plain rules for choosing a name that will be approved, including required endings like Ltd. or Inc. It also explains how to incorporate under a number instead, which needs no name approval.
- Register a sole proprietorship or partnership Province of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
Step-by-step instructions for registering a business you own on your own or with partners, and for making changes later. Registration does not give you exclusive use of the name; only incorporating does.
- Incorporate a BC company (and register an out-of-province company) Province of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
How to incorporate, change a name, amalgamate or restore a BC company. The same page covers registering a company formed in another province or country (called extraprovincial registration) so it can do business in BC.
- Corporate registry forms, fees and information packages Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The current fee table and paper forms for every registry filing. Incorporating a BC limited company costs $350 plus a $30 name approval.
Keeping the company in good standing
- Maintaining your BC company (annual reports and records) Province of British Columbia (BC Registries) · BC · Free
A registry guide to what a company must file each year, including the annual report due within two months after each anniversary of incorporation. Missing annual reports can lead to the company being dissolved.
Other structures
- Start or run a co-operative Province of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
Steps to form a co-operative owned by its members, from name request to incorporation ($250), plus how to keep it registered and restore it.
- Start a society (non-profit) Province of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
How to incorporate and run a society under BC's Societies Act, using Societies Online. Incorporation costs $100 plus a $30 name request.
Choosing a structure
- Pros and cons of incorporating your business People's Law School · BC · Free
A plain-language BC guide to the choice between running as a sole proprietor and forming a corporation: liability, tax, cost and paperwork.
- Starting a business Government of Canada · Canada · Free
The federal step-by-step for new businesses: choosing a structure and name, registering, getting a business number and finding permits.
Federal registrations
- Get a Business Number Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
How to get the nine-digit Business Number the CRA uses for GST/HST, payroll and corporate tax accounts. BC incorporations usually receive one automatically; sole proprietors register themselves.
- Incorporate federally Corporations Canada (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) · Canada · Fees apply
Incorporating under the federal Canada Business Corporations Act instead of BC law. Worth considering if you plan to operate across several provinces; you still register in BC as an extraprovincial company.
- NUANS name search Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Fees apply
A Canada-wide search of existing business names and trademarks. It is required for federal incorporation and useful for checking a name is clear across the country.
Protecting your name and brand
- Register a trademark Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) · Canada · Fees apply
Search existing trademarks and apply to register your own. Registering a business name with BC does not give you trademark rights; this does.
Permits and business licences
- BizPaL permits and licences finder BizPaL (federal, provincial and municipal governments) · Canada · Free
Enter your business type and location to get a list of the permits and licences you may need from all three levels of government. BC and many BC municipalities take part.
- City of Vancouver business licences City of Vancouver · Municipal · Fees apply
Any organization doing business in or from Vancouver needs a city business licence. Apply, renew and check which business types need one.
- City of Surrey business licensing City of Surrey · Municipal · Fees apply
How to apply for, renew or change a business licence in Surrey.
- City of Victoria business licensing City of Victoria · Municipal · Fees apply
Every business in Victoria needs a licence. Licences run 16 January to 15 January, and a complete application takes about 10 working days.
- City of Kelowna business licences City of Kelowna · Municipal · Fees apply
A licence is needed to run any business in Kelowna, including home-based businesses. Apply online or at City Hall.
- Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence City of Vancouver (for Burnaby, Delta, New Westminster, Richmond, Surrey and Vancouver) · Municipal · Fees apply
One add-on licence that lets certain mobile businesses, such as trades and contractors, work in six Metro Vancouver cities without buying a licence in each. It costs $300 on top of your home city licence.
- Mobile business licences in BC Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
Explains how groups of BC municipalities share a single licence for businesses that work across communities. There is no province-wide licence; you apply through a participating local government.
Where to get help
- Small business in BC Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The province's small business hub, with government contacts, guides and templates, and a finder for grants and programs.
- Starting a business in BC: the start-up program Legatis Executive Partners · BC · Free
Enterprise-value thinking for a founder: the capital thresholds at day one, twelve months, two and five years, the milestones, how to run the business without you from the start, go-to-market, every start-up loan and grant in BC with its terms, the communities that help, and five calculators built for the stage.
- Start a business: the Province's seven steps Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The official guide: evaluate the idea, choose a structure, request a name, register or incorporate, permits through BizPaL, PST and GST, and hiring, with a link to each registry at every step.
I have a question about tax, or a letter from the CRA.
Federal tax runs through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). BC's sales tax (PST) and Employer Health Tax run through the Province. Free help exists for both.
Your CRA accounts
- My Business Account Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
The CRA's secure online account for owners, partners and directors. Use it to see and pay GST/HST, payroll and corporate tax balances, file returns and set up payment plans.
- Represent a Client Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
How your accountant or bookkeeper gets online access to your business tax accounts, and how you authorize them.
GST/HST
- When to register for GST/HST Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Most businesses must register once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. The page shows when you must start charging and how to count the threshold.
- Register for a GST/HST account Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
How to open a GST/HST account online, by phone or by mail, including voluntary registration before you reach the threshold.
- File a GST/HST return Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Filing options, deadlines and how to report a nil return.
BC provincial sales tax (PST)
- BC provincial sales tax (PST) Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The main PST page: what is taxable, how to charge it and how to report and pay. The general rate is 7%.
- Register to collect PST Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
Who must register to collect PST and how to do it online through eTaxBC. Registration is free and takes up to 21 business days to process.
- PST bulletins and guides Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
Plain bulletins on how PST applies to specific industries and situations, including the Small Business Guide to PST and the small sellers bulletin.
- eTaxBC Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The province's free online system for filing and paying PST and several other provincial taxes, including Employer Health Tax.
Payroll
- Payroll: deductions and remittances Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
The CRA's hub for employers: opening a payroll account, what to deduct for CPP, EI and income tax, when to send it in, and T4 slips.
- Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC) Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Enter an employee's pay and get the CPP, EI and income tax to withhold for each pay period.
- BC Employer Health Tax Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
A provincial payroll tax. Employers with BC payroll of $1,000,000 or less are exempt; between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000 the tax is 5.85% of the amount over $1,000,000; above $1,500,000 it is 1.95% of all BC payroll.
Corporate income tax
- Corporation tax rates and the small business deduction Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Federal and provincial corporate tax rates. For a Canadian-controlled private corporation, the federal rate on the first $500,000 of active business income is 9% after the small business deduction, and BC's small business rate is 2%.
- T2 corporation income tax return Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Who must file a T2, when it is due, and how to file and pay.
- Corporate tax instalments Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Whether your corporation must pay tax in instalments during the year, how to work out the amounts, and the due dates. Small corporations may qualify to pay quarterly.
Selling the business
- Capital gains deduction (lifetime capital gains exemption) Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
How owners can shelter gains when selling qualifying small business shares. The exemption was $1,250,000 for 2025 sales.
Tax credits and incentives
- SR&ED tax incentive program Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Tax credits for businesses doing research and development, which can include technical problem-solving in everyday products and processes. The page covers eligibility, how to claim and optional pre-claim approval.
