Do I need a business licence?
There are many licences for different types of business in New Brunswick. Browse the
Business Start-up in New Brunswick to find out if your business will require special permits, or contact us. You can also check out the Regulations section of our Website for information on registering your business.
Additionally, some municipalities also have licences for specific types of businesses.
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Do I need a tax number?
You must register for and charge the harmonized sales tax (HST) if you sell or provide taxable goods or services in your commercial activities in Canada and your total taxable revenues were more than $30,000 in the immediately preceding four consecutive calendar quarter, or exceed $30,000 in a single calendar quarter.
If your sales do not exceed $30,000 in four consecutive calendar quarters, you do not need to register, nor charge HST.
There may be instances when registering early can give you certain advantages, such as the right to claim the HST or pay on your business's start-up expenses from the time you register. For more information, contact the Canada Revenue Agency or obtain a copy of their publications General Information for GST/HST Registrants or Guide for Canadian Small Businesses.
If you wish to register for the HST, you need a Business Number (BN). Contact the Canada Revenue Agency Business Window at 1-800-959-5525 and explain that you want to register for the HST. You will be provided with a Business Number application form, or you may register over the telephone. Information is available online or BN Applications are also available at the Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre.
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Is there any financial assistance to start or expand my business?
One of the most popular requests is for information on Government Grants! "Are there any grants for my small business?"
Government terminology varies in that some programs are called grants, some are called contributions, some refer to subsides, etc. They usually have very specific criteria, and are targeted to a very specific client. Therefore, you have to determine if the program is appropriate for your business. Remember that the word grant is rarely used in government program descriptions.
Go to the Financing section or search for Government Programs and Services for information on the available programs for your type of business.
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I will be hiring employees -- is there a checklist of what I need to do?
Contact the following organizations:
- Canada Revenue Agency (1-800-959-5525) for Business Number and Payroll Deductions information, or visit their web site for guides:
- An employer is responsible for ensuring the proper health and safety of employees at all times. Employers with three or more employees, full-time and/or part-time, are required to register with the New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.
- For payroll-keeping requirements (rules of payment, minimum wage, days of rest, vacation pay, paid public holidays, notice of dismissal, layoff or termination, etc.) contact the New Brunswick Department of Training and Employment Development, Employment Standards Branch.
- The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission focuses on equality, discrimination and harassment in New Brunswick.
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How do I protect my invention? Do I really need to protect it?
Patent, Trademark, Copyright, Industrial Design and Integrated Circuit Topographies are all forms of Intellectual Property. Contact the Intellectual Property Specialists, one of our on-site partners who can answer questions on intellectual property matters or go to their web site .
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What should I know before I buy an existing business?
The key to successfully purchasing a business is to fully investigate before you commit yourself. "
Buying a Business" provides some points to consider on costs, profits, liabilities, purchase agreement, and determining the price or value of a business.
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Can you help me find a supplier / wholesaler / manufacturer for a specific product?
The Canada/New Brunswick Business Service Centre, has at its fingertips multiple databases and directories which can provide you with supplier information for Canada, US, and International companies. This information can be searched by company name and/or product description, and geographical location.
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How do I get information on government tendering procedures?
Federal
Information on the procedures of doing business with the Federal Government can be found on the Contracts Canada Web Site.
Information on Aboriginal Business and government contracting can be found at the website for The Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business.
Provincial
Procurement opportunities of the Province of New Brunswick can be found at the New Brunswick Procurement Web Site.
Contact us for any further information on selling to government.
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Do I need a licence to play music in my store or restaurant?
Performances of music in public, i.e., restaurants, stores, clubs, hotels, dance halls, offices, etc. require a licence. This license is necessary whether the music is performed live or by recorded means. For more information, contact SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) at 1-800-707-6226.
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