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Small and medium-size enterprise zone

Starting a small business

First steps for general information

Check box Where do I start?

To find extensive, general information on starting a business and to help determine what type of business you are or should be setting up as, visit the Canada Business Service Centres' Business Start-Up Assistant.

Check box Should I incorporate my business or not?

To help you make your decision, see Proprietorship, Partnership or Incorporation? in Session 5 of the Workshop page on the Canada Business Service Centres site to learn advantages and disadvantages of the various business types.

Check box Where can I find information on the provincial/territorial accounts I may need?

Go to the main page of the Government of Canada's Canada Business site, then click on the link for the province or territory where your business is based.

Check box Where can I find information on any municipal licences or permits I may need?

Find the information for the municipality where your business is based under the "Municipalities" link on the Canada Business Service Centres' Business Start-up Assistant.

Check box Can I get federal funding or financing for my business?

You can find information about financing your business on the Financing page of Industry Canada's Strategis Web site.

Check box Where can I get help or find more information?

You can get professional help with starting your business by contacting one or more of the following:

  • Accountants
  • Lawyers
  • Financial institutions
  • Industry associations
  • Canadian Business Service Centres
  • Local economic development centres

First steps with the Canada Revenue Agency

General information

Check box How can the CRA help me in setting up my tax accounts?

Our Business Account Registration Web page provides information on the various ways we can help you get started.

Check box What types of books and records must I keep and why?

Find the answer under Keeping Records in our Guide for Canadian Small Business.

Business Number

Check box Do I need a Business Number (BN)?

Our Guide for Canadian Small Business provides general information about the Business Number and its accounts.

To find out if you need a GST/HST account, check out our
Do You Need One Web page.

To find out if you have employees and need a Payroll account, visit our Do You Need One Web page.

To find out if you need a Corporation Income Tax account, visit our
Do You Need One Web page.

To find out if you need an Import/Export account, check out our
Do You Need One Web page.

Check box How do I get a BN?

Our How to register your business Web page offers several options as to how you can register for a BN.

Check box How do I add or change authorized persons on my BN accounts?

Please contact our Business Window at 1-800-959-5525. Our knowledgeable staff will be pleased to assist you.

Tax Credits

Check box What types of tax credit programs are there for special projects?

The CRA offers the following tax credit programs to business:

Electronic Services

Check box What services are available electronically?

Check out our Electronic Services for Business Web page to see what's online.

CRA Contacts

Check box Can the CRA help me get started?

Yes we can! Find out how by visiting Chapter 9: How to get information from the CCRA in our Guide for Canadian Small Business.
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Date modified:
2005-05-12 		Top of page
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