- BC corporate tax credits Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The full list of BC credits a corporation may claim, including training, interactive digital media, film and television, and a new manufacturing and processing investment credit.
- BC manufacturing and processing investment tax credit Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
A new BC credit for corporations that buy new buildings, machinery or equipment used mainly for manufacturing or processing in BC, for spending after 31 March 2026.
- BC small business venture capital tax credit Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
A tax credit for investors who buy shares in eligible BC small businesses. Owners raising early-stage money can use it to make their offer more attractive to investors.
Free help from the CRA
- CRA Liaison Officer service Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Free, confidential one-on-one help from a CRA officer on your tax obligations, deductions and record-keeping, in person, by phone or online. What you discuss is not shared with other areas of the CRA.
- CRA resources for small and medium businesses Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
The CRA's collection of guides, checklists, recorded webinars and videos for business owners.
Fixing mistakes and disputes
- Voluntary Disclosures Program Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
A way to come forward and correct past errors or unfiled returns before the CRA contacts you, with possible relief from penalties and some interest.
- Taxpayers' Ombudsperson Office of the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson · Canada · Free
An independent office that reviews complaints about the service you received from the CRA. Use it after you have tried the CRA's own complaint process.
I want to find a grant or funding program.
Non-repayable funding from federal, provincial and regional programs. Most pay a share of a cost you would incur anyway, and most must be approved before you spend.
Finding funding
- Every grant, in one catalogue Legatis Executive Partners · BC · Free
The full catalogue of federal and BC grant programs we track — research and development, export, hiring, training, clean technology and regional funds — each with its terms, who it suits and when it was last checked. The entries below are the search tools and the local programs the catalogue does not carry.
- Business Benefits Finder Innovation Canada (Government of Canada) · Canada · Free
A free federal search tool. You answer a few questions about your business and it lists the federal and provincial grants, loans and services you may qualify for. Start here when you do not know which programs exist.
- B.C. funding and grants search Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The Province's searchable database of economic development funding. You can filter by subject, funding source and ministry to find provincial programs open to businesses, non-profits and communities.
Regional trusts
- Northern Development business programs Northern Development Initiative Trust · Regional · Free
Funding for small and mid-sized businesses in central and northern B.C. It includes rebates of up to $30,000 on business consulting and up to $50,000 for innovation projects in traditional industries. Applications are accepted year-round.
- Columbia Basin Trust business and job programs Columbia Basin Trust · Regional · Free
Programs for employers in the Columbia Basin (Kootenays). They include wage subsidies and training support for food producers, and short-term job creation. The Trust also runs a business advisory service and business lending.
- Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) ETSI-BC (formerly Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust) · Regional · Free
A regional trust for the Southern Interior. It funds local non-profit business support groups and accelerators to run programs for businesses, and pays for student internships with public colleges and universities. Owners usually benefit through a local partner rather than by applying directly.
Industry-specific funding
- B.C. tourism funding programs Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The Province's list of tourism funding. It includes the Destination Events Program, which pays up to 10% of the budget (maximum $200,000) for events that bring in overnight visitors. Businesses running events with budgets of $150,000 or more can apply.
Agriculture
- B.C. agriculture programs and services B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food · BC · Free
The Province's list of programs for farms and food processors. It covers business planning help, environmental farm plans, food safety and traceability, export support and income protection such as AgriStability. Call AgriServiceBC at 1-888-221-7141 to find the right program.
Energy and clean transportation
- Go Electric Fleet Charging Program Plug In BC (CleanBC) · BC · Free
Pays up to half the cost of buying and installing charging stations for a business fleet, and up to 75% for Indigenous organizations. It includes free advisory help with planning.
- Better Buildings BC CleanBC (Province of British Columbia) · BC · Free
A provincial hub for owners of commercial buildings. It has a search tool for energy-efficiency incentives and free energy coaches for small businesses. Use it before a renovation, equipment replacement or new build.
Indigenous business funding
- New Relationship Trust funding programs New Relationship Trust · BC · Free
B.C. First Nations funding that includes equity-match grants for First Nations entrepreneurs and community-owned businesses. Some programs are delivered through Indigenous lenders such as TACC.
I need to borrow or raise money.
Government-backed lenders, community lenders and the rules for raising money from investors in BC.
Bank and Crown lenders
- BDC business loans Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) · Canada · Repayable
The federal bank for entrepreneurs. It lends for starting, buying or growing a business, equipment, technology, working capital and commercial property. It often takes on more risk than a regular bank and works alongside your bank.
- Canada Small Business Financing Program Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Repayable
A federal guarantee that makes it easier for your own bank or credit union to lend to a small business with revenue of $10 million or less. You apply at your bank. Loans can cover equipment, leasehold improvements, property, working capital and a line of credit.
- EDC Export Guarantee Program Export Development Canada (EDC) · Canada · Fees apply
EDC guarantees part of a loan from your own bank so it can lend you more working capital for export sales, inventory or equipment. It is for Canadian businesses that sell, or plan to sell, outside Canada.
- FCC financing Farm Credit Canada (FCC) · Canada · Repayable
The federal agriculture lender. It finances farmland, equipment, buildings and operating costs for farms, agribusinesses and food processors.
- BDC Start-up Financing Business Development Bank of Canada · Canada · Repayable
Up to $150,000 for a business with twelve consecutive months in operation and generating revenue, with good credit and a reasonable personal investment. Interest only for up to the first twelve months; can be used for fees, a franchise, marketing and working capital.
Community and mission lenders
- Futurpreneur Startup Program Futurpreneur Canada · Canada · Repayable
Startup loans of up to $75,000 for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39, part of it co-lent by BDC. The loan comes with up to two years of mandatory one-on-one mentoring. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with experience in your industry. There are dedicated streams for Black, Indigenous and newcomer entrepreneurs.
- Community Futures loans Community Futures British Columbia · BC · Repayable
Local non-profit lenders in 34 offices around B.C., most of them outside the big cities. They make business loans to start-ups and existing businesses that may not qualify at a bank, and help with business plans and cash flow. You apply through your nearest office.
- Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program Community Futures British Columbia (Province of B.C. page) · BC · Repayable
Business loans, planning help, training and coaching for B.C. entrepreneurs with a disability or ongoing health condition who want to start, keep or grow a business. It is delivered through local Community Futures offices.
- WeBC business loans WeBC (formerly Women's Enterprise Centre) · BC · Repayable
Business loans for women entrepreneurs in B.C. who are starting, buying or growing a business, with free advising alongside. WeBC also delivers the national Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund in B.C. and runs free weekly loan information sessions.
- Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Repayable
Federal microloans of up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs, especially start-ups, sole proprietors and women from under-represented groups. The loans are made through non-profit lenders. In B.C. these include WeBC and Vancity.
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) with BDC · Canada · Repayable
Loans of up to $250,000 for Black business owners to start, grow or keep running a business. Applications are accepted year-round. You will need your business registration, recent financial statements and a business plan.
- Vancity business financing Vancity · BC · Repayable
A B.C. credit union that lends to small businesses, co-ops and social enterprises. It looks at community and environmental impact as well as credit. It offers start-up and growth loans, loans for women entrepreneurs, and growth capital for fast-growing B.C. firms.
