Register Your Business

On this page, you’ll find information on how to apply for a business name, and how to register with BC Registries and Online Services, WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Finance, and Canada Revenue Agency.

Review existing trademarks

Before naming your business, review existing trademark and intellectual property records. Choosing a name that infringes on the intellectual property of another business could result in legal action.

• To check names registered in B.C., see the Name Request
• To check Canadian federal trademarks, use the Canadian Trademarks Database
• If you intend to expand your business, consider checking databases across other provinces

Apply for a business name

Contact: BC Registries and Online Services

Once you've chosen a name, submit a name request application to BC Registries and Online Services.  They will check the availability of your business name and determine whether it is valid for registration.

You can submit a name request application in several places:

• Online: using BC Registries and Online Services’ Name Request
• In person: at Service BC
• By mail: download the desired Name Request form from the Forms and Fees page

Your business name may also require approval from:

• Your municipal hall
• The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, if you intend to serve alcohol

Once BC Registries and Online Services has processed your application for a business name, you will receive a Name Request Number, or NR number. Within 56 days, use this number to register your business with BC Registries and Online Services (see below).

Register your business

You must register your business with the following government agencies:

BC Registries and Online Services

Contact: BC Registries and Online Services

Within 56 days of receiving your Name Request Number (NR number), you'll need to register your business as either a:

• Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships: register at www.bcregistry.gov.bc.ca
• Incorporations: register at B.C. Corporate Online

Once registered, you will receive a Business Number (BN). Your BN can be used as an identifier for remitting taxes to government, Canada pension premiums, EI premiums, and making WorkSafeBC payments.

WorkSafeBC

Businesses that hire workers (full-time, part-time, casual or contract) are required by law to register with WorkSafeBC. Register for WorkSafeBC when you register your business, in order to ensure you're covered. Complete your registration through WorkSafeBC.

Ministry of Finance

Provincial sales tax

As a business you must register to collect and remit Provincial Sales Tax (PST) if you are located in B.C. and you sell or lease taxable goods, or provide software or taxable services in the ordinary course of your business in B.C. You may also need to register if you are located outside B.C. For further information about the B.C. PST, please visit the B.C. provincial sales tax website.

For industry specific PST information, please also visit the provincial sales tax publications website to review the different publications that may be applicable specific to your business.

To register your business to collect and remit PST the following options are available:

• Online using eTaxBC, or
• In person, or
• By mail or fax.

Employer health tax

The employer health tax is an annual tax on an employer's B.C. remuneration paid to employees.

If your business is also an employer with B.C. remuneration above the exemption amount in a calendar year, you must register for the employer health tax.

To learn if your business must register and how to register for the employer health tax, visit the Employer health tax website.

Canada Revenue Agency

Register with the Canada Revenue Agency for GST/HST remittance and payroll deductions. Complete your registration online directly with the Canada Revenue Agency.