Frequently Asked Questions for Business

• Can I get a government grant? Where can I find information on them?
• What financing programs are available to help me start or expand my business?
• What permits or licenses do I require to start my business?
• Should I incorporate my business?
• Are there any courses or seminars to help me in my business venture?
• What is a business plan? How do I prepare one?
• Can I get information on my competitors and their financial information?
• Do I have to pay the GST and PST? When do I charge it to clients?
• What expenses can I claim against my business at tax time?
• What is a business number and how do I get one?
• How do I register my business name?
• Where can I find supplier listings?
• Should I buy an existing business or start my own?
• What are the labor laws pertaining to employees?
• What is bonding and when do I need it?
• What kind of insurance do I need for my business?
• How do I sell my products on the internet?
• I want to start a catering business from my home. Can I do this?
  
  

Can I get a government grant? Where can I find information on them?

Government grants (also referred to as subsidies, incentives, rebates and cost sharing programs) are few and far between and usually pertain to cultural or non-profit ventures. Visit our grants page for alisting of federal and provincial grants.

What financing programs are available to help me start or expand my business?

For a listing of all available funding programs, see our Small Business Info-Guide - Financial Assistance Programs. If you want a hard copy of this information, send us an e-mail with your mailing address and we will send the information to you. Remember that information on government programs and services is FREE to the public - you do not have to pay for it.

What permits or licenses do I require to start my business?

Licenses and permits will differ for each person depending on where your business is located (i.e. home based, retail space) and the type of products or services you offer. If you are planning to operate a home-based business, see our publication The Definitive Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business in Manitoba (PDF file) . For all other types of business, see our publication Starting a Small Business in Manitoba: A Guide to the Basic Legal Requirements (PDF file) .

Should I incorporate my business?

If you are thinking of incorporating your business, you also need to decide whether to incorporate provincially or federally. For more information on the pros and cons of both types of incorporation, visit our business registration and incorporation page .

Are there any courses or seminars to help me in my business venture?

Our seminar series offers a wide range of topics to help you start or expand your business. From customer service excellence to interpreting financial statements to finding a business idea to e-business...our seminars cover all these and more. Visit our events page for a complete listing of upcoming seminars offered by the Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre as well as our partner organizations.

What is a business plan? How do I prepare one?

A business plan is a written document that describes all aspects of your proposed venture. It includes information about you, your product or service, your customers and competition, your marketing strategy, your management team and your finances. Basically, it is a map of your business future. Try the Interactive Business Planner .

Can I get information on my competitors and their financial information?

Unless your competitors are publicly traded companies, their financial information is not accessible. However, research staff in our library can help you determine who your competition is within a geographic area. We can also provide information on average household expenditures for certain items, industry profiles, demographic information by city or neighborhood, Small Business Profiles which show average operating costs for over 700 types of service, manufacturing and retail businesses, and much more. Visit our library and see what we have to offer.

Do I have to pay the GST (Goods and Services Tax) and PST (Provincial Sales Tax)? When do I charge it to clients?

Most persons and organizations engaged in commercial activities in Canada who have worldwide, taxable sales of more than $30 000 in any previous four consecutive calendar quarters or in any one calendar quarter must register for, charge, collect, and remit GST on their taxable supplies. Taxable supplies are goods and services provided by a business in a commercial activity. For more information visit the Canada Revenue Agency web site. The PST (also referred to as the Retail Sales Tax) is a 7 per cent tax applied to the retail sale or rental of most goods and certain services in Manitoba. The tax is calculated on the selling price before the GST is applied. For more information on the PST visit the Manitoba Finance web site.

What expenses can I claim against my business at tax time?

Details on how to report business and professional income are available on the Canada Revenue Agency's small business pages. You may also use the alphabetical listing to get information on specific topics.

What is a business number and how do I get one?

The Business Number (BN) replaces the many identification numbers that businesses previously needed to deal with government. The BN is a number assigned to each business by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to identify the business when they use any or all of the Agency's services such as corporate income tax, import/export, payroll deductions, and the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST). In Manitoba, companies can also use this number when incorporating a business, registering a business name, or registering for Retail Sales Tax, Corporation Capital Tax, and Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy (Payroll Tax). More information on the business number is available on the Canada Revenue Agency's web site.

How do I register my business name?

If you are setting up your business as a sole proprietorship (one owner, unincorporated) you will need to register a business name. If you plan to work in partnership with one or more people you will also need to register a business name. Follow this link to reserve your business name and register it online.

Where can I find supplier listings?

Our library carries a wide range of company directories, both online and in publication form. Contact us for more information.

Should I buy an existing business or start my own?

Buying an existing business is not as easy as it seems. As with any business venture, you need to do your research and ask the right questions to make sure you're getting what you pay for. Refer to our guide for Buying a Business to find out what you need to know before signing on the dotted line.

What are the labor laws pertaining to employees?

Regulations pertaining to approximately 90% of the Canadian workforce fall under provincial or territoral jurisdiction. The other 10% falls under federal labor legislation.

If your business falls within provincial jurisdiction, Manitoba's employment standards covers minimum wages, hours of work, holidays and other workplace benefits.

What is bonding and when do I need it?

Surety bonding is basically an agreement between three parties whereby one party guarantees that another party will perform the work that is stated in a contract to the best of his/her ability. Depending on the type of business you are in, you may be required (by law) to obtain bonding before you can start work. For those who are not required to seek bonding, you may decide that it is to your benefit to obtain it. For more information, see our fact sheet on Bonding .

What kind of insurance do I need for my business?

If you own a small business, you may need to consider one or more of the following types of insurance:

• business interruption insurance - compensates you for any income you lose if your business is unable to operate for a period of time due to disaster-related damage
• liability insurance - covers you in the event someone suffers an injury or damage because of something your business did or didn't do
• errors and omissions coverage - applies if you offer advice to clients
• life, health, and disability insurance - covers you and your employees
• workers' compensation - coverage if an employee become injured as a result of a job-related accident or suffers an illness attributable to a workplace cause
• commercial auto policy - protection for your business against damage caused to other people or property by your vehicle, as well as protection against damage to your own vehicle. A commercial automobile policy may also cover your employees when they are operating their personal cars for your business.

Check with an insurance broker to determine the right coverage for your business.

How do I sell my products on the internet?

Selling on the internet can be simple or complicated depending upon how you structure your online business. The Online Small Business Workshop offers the basics of setting up an e-business.

I want to start a catering business from my home. Can I do this?

You can operate a catering business from your home...the administrative aspects of it. However, all food preparation, handling and storage must be done in a commercial kitchen that is approved and licensed by the local health authority. If you cannot afford to purchase a separate and self-contained facility for storing, preparing and handling food products, you may consider renting from a licensed commercial kitchen. For example, if your local church has a commercial kitchen that is approved by the local health authorities, you may negotiate to rent the facility for a day or two a week from the church.

If you are in Winnipeg, contact the City of Winnipeg Health, Environmental Health Services, at (204) 986-2443.

Each municipality has their own regulations for food handling. For information on all food handling establishments outside of Winnipeg, contact District Public Health Inspection, c/o Manitoba Conservation, at (204) 945-7100.