- Vancity Startup and Growth Loan Vancity · Regional · Repayable
Up to $50,000 in a business's first year and $75,000 in years two and three, for businesses in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria and Sea-to-Sky, approved on the plan rather than the credit history. Needs a personal guarantee and a plan reviewed by BDC, Futurpreneur or WeBC, or a self-employment program completed.
- WEOC National Loan Program (delivered in BC by WeBC) Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada · Canada · Repayable
Loans of up to $50,000 for a business more than half women-owned with revenue of $2 million or less: fixed for the term at no more than prime plus 4%, up to five years, no security required, a 2% fee capped at $1,000. Needs a plan with two years of cash-flow projections.
Indigenous lenders
- Indigenous Financial Institutions directory National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) · Canada · Free
A map of Indigenous-run lenders across Canada. They offer business loans, non-repayable equity contributions from Indigenous Services Canada's Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program, and mentoring. Use it to find the lender that serves your area.
- All Nations Trust Company All Nations Trust Company · BC · Repayable
A 100% Indigenous-owned lender based in Kamloops that serves most of B.C. It offers business loans and access to grants and non-repayable contributions for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities.
- Tale'awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation (TACC) Tale'awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation · Regional · Repayable
An Indigenous lender for entrepreneurs in Coast Salish territory, Campbell River, Comox and Lil'wat. It makes business loans and delivers non-repayable equity programs, including the New Relationship Trust equity match.
- Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) NEDC · Regional · Repayable
The Indigenous financial institution for Vancouver Island since 1984: developmental lending, non-repayable contributions, free business advisory services, workshops and business awards for Indigenous entrepreneurs and community-owned businesses.
Raising equity
- Small business venture capital tax credit Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
B.C. investors who buy shares in a registered eligible B.C. small business, or in a venture capital corporation, get a 30% refundable tax credit. Owners use it to make an equity raise more attractive. The business must register before it takes the investment.
- Raising money for private and early-stage businesses British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) · BC · Free
The securities regulator's plain-language guidance on selling shares or other investments in a private company without a prospectus. It covers who you can raise from (friends, family, accredited investors), the forms to file and the mistakes to avoid. Read it before you take outside investors.
- Start-up crowdfunding rules British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) · BC · Free
Explains how a start-up can raise small amounts from the public through a registered online funding portal, using a short offering document instead of a prospectus. Read it before running an equity crowdfunding campaign.
- Eligible Business Corporation registration (30% investor tax credit) Province of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
How a BC company registers so its investors receive a refundable 30% provincial tax credit on their equity: 100 employees or fewer, at least $25,000 of equity, most wages paid in BC and most activity in a qualifying sector. It is what makes BC angels prefer a registered company.
When money is tight
- Farm Debt Mediation Service Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada · Canada · Free
Free, confidential financial review and mediation for commercial farmers who cannot pay their debts on time. A neutral mediator brings the farmer and creditors together to work out a plan. Call 1-866-452-5556.
I am hiring, paying or managing employees.
BC's Employment Standards set the minimums for most employees in the province. These are the official sources, plus the programs that help you find and train people.
The rules for employees
- Employment Standards (BC) BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
The province's plain-language guide to the Employment Standards Act: hours, overtime, vacation, statutory holidays and pay. Start here for any question about what you owe an employee.
- Minimum wage in BC BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
The current general minimum wage, which rose to $18.25 an hour on June 1, 2026, plus the separate rates for live-in caretakers, camp leaders and app-based ride-hail and delivery workers.
- Paid sick leave BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
Explains the five paid sick days a year that employees earn after 90 days on the job, including part-time and casual staff, and how to pay them.
- Leaves of absence BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
Lists the job-protected leaves an employee can take, such as pregnancy, parental, compassionate care and illness leave, and what the employer must hold open for them.
- Interpretation Guide to the Employment Standards Act BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
The Branch's own section-by-section explanation of how it reads the Act. Use it when the plain-language pages don't settle a question.
- Federal labour standards (Canada Labour Code) Employment and Social Development Canada · Canada · Free
Only for federally regulated businesses, such as trucking across provincial lines, banking, telecom and air transport. If that is you, these rules replace BC's.
Letting someone go
- Quitting, getting fired or laid off BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
Sets out notice and termination pay, temporary layoffs and final pay deadlines. Read it before you end anyone's employment.
- Employment standards complaints BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
How an employee files a complaint and what happens next, including investigation and mediation. Useful when an employee has raised a pay or hours dispute.
Hiring someone
- Pay transparency in BC Government of British Columbia · BC · Free
Every public job posting must show the wage or salary range, and you may not ask applicants what they were paid before. Employers with 50 or more employees must post a pay transparency report by November 1, 2026.
- Hiring employees in BC BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
What to do before a new hire starts: records to keep, hiring young workers, and the rules on employment agencies and foreign workers.
- Job Bank for employers Employment and Social Development Canada · Canada · Free
The federal job board. Post jobs at no cost and search candidate profiles; it is also where you advertise when applying to hire a foreign worker.
- WorkBC: hire employees WorkBC (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
The province's employer hub for posting jobs on the WorkBC job board and getting help from a local WorkBC Centre to find candidates.
Payroll
- Payroll for employers Canada Revenue Agency · Canada · Free
The CRA's guide to running payroll: opening a payroll account, deducting income tax, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI), remitting, and filing T4 slips.
- Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (PDOC) Canada Revenue Agency · Canada · Free
Works out the income tax, CPP and EI to take off a paycheque. Handy if you run payroll by hand or want to check your software.
- Record of Employment on the Web (ROE Web) Service Canada · Canada · Free
Where you issue a Record of Employment when an employee stops working or has a break in earnings. The employee needs it to claim EI.
Hiring from abroad
- Hire a temporary foreign worker (LMIA) Employment and Social Development Canada · Canada · Fees apply
How to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), the federal approval most employers need before hiring a foreign worker, including the advertising and wage rules.
- Global Talent Stream Employment and Social Development Canada · Canada · Fees apply
A faster route to hire highly skilled foreign workers, mostly in tech occupations, with a shorter processing target than a regular LMIA.
- Register to hire temporary foreign workers (BC) BC Employment Standards Branch · BC · Free
BC employers must register with the province before hiring most temporary foreign workers. Registration is free and takes about 20 minutes.
- BC Provincial Nominee Program: for employers WelcomeBC (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
How an employer supports a worker's application for permanent residence through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration stream. A BC PNP job offer does not need an LMIA.
- BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration WelcomeBC (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Fees apply
Streams for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start or buy a business in BC, and for companies bringing key staff to a new BC location.
Apprentices
- SkilledTradesBC for employers SkilledTradesBC · BC · Free
How to sponsor an apprentice in BC, what skilled trades certification means for your business, and which trades now require certification to work.
- Federal supports for skilled trades and apprentices Government of Canada · Canada · Free
The federal index of apprenticeship grants, loans and employer tax credits. Check here for any renewed federal hiring incentive for apprentices.
