How to Start Job Hunting in Canada
Canada-specific job hunting guide: Job Bank, Indeed and LinkedIn, settlement employment services, resume conventions, and how to avoid the usual traps.
Starting out in British Columbia
How to Start Things in British Columbia
Everything on this page genuinely applies in British Columbia. Alberta licensing guides and Ontario/Toronto-specific guides are left out, so what remains is directly useful. Start with the four BC-specific rules that trip up new businesses, then browse the guides and tools.
Starting out in British Columbia: four rules worth knowing
Registering a sole proprietorship costs $70 all-in
In British Columbia, sole proprietorships register under the Partnership Act through BC Registries. The fee schedule is simple: $30 for the name approval request, then $40 to register the proprietorship — $70 for the pair. Registration lets the public identify and locate the person behind an unincorporated business; it is the reason the Partnership Act requires it.
Source: BC Registries: registration of proprietorship (gov.bc.ca)
Hiring workers? You are required by law to register with WorkSafeBC
The moment you hire workers, WorkSafeBC registration becomes a legal requirement, not a nice-to-have. The fastest way to register is online through worksafebc.com, and sole proprietors without employees can apply for optional personal coverage separately. Sort this out before your first hire's first day, not after.
Source: WorkSafeBC: registration application (form 180C)
Selling taxable goods or services? You need a PST number — GST is not enough
British Columbia runs its own sales tax alongside the federal GST. If you sell or lease taxable goods, or provide taxable services in the ordinary course of your business, you must register with the Ministry of Finance to collect and remit PST — a CRA GST registration does not cover it. Registration is online through eTaxBC. And note a fresh change: Budget 2026 expanded PST to certain professional services, including accounting, architecture, engineering, and security, effective October 1, 2026.
Source: BC government: sales tax updates (gov.bc.ca)
Building new homes? You need a BC Housing licence before construction starts
In BC, anyone who builds, arranges, or oversees most of the work on a new home needs a residential builder licence from BC Housing before construction begins, and must arrange home warranty insurance. That covers developers and general contractors alike. The application fee is $600, set by the Homeowner Protection Act Regulation — and building without a licence can bring fines or prosecution.
Source: Our BC contractor licence guide
Free tools
Free toolSole Proprietor or Incorporated: Which Fits You? (Quiz)
Five questions, no signup: find out whether to start as a sole proprietor or talk to an accountant about incorporating in Canada.
Try it → Free toolPlumbing Startup Cost Estimator (Canada)
Add up your startup costs for a plumbing business in Canada: registration, insurance, van, tools, and more. Free, no signup.
Try it → Free toolPlumbing Business Startup Checklist (Canada)
Thirteen steps from apprentice to first paid job: licensing, registration, insurance, and pricing. Printable and tick-offable. Free, no signup.
Try it → Free toolPlumbing Business First-Year Cash-Flow Planner (Canada)
Month-by-month cash in and out for your first year: one-time startup costs, monthly expenses, and when paying work starts. Free, no signup.
Try it →Guides that apply in British Columbia
Everything below is genuinely applicable in British Columbia — province-specific guides from elsewhere are left out.
How to Start a Cleaning Business in Canada
Start a cleaning business in Canada: register your name, get a CRA business number, sort insurance and WSIB, price jobs, and land your first clients.
How to Get a Contractor Licence in BC
The BC Housing residential builder licence: who needs one, licence types, qualifications, the $600 application, home warranty insurance, and renewal.
How to Start Getting a Cheap Heat Pump in Canada
Heat pumps cost $10,000-$25,000 installed, but rebates can cut that in half. Federal and provincial programs running in 2026, and how to stack them.
How to Register a Sole Proprietorship and Get a GST/HST Number in Canada
Start a one-person business the simple way: provincial business-name registration, CRA business number, and exactly when the $30,000 GST/HST rule kicks in.
How to Start Building Credit in Canada
New to Canada or starting from zero? How Canada's credit system works: Equifax, TransUnion, secured cards, and the habits that move your score.
How to Start Your Own Plumbing Company in Canada
From apprenticeship to journeyperson to business owner: licensing in BC, Ontario and Alberta, the Red Seal, registering your business, and insurance.