How to Start Things in Newfoundland and Labrador

There is no business name registry — sole proprietors skip the name step

Newfoundland and Labrador does not have legislation governing a business name registry, the Registry of Companies says. That means a sole proprietor or partnership does not register a trade name with the province the way you do elsewhere: there is simply nothing to file. If you incorporate, you do deal with the registry — you request name approval and file articles of incorporation, a notice of registered office, and a notice of directors. Skipping the name step does not exempt you from the rest of starting up: CRA business number accounts, WorkplaceNL if you hire, and any municipal or sector licences still apply.

Source: Registry of Companies: About the Registry

Incorporating a for-profit company costs $300

The Registry of Companies charges a $300 corporation fee to incorporate a for-profit company in Newfoundland and Labrador ($70 for a not-for-profit). Local incorporations can file online through the province's Companies and Deeds Online system instead of mailing paper forms. A company formed outside the province that carries on business in Newfoundland and Labrador must register as extra-provincial: $560 with share capital, $260 without.

Source: Government Services: Commercial Registration FAQ

Minimum wage is $16.35 an hour, reset every April

Newfoundland and Labrador's minimum wage is $16.35 an hour, effective April 1, 2026, with the minimum overtime wage at $24.53 an hour. The rate is adjusted every April 1 under the Labour Standards Regulations, tied to changes in the national Consumer Price Index, so the next move lands April 1, 2027. The province does not run a separate liquor-server or student rate: every employee gets at least the general rate.

Source: GovNL: Minimum wage increase, April 1, 2026

Hire workers and you must register with WorkplaceNL within 30 days

Once you become an employer in an industry within the scope of the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act, you must complete the employer registration application and return it to WorkplaceNL within 30 days. Coverage is typically backdated to the date you first employed workers, so late paperwork does not save you money — it adds a penalty of $50 to $2,000 per assessment year. Annual employer statements are due every February 28, with the same penalty scale for late filing.

Source: WorkplaceNL: Employer Registration procedure 201.00