Human rights at work
- BC Human Rights Tribunal: employment BC Human Rights Tribunal · BC · Free
Explains an employer's duties under the BC Human Rights Code, including the duty to accommodate, and how a discrimination complaint against an employer proceeds.
- Responsibilities as an employer BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner · BC · Free
Plain-language guidance on preventing discrimination and harassment at work. The Commissioner also publishes a free employment equity toolkit on hiring, pay and accommodation.
- Bullying and harassment WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
Every BC employer must have a bullying and harassment policy and a way to report and investigate complaints. This page has the requirements, templates and training.
I need to understand workplace safety or insurance.
Most BC employers must register with WorkSafeBC. These resources explain what the rules require and where to get help meeting them.
Getting covered
- Apply for WorkSafeBC coverage WorkSafeBC · BC · Fees apply
If you hire workers in BC you must register with WorkSafeBC. The online application takes about 20 minutes; apply 30 days before your first hire.
- WorkSafeBC for small businesses WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
A starting point for small employers: registration, your safety duties, and what to do when someone is hurt. Includes a getting-started checklist.
- What coverage costs WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
How your premium is set from your industry rate and payroll, with the rate tables for each year. The 2026 average base rate is $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll.
Keeping people safe
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (searchable) WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
The full safety rules for BC workplaces with guidelines and policies, searchable by topic.
- Health and safety programs WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
What a written health and safety program must contain for your size of business, with templates.
- First aid requirements WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
How to do the required written first aid assessment and work out what kit, room and trained attendants your workplace needs.
- Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety · Canada · Free
Federal agency with fact sheets on almost any workplace hazard, from ergonomics to chemicals, plus low-cost courses.
- Technical Safety BC Technical Safety BC · BC · Fees apply
Regulates electrical, gas, boiler, elevator and refrigeration work. Check here for permits and licensed contractors when you install or alter equipment in your premises.
When someone is hurt
- Report a workplace injury or disease WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
How and when to report an injury, the employer's report deadline, and what happens with the claim.
- Employers' Advisers Office Government of British Columbia · BC · Free
Independent provincial advisers who help employers with WorkSafeBC claims, premiums, safety orders, penalties and appeals.
Business insurance
- Business insurance basics Insurance Bureau of Canada · Canada · Free
Explains the common types of business insurance, such as property, liability and business interruption, and questions to ask a broker.
- General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) General Insurance OmbudService · Canada · Free
Free, independent help resolving a dispute with your property or liability insurer after you have gone through the insurer's own complaint process.
- File an insurance complaint BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) · BC · Free
The provincial regulator of insurance companies. File a complaint here about an insurer's conduct; it does not mediate individual claims but tracks problems in the market.
- Insurance Council of BC Insurance Council of British Columbia · BC · Free
Licenses insurance agents, brokers and adjusters in BC. Check that your broker is licensed or complain about one.
I have a legal question, a contract or a dispute.
Free and low-cost legal information, how to find a lawyer, and the tribunals and courts that handle business disputes in BC.
Finding the law and plain guides
- BC Laws Province of British Columbia (King's Printer) · BC · Free
The official, free, up-to-date text of every BC statute and regulation.
- Clicklaw Courthouse Libraries BC · BC · Free
A directory of plain-language legal information and free or low-cost legal help across BC, sorted by topic.
- Small business and the law People's Law School · BC · Free
Plain-language BC guides for owners on incorporating, contracts, leasing space and protecting intellectual property.
Contracts and leases
- Written contracts you need for your small business People's Law School · BC · Free
Which agreements a small business should have in writing, such as with employees, partners and suppliers, and why.
- Leasing a space for your business People's Law School · BC · Free
A plain guide to commercial leases in BC: lease types, the terms worth negotiating and when to get advice. Commercial tenants do not get the protections residential tenants have, so the lease itself governs.
- Builders liens People's Law School (Dial-A-Law) · BC · Free
How contractors and suppliers who have not been paid can file a lien against the property, and the holdback owners must keep back. Under BC's Builders Lien Act the holdback is 10% and a lien must usually be filed within 45 days of the job being finished.
Getting a lawyer
- Legal Referral Service Access Pro Bono · BC · Fees apply
Books a free 15 to 30 minute first consultation with a lawyer, notary or paralegal, after which you can hire them at an agreed rate. A $25 booking fee applies to online self-booking.
- Lawyer Directory Law Society of British Columbia · BC · Free
Check that a lawyer is licensed in BC and see any discipline history. The Law Society does not make referrals.
Disputes and collecting money
- Civil Resolution Tribunal Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) · BC · Fees apply
BC's online tribunal for small claims up to $5,000, such as unpaid invoices or contract disputes, and for disputes involving societies and co-operatives. Start with its free Solution Explorer.
- Small claims from $5,001 to $35,000 Provincial Court of British Columbia · BC · Fees apply
How Small Claims Court handles claims from $5,001 to $35,000, and what to expect at each stage.
- Small claims procedures, forms and fees Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
How-to guides, forms and an online filing assistant for starting or answering a small claims case.
- Find a mediator Mediate BC · BC · Paid
A searchable roster of qualified mediators for settling a dispute with a customer, supplier, landlord or partner without going to court.
Company law
- Business Corporations Act Province of British Columbia (BC Laws) · BC · Free
The BC law governing companies: directors' duties, shareholder rights, records and annual reports.
Privacy, marketing and consumers
- Privacy guidance for private organizations (PIPA) Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC · BC · Free
Guidance on BC's Personal Information Protection Act, which sets how businesses collect, use and protect customer and employee information, and what to do after a privacy breach.
- PrivacyRight Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC · BC · Free
Short webinars, videos and podcasts that walk small businesses through their privacy obligations.
- Canada's anti-spam law (CASL) Government of Canada (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) · Canada · Free
The rules for sending marketing emails and texts: you need the recipient's consent, must identify yourself and must offer a way to unsubscribe.
- Deceptive marketing practices Competition Bureau Canada · Canada · Free
What counts as misleading advertising, pricing or online reviews, and how to stay within the law or report a competitor.
- Consumer Protection BC Consumer Protection BC · BC · Free
BC's regulator for consumer protection law, including rules on contracts, cancellations and debt collection that apply when you sell to the public.
Intellectual property
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) · Canada · Fees apply
Official information and applications for trademarks, patents, copyright and industrial designs.
Employers and human rights
- Human rights duties BC Human Rights Tribunal · BC · Free
What BC's Human Rights Code expects of employers and businesses serving the public, including the duty not to discriminate or retaliate, and how the complaint process works.
Unfair treatment by government
- BC Ombudsperson Office of the Ombudsperson of BC · BC · Free
Investigates complaints that a provincial ministry, agency or local government treated you unfairly. It does not handle complaints about private businesses.
I need a permit or licence for my industry.
If your work is regulated, one of these bodies licenses or inspects it. Start with BizPaL to see every permit your business needs.
Finding what you need
- BizPaL permits and licences finder BizPaL (federal, provincial and municipal governments) · Canada · Free
Lists the permits and licences for your type of business and location from all levels of government. A good first check before any of the regulators below.
Food businesses
- Food service permits (Vancouver Coastal Health) Vancouver Coastal Health · BC · Fees apply
Restaurants, take-outs and caterers need an annual health permit before opening. Apply to your local health authority; this page covers Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore, Sea-to-Sky, Sunshine Coast and central coast.
- Requirements for new food businesses (Fraser Health) Fraser Health · BC · Fees apply
Forms and steps for getting health approval or an operating permit for a food business in the Fraser region, including food safety plans.
- Food premises (Interior Health) Interior Health · BC · Fees apply
How to get food premises approval in the Interior, including temporary markets and foods that need other agencies' licences.
- FOODSAFE Province of British Columbia · BC · Paid
BC's food handler training program. Food service operators must hold FOODSAFE or an equivalent certificate.
- Safe Food for Canadians licence Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Canada · Fees apply
A federal licence needed if you make, package or store food to sell into another province, or import or export food. Includes an interactive tool to check whether you need one.
Liquor and cannabis
- Liquor and cannabis licensing Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (Province of BC) · BC · Fees apply
Apply for or change a liquor or cannabis licence or a special event permit, and get the required Serving It Right or Selling It Right training.
Licensed trades and sectors
- Licences from Consumer Protection BC Consumer Protection BC · BC · Fees apply
Some businesses need a provincial licence on top of a city licence, including telemarketers, travel agents, debt collectors, payday and high-cost lenders, home inspectors and funeral providers.
- Technical Safety BC Technical Safety BC · BC · Fees apply
Issues permits and contractor licences for electrical, gas, boiler, elevating and other technical work. Use it to apply for a permit or check a contractor is licensed.
- Residential builder licensing BC Housing (Licensing and Consumer Services) · BC · Fees apply
General contractors, developers and building envelope renovators must hold a residential builder licence, renewed every year, before building new homes in BC.
Vehicles and transport
- National Safety Code certificate Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (Province of BC) · BC · Fees apply
Businesses operating heavier commercial vehicles or buses need a National Safety Code certificate and must keep driver and vehicle safety records. Apply online and check your carrier profile here.
- ICBC commercial vehicle insurance Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) · BC · Paid
Autoplan options for business vehicles, from a single work truck to a fleet (Fleetplan). Buy through an Autoplan broker.
- Passenger Transportation Board Passenger Transportation Board · BC · Fees apply
Licenses taxis, ride-hail, limousines, shuttles and inter-city buses in BC. You need its approval before carrying passengers for pay.
Land and environment
- Agricultural Land Commission Provincial Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) · BC · Fees apply
Decides what can happen on land in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Check here before running agri-tourism, events, retail or processing on farmland.
- Waste discharge authorization Province of British Columbia (Ministry of Environment) · BC · Fees apply
Permission needed to release waste, emissions or effluent into the environment. The page lists which activities need one and how to apply.
Products and measurement
- Consumer product safety for industry Health Canada · Canada · Free
Duties for businesses that make, import or sell consumer products, including keeping records, reporting safety incidents and handling recalls.
- Measurement Canada Measurement Canada (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) · Canada · Fees apply
If you sell by weight, volume or length, your scales, pumps and meters must be approved and inspected. Find the rules and authorized service providers here.
I want more customers: a website that works, marketing, a brand, a sales process.
The free tools behind local search and reviews, free courses in digital marketing and selling, the associations and networks that put a business in front of customers, the rules every advertiser has to follow, and where the market data is. Read with the marketing, website and brand guides.
Being found online
- Google Business Profile Google · Global · Free
The free listing that appears on Google Search and Maps when someone searches for what you do near them: hours, photographs, services, posts, messaging, bookings and the reviews. For a storefront or a service business it is the single most important local-search tool, and most profiles are incomplete. Google says customers are far more likely to consider a business with a complete profile.
- Google Search Console Google · Global · Free
Shows which searches bring people to your website, which pages Google cannot read, mobile problems and page speed (Core Web Vitals), and lets you submit a sitemap. Free, and the first thing to connect after the website goes up.
- Google Analytics Google · Global · Free
Free measurement of website visitors, where they came from, which pages they read and what they did. It is how the visitors-a-month and enquiries-a-month figures in the Business Development Plan get counted.
- Bing Places for Business Microsoft · Global · Free
A free business listing on Bing, which can be imported from a Google Business Profile in minutes, with links to Bing Webmaster Tools and Microsoft Clarity, a free tool that records how visitors move around a website.
- Yelp for Business Yelp · Global · Free
Claim the free business page, answer reviews and add photographs. Advertising on Yelp is paid and optional; the page itself is free, and restaurants and home services are found there.
- Google Trends Google · Global · Free
Free interest-over-time and region-by-region comparison of search terms, filtered to Canada or British Columbia: what people search for, when, and whether it is growing. Useful for seasonality and for naming a service the way customers say it.
Learning the craft
- BDC guides and templates: marketing, sales and export Business Development Bank of Canada · Canada · Free
Plain-language guides on branding, digital marketing, search, social media, online selling and boosting sales, with free downloads: a marketing plan template, a sales and marketing toolkit and an export checklist. BDC's Advisory Services offer paid consultants in marketing and sales.
- Google Skillshop Google · Global · Free
Free courses and certifications in Google Ads (search, display, video, shopping and measurement), Google Analytics and the Google Business Profile, at your own pace.
- Grow with Google Canada Google Canada · Canada · Free
Free online courses and live workshops for small businesses on building an online presence, selling online and using digital tools, with Grow with Google coaches in Canada.
- HubSpot Academy HubSpot · Global · Free
Free self-paced courses and certifications in digital marketing, social media, content, email, search and inbound sales, two to eight hours each. A free grounding in sales fundamentals now that the Canadian Professional Sales Association has closed.
- Meta Blueprint Meta · Global · Free
Free courses, webinars and videos on marketing with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, from setting up a business page to running ads. Certification exams are paid and optional.
- Digital Main Street guides Digital Main Street · Canada · Free
Free how-to guides, a digital assessment and case studies for main-street businesses on websites, online selling, social media and search. Its funded programs (ShopHERE, Future Proof) are mostly for Ontario; it ran BC's intake for the Canada Digital Adoption Program, which closed in 2024.
- Destination BC Tourism Digital Academy Destination BC · BC · Free
A free self-guided digital marketing program for BC tourism businesses with a website: eight one-hour videos and templates on search, website usability, content, email and analytics, ending in a digital marketing plan. Register any time.
- BC chapter of the American Marketing Association (BCAMA) BCAMA · BC · Paid
A community of several hundred BC marketers: events, a mentorship program and awards. A place to find a marketer or learn from one, rather than a course.
- Canadian Marketing Association CMA · Canada · Paid
Courses (a ten-week digital marketing strategy course, among others), the Chartered Marketer designation, guides, and an individual affiliate program with member pricing and some free events.
Brand and design
- Canadian Trademarks Database Canadian Intellectual Property Office · Canada · Free
Search every active Canadian trademark by word, owner or design before putting money into a name, a logo or signage. Free and without an account; registering a trademark is a separate, paid step.
- Canva, free plan Canva · Global · Free
A browser design tool with a free plan that covers social posts, flyers, simple logos and a basic brand kit, with templates. The paid plans add brand management for a team. Enough for a small business until it hires a designer for the brand package.
Local networks and associations
- BC Chamber of Commerce: find your local chamber BC Chamber of Commerce · BC · Paid
The network of more than a hundred local chambers and boards of trade. A local chamber gives a member directory, networking, member-to-member offers, events and a voice with the municipality; the provincial body runs Small Business Week and a newsletter.
- Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC) BIABC · BC · Free
If your business is inside a Business Improvement Area (there are more than twenty in Vancouver alone), the BIA runs district marketing, events and promotions funded by a property levy you already pay. BIABC lists them and runs an annual conference.
- City of Vancouver: business and economy City of Vancouver · BC · Free
The City's business page, which took over from the Vancouver Economic Commission when it was wound down: licences, the BIA program, city programs and links to provincial and federal help.
- Restaurants Canada Restaurants Canada · Canada · Paid
The foodservice association: research on what diners are doing, advocacy, the RC Show, group purchasing savings and a free newsletter. Independent-restaurant membership is a few hundred dollars a year.
- Retail Council of Canada Retail Council of Canada · Canada · Paid
The retail association: member research on retail conditions, benchmarking, training, events and BC advocacy updates. Fees are quoted on request.
- Canadian Franchise Association CFA · Canada · Paid
The Franchise Canada Show in Vancouver each autumn, weekly webinars including franchise marketing, a franchise directory and education for franchisors and prospective franchisees.
- Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) World Trade Centre Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade · BC · Fees apply
A five-day cohort program that produces an export plan with expert coaching, run for Greater Vancouver, the South Fraser, the Interior, Vancouver Island and Indigenous cohorts. Several hundred BC companies have been through it.
- Procurement Assistance Canada Public Services and Procurement Canada · Canada · Free
Free seminars and webinars on selling to the federal government (an introduction to federal procurement, supplying professional services), reference sheets and personal help for smaller and diverse businesses, by email.
The rules of advertising
- The Canadian Code of Advertising Standards Ad Standards · Canada · Free
The industry's own code: accuracy, price claims and what “regular price” has to mean, comparisons, testimonials and advertising to children. It is the basis on which consumers complain about an advertisement.
- Telemarketing rules and the National Do Not Call List CRTC · Canada · Free
What any business that calls consumers to sell has to do: register with and honour the National Do Not Call List, keep its own do-not-call list, identify itself and call only in permitted hours. Existing customers and business-to-business calls have exemptions.
- Accessible British Columbia Act Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The 2021 Act and its regulation currently bind public-sector organizations; standards that may reach private businesses, including websites, are being developed. A business that sells to public bodies should build to the WCAG web accessibility guidelines now.
Knowing the market
- Financial Performance Data (business benchmarking) Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Free
Average income statements and expense ratios for more than a thousand industries, by province and revenue band, including what businesses like yours spend on advertising and marketing as a share of sales. Enter your own figures and it compares them. The closest thing to an official Canadian marketing-spend yardstick.
- Canadian Business Counts Statistics Canada · Canada · Free
Counts of business locations by industry, size and place, down to a community, updated twice a year. Use it to size the competition in a town, or the number of businesses of a kind you could sell to.
- Trade Data Online and Canadian Industry Statistics Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Free
Custom import and export reports for Canada and the United States with two hundred countries, by product or industry, for finding export markets and gauging competition; the sister site gives each industry's size, establishments and performance.
I want to sell more, export or bid on government work.
Free export advice, the government tendering sites, and the rules on advertising and marketing.
Exporting
- Trade Commissioner Service Global Affairs Canada · Canada · Free
Federal trade officers in Canada and abroad who give market advice, find contacts and help with foreign regulations and tariffs, including US tariff questions.
- Export Development Canada (EDC) Export Development Canada · Canada · Fees apply
The federal export credit agency. Offers insurance if a foreign buyer doesn't pay, financing for export sales, and free market guides.
- EDC TradeInsights Export Development Canada · Canada · Free
Free articles, country guides and economic outlooks to help you size up a foreign market before you sell there.
- Get help exporting (Export Navigator) Trade and Invest BC · BC · Free
The province's export services, including Export Navigator's free one-on-one guidance for new exporters and the Trade Accelerator Program.
Importing and customs
- CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) Canada Border Services Agency · Canada · Free
The online portal importers use to account for and pay duties and taxes on commercial goods. Set up your account before your next shipment.
- Guide to importing commercial goods Canada Border Services Agency · Canada · Free
Step-by-step guide for businesses bringing goods into Canada: business number, classifying goods, paying duties and using a customs broker.
- Exporting commercial goods Canada Border Services Agency · Canada · Free
What you must report to Canadian customs when shipping goods out of the country, and which goods need permits.
Selling to government
- BC Bid Government of British Columbia · BC · Free
Where the BC government and many public bodies post contracts for bid. Register as a supplier to get notices and submit bids.
- CanadaBuys Public Services and Procurement Canada · Canada · Free
The federal government's official site for tenders and contract awards. Search and download bid documents at no cost.
- MERX MERX (private) · Canada · Paid
A private tender service that collects public and private tenders across Canada. A free basic account shows some agencies' notices; full BC access costs about $50 a month on annual billing.
Selling in BC
- Buy BC BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food · BC · Free
Lets BC food and beverage producers put the Buy BC logo on qualifying products and join provincial buy-local promotions.
Marketing rules
- Deceptive marketing practices Competition Bureau Canada · Canada · Free
The rules on false or misleading advertising, drip pricing, fake reviews and environmental claims. Read before you launch a price promotion or make 'green' claims.
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Free
When you need consent to send marketing emails and texts, what every message must include, and how to report spam.
Shipping
- Canada Post for small business Canada Post · Canada · Fees apply
Free Solutions for Small Business account with shipping discounts, plus tools for addressed and neighbourhood mail campaigns.
I need to protect my systems or customer information.
Plain-language security guides written for small businesses, where to report fraud, and what BC's privacy law asks of you.
Cyber security
- Cyber security for small business Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · Canada · Free
Canada's lead cyber agency's advice for small businesses: the basic steps that stop most attacks, and what to do after an incident.
- Baseline cyber security controls for small and medium organizations Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · Canada · Free
A checklist of 13 practical controls, such as backups, updates and strong sign-in, sized for organizations under 500 employees.
- CyberSecure Canada certification Standards Council of Canada · Canada · Paid
A national certification showing customers you meet the baseline security controls. You are assessed by an accredited certification body; certification lasts two years.
- Get Cyber Safe guide for small businesses Communications Security Establishment (Get Cyber Safe) · Canada · Free
A short 10-step guide to securing devices, networks, accounts and staff habits, written for owners without an IT department.
Scams and fraud
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (RCMP, OPP, Competition Bureau) · Canada · Free
Warnings about current scams aimed at businesses, such as fake invoices and CEO impersonation, and how to report one.
- Report Cybercrime and Fraud RCMP National Cybercrime Coordination Centre and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre · Canada · Free
The national online system, launched in November 2025, for businesses to report a cyber attack or fraud. Reports go to police.
Privacy
- Privacy for private organizations (PIPA) Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC · BC · Free
Guidance on BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which covers most BC businesses: what you may collect, how to store it and how to answer access requests.
- Report a privacy breach (BC) Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC · BC · Free
What to do when personal information is lost or stolen, with a tool to assess the risk and a form to report the breach to the Commissioner.
- Privacy for businesses (PIPEDA) Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada · Canada · Free
Guidance on the federal privacy law (PIPEDA), which applies to federally regulated businesses and to personal information that crosses provincial or national borders.
- Privacy breaches at your business Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada · Canada · Free
Businesses covered by PIPEDA must report serious breaches to the federal Commissioner, notify affected people and keep a record of every breach. This page explains how.
I want advice, a mentor or training.
Organizations whose job is to help owners, much of it free: advisors, mentors, workshops and peer networks.
Talk to an advisor
- BC Business Advisory Services Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
Free business advice from provincial advisors on starting, running and growing a business, in English or French. Call 1-855-698-2157 or email Business.Advisors@gov.bc.ca. Calls go to voicemail and advisors return them on weekdays. The page also lists contacts for BC Bid, Buy BC and Trade and Invest BC.
- Community Futures office finder Community Futures British Columbia · BC · Free
Finds your local Community Futures office. There are 34 across B.C., including four that serve Indigenous entrepreneurs. They offer free or low-cost business advice, planning help and training as well as loans. They are especially useful in rural and small-town B.C.
- WeBC advising and training WeBC (formerly Women's Enterprise Centre) · BC · Free
Free one-on-one business advising, a free Business Foundations workshop series, and self-paced courses on finances, HR, marketing and raising money. It is for women entrepreneurs anywhere in B.C.
- BDC consulting Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) · Canada · Paid
Paid consulting projects for small and mid-sized businesses on strategy, operations, technology, marketing, finance, exporting and more. Consultants assess the business, build an action plan and help carry it out. BDC can finance the fee.
- Start-up communities, accelerators and mentors Legatis Executive Partners · BC · Free
Every BC start-up community we track, in one place: free advisors, guides and seminars, the tech accelerators and university venture programs, angel networks, and the peer groups and events — each with what it offers and who it suits.
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S. entrepreneurship services S.U.C.C.E.S.S. · Regional · Free
Advisory and training for newcomer and underserved women entrepreneurs, and WorkBC self-employment services at its centres in the Lower Mainland.
Free guides and research
- BDC articles and tools Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) · Canada · Free
Free business plan templates, loan and ratio calculators, courses, webinars and practical articles on starting, buying, running and selling a business. No account is needed for most of it.
- Small Business Accelerator UBC Library (Irving K. Barber Learning Centre) · BC · Free
A free UBC Library site for B.C. owners. It has industry guides, market research tools, business-planning help and a directory of B.C. business support organizations. Use it when writing a business plan or sizing a market.
- Vancouver Public Library small business guide Vancouver Public Library · Regional · Free
Free market research and company databases, demographic and mapping tools, and business e-books and courses, all available with a VPL library card. InfoAction offers paid custom research. Other B.C. public libraries offer similar databases.
- CFIB tools and resources Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) · Canada · Fees apply
Hundreds of guides and tools on payroll, minimum wage, employee or contractor rules, taxes and government programs. Members also get one-on-one help from business counsellors by phone (1-833-568-2342).
Networks and peers
- Find a local chamber of commerce BC Chamber of Commerce · BC · Fees apply
A directory of the local chambers of commerce and boards of trade across B.C. Local chambers offer networking, events, group benefits and a voice with local government. Membership fees vary by chamber.
- B.C. business organizations directory Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The Province's list of industry associations and business support groups, including groups for women and under-represented owners. Use it to find an association in your sector.
Exporting
- Trade Commissioner Service export advice Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada) · Canada · Free
Free help from federal trade commissioners in Canada and abroad. Services include market assessments, vetted contacts and problem-solving in foreign markets. It is for businesses that are ready to export. Contact your regional office to request services.
- Get help exporting Trade and Invest BC (Province of British Columbia) · BC · Free
The Province's export help for B.C. businesses: market information, export programs and connections to B.C. trade offices abroad. Call 604-775-2100.
Tech and growth companies
- Venture Acceleration Program Innovate BC · BC · Fees apply
Coaching from experienced entrepreneurs-in-residence to help B.C. tech start-ups prove their business model and grow. It is delivered by regional partners across the province. Contact programs@innovatebc.ca or 1-800-665-7222. Innovate BC no longer lists the program on its own site (September 2026); it now runs, where it runs, through regional partners such as Innovation Island, and Victoria's version is paused. Confirm with your regional partner.
- New Ventures BC programs New Ventures BC · BC · Free
A non-profit that runs the annual New Ventures BC start-up competition, accelerator programs, help with intellectual property (patents and trademarks), and capital-readiness training for B.C. tech founders.
- Innovate BC programs Innovate BC · BC · Free
The current programs for BC technology companies: microgrants that open in intakes, the Innovator Skills Initiative hiring subsidy, AccelerateIP, and Ignite for industry-and-academic research. The Venture Acceleration Program is no longer listed here and runs, where it runs, through regional partners such as Innovation Island.
Indigenous entrepreneurs
- Indigenous business resources in B.C. Province of British Columbia · BC · Free
The Province's list of financing, training and support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and community businesses in B.C.
- Indigenous Tourism BC Indigenous Tourism BC · BC · Free
Free training, business development and marketing support for Indigenous tourism businesses and communities in B.C. It includes supervisor, hospitality and safety courses and a stakeholder program.
Buying or selling a business
- Venture Connect Venture Connect (Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot) · Canada · Fees apply
A non-profit business brokerage run by Community Futures. It helps rural and small-town owners value and sell their business, and helps buyers find and buy one. Use it for succession planning.
I am planning to sell, buy or hand on a business.
Guides on succession and valuation, and the tax rules that apply when a business changes hands.
Planning your exit
- Sell your business and plan your succession BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
BDC's hub for owners thinking about selling or handing over the business, with a transition kit, articles and tools.
- Selling Your Business guide BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
A free downloadable guide to preparing a business for sale: finding buyers, raising value and building your advisory team.
- Succession planning articles BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
Articles on the main exit options, family succession and timelines. BDC suggests starting 18 to 24 months before you want to leave.
- Succession Start Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) · Canada · Fees apply
Articles, FAQs and a getting-started checklist for owners planning to sell or pass on the business. More detailed checklists are for CFIB members.
What is it worth
- Business Valuation guide BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
A free guide to how valuators price a business, the methods they use, and how value differs from the price a buyer will pay.
- Find a Chartered Business Valuator CBV Institute · Canada · Free
Directory of Chartered Business Valuators (CBVs), the accredited valuation professionals, searchable by location and specialty.
Tax on the sale
- Capital gains deduction (lifetime capital gains exemption) Canada Revenue Agency · Canada · Free
How an owner claims the lifetime exemption on gains from selling qualifying small business shares, and the limit for each year. Talk to your accountant well before a sale.
- Intergenerational business transfer election (Form T2066) Canada Revenue Agency · Canada · Free
The election parents and children file so a sale of the family company to the next generation is taxed as a capital gain, under either an immediate (3-year) or gradual (5 to 10-year) transfer.
Selling to employees
- Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) Canada Revenue Agency · Canada · Free
Explains how owners can sell to their employees through a trust, which the employees don't have to fund from their own savings, and the tax treatment of the sale.
Family business
- Family Enterprise Canada Family Enterprise Canada (formerly Canadian Association of Family Enterprise) · Canada · Paid
National non-profit for family business owners and their advisors, with peer groups, learning events and a directory of Family Enterprise Advisors.
The business is short of cash or behind on debt.
Where to go early, before a problem becomes a crisis: payment arrangements, licensed insolvency trustees and non-profit counselling.
Tax debts
- Arrange to pay CRA debt over time Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Set up a payment plan for GST/HST, payroll or corporate tax you cannot pay in full, online through My Business Account or by phone.
- Call the CRA if you can't pay in full or on time Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Phone numbers for CRA collections and what to have ready. Calling early gives you more options and helps you avoid further penalties and enforcement.
- Cancel or waive penalties and interest Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Canada · Free
Ask the CRA to cancel penalties or interest when events beyond your control, or inability to pay, stopped you meeting a tax obligation. Includes a self-check tool.
- Help with money owed to the BC government Province of British Columbia (Receivables Management Office) · BC · Free
Contact point for businesses behind on provincial debts such as PST or Employer Health Tax, to discuss payment options.
Other debts
- WorkSafeBC collections WorkSafeBC · BC · Free
What WorkSafeBC can do when premiums go unpaid, including liens and judgments. Call its Collections department early if you cannot pay.
Insolvency
- Options when you owe more than you can pay Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) · Canada · Free
The federal regulator's overview of the legal options for people and businesses in serious debt: proposals to creditors, restructuring and bankruptcy.
- Division I proposals (for businesses) Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) · Canada · Free
How a business can offer creditors a binding deal to repay part of what it owes and keep operating, under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. There is no limit on the amount of debt.
- What is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee? Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) · Canada · Free
Licensed Insolvency Trustees are the only professionals who can file a proposal or bankruptcy for you. Most do not charge for a first consultation.
- Find a Licensed Insolvency Trustee Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) · Canada · Free
The official directory of all active Licensed Insolvency Trustees, searchable by name or location.
Personal debt help for owners
- Credit Counselling Society Credit Counselling Society · Canada · Free
A non-profit offering free, confidential debt counselling, with offices across BC. For owners whose personal finances are strained, not for company debts.
- Credit Counselling Canada Credit Counselling Canada · Canada · Free
The national association of accredited non-profit credit counselling agencies. Use its locator to find one near you and avoid for-profit debt settlement firms.
Managing cash flow
- 5 tips to manage your cash flow BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
Practical steps to ease a cash squeeze: adjusting payment terms with suppliers and customers, stretching loan payments and projecting cash ahead.
- BDC Advisory Services BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Paid
Paid consulting from the federal business bank on finances, operations and turnarounds, for owners who want outside help working through a hard stretch.
I need numbers on my market, industry or wages.
Free official data: industry benchmarks, local demographics, wage rates and economic conditions.
Your market
- Census Profile, 2021 Census Statistics Canada · Canada · Free
Population, age, income, language and household numbers for any BC city, town or neighbourhood. Use it to size a local market.
- Statistics Canada Statistics Canada · Canada · Free
Canada's national statistics agency: consumer prices, retail sales, household spending, jobs and industry data.
Business conditions
- Business Data Lab Canadian Chamber of Commerce with Statistics Canada · Canada · Free
Short, readable reports on what Canadian businesses say about costs, hiring, sales and outlook, based on Statistics Canada survey data.
Your industry
- Canadian Industry Statistics Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Free
Industry profiles with average revenue, costs and profit for small businesses in your sector. Use it to benchmark your numbers.
- Key Small Business Statistics 2025 Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · Canada · Free
Annual snapshot of how many small businesses exist, how many survive, and how many people they employ, by province.
BC numbers
- BC Stats economic statistics BC Stats (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
BC's statistics office: business counts, employment by industry, trade and regional economic data.
- BC Small Business Profile dashboard BC Stats (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
Interactive dashboard of BC small business numbers by region and industry, with downloadable data.
Wages and workers
- Search wages Job Bank (Employment and Social Development Canada) · Canada · Free
Low, median and high hourly wages for any occupation in your region of BC. Use it to set a fair pay range for a job posting.
- WorkBC Career Profiles WorkBC (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
Profiles of more than 500 occupations with BC wages, required training and expected job openings.
- BC Labour Market Outlook WorkBC (Government of British Columbia) · BC · Free
The province's 10-year forecast of job openings by occupation, industry and region. Shows where hiring will be hardest.
Money and rates
- Bank of Canada policy interest rate Bank of Canada · Canada · Free
The current policy rate and upcoming announcement dates. Your bank's prime rate, and so most business loan rates, moves with it.
- CMHC housing data Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation · Canada · Free
Rents, vacancy rates and housing starts by BC community. Useful if you build, rent or supply housing, or need to know what your staff pay to live nearby.
Research help
- Small Business Accelerator UBC Library · BC · Free
Free BC industry research guides and a directory of BC business support organizations, put together by the UBC Library.
Running the business is wearing me down.
Owning a business is demanding. These services are free and confidential. If you are in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 at any time.
If you are in crisis
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline · Canada · Free
Call or text 9-8-8, any time of day, to talk with a trained responder. If your safety is at risk, call 9-1-1.
- HelpStartsHere Government of British Columbia · BC · Free
The province's directory of mental health and substance use services. It also lists BC's crisis line (1-800-784-2433) and the 310-6789 mental health support line.
- Hope for Wellness Helpline Government of Canada · Canada · Free
Counselling and crisis support for Indigenous people, 24 hours a day, by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat.
Support and counselling
- BounceBack Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division · BC · Free
A free coaching program, by phone or online, for adults dealing with low mood, stress, worry or anxiety.
- Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division · BC · Free
BC's main mental health non-profit. Find local branches, programs and plain-language information on stress, burnout and anxiety.
- HeretoHelp BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information · BC · Free
Self-help screening tools and fact sheets on stress, sleep, depression and substance use, written for British Columbians.
Everyday help
- bc211 United Way British Columbia · BC · Free
Call or text 2-1-1, day or night, for referrals to community, social and government services anywhere in BC, in over 240 languages.
For business owners
- Mental health for entrepreneurs BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) · Canada · Free
Practical advice for owners on spotting burnout and managing stress, drawn from BDC's surveys of Canadian business owners.
Programs change. Check before you rely on one.
This directory is general information, not advice. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility change, often each year, so confirm the details with the provider before you apply or act. Legatis is not affiliated with these organizations.
Found a broken link, or know a resource that belongs here? Email admin@lepstrategy.com and we will check it.
Not sure which of these applies to you? Ask us. We will point you to the right place, even when it is not us.