Finance/ October 9, 2021/

How to start a business in Canada in 15 steps

Canada is a great place to start a business, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here are 15 steps that will help you get your company off the ground and running smoothly.

The how to start a business in canada with no money is a blog post that will help you understand the process of starting a business in Canada.

You’re ready to take the plunge and establish your own company. Congratulations! Making that choice may seem dangerous, but taking a chance may pay off handsomely.

In fact, 74% of small and medium-sized company owners are ready to take significant risks in order to guarantee their success. “Fortune favors the brave,” as the adage goes.

You should, however, think about the following…

The first year, according to two-thirds, is the most difficult.
Small companies survive for five years or longer in half of the cases.
The top three risks are competition, financial flow, and taxation.

width=

QuickBooks and Oxford Economics data

Creating something unique allows you to strike a work-life balance while following your interests. But it isn’t simple.

This post will walk you through the 15 stages to starting a company, as well as a printable checklist that you can use to get from concept to launch to success:

1. Clarify your goals.

A company that lacks a vision is like to a ship without a rudder. To get anything else moving, you need to define it first.

To build this foundation, writing a mission statement is a smart idea. Identify your company’s objectives and a high-level plan for achieving them in a few words.

It’s a good idea to look at some of your rivals’ websites to see what they’ve written and learn from it. Customers and workers alike are inspired by Patagonia’s mission statement:

width=

It’s split down into three sections, which you may follow as well:

“We’re in the business of saving our home planet,” says the mission statement.
“Our purpose for existence,” says the story.
“Core values,” for example.

Make your vision as precise and concise as possible while writing it down. To motivate team members to work together toward a shared goal, use the example above to create a compelling and motivating message.

2. Investigate the market opportunity

When establishing a new company, there’s a lot to think about, from creating your product or service to accounting, legal, marketing, and more.

It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae before seeing the larger picture.

That’s why you should make sure you have a viable business opportunity first. Here are some important things to take:

Make a decision on a product or service. What will your company offer, and how will you differentiate yourself from rivals (e.g., what is your value proposition or unique selling proposition)?
Determine who your target market is. Who will your company cater to? Start with demographics such as age, gender, income, and location. Then, using personas or a customer journey map, go further deeper.
Determine who your main competitors are. It is beneficial to have competition. It indicates that there is a demand. Compare comparable goods or services to your own to both duplicate and distinguish what your target market likes.
Recognize the magnitude of your market or opportunity. Finally, market research entails calculating the potential of your product or service. Estimating the present and future monetary worth of your company concept, as well as establishing realistic objectives for how you’ll get a piece of the pie.

But how do you do it? This leads us to the following stage…

3. Create a ‘canvas’ for your company (then, a plan)

The good news is that by completing the initial steps above, you’ve already completed part of the job. Remember that your initial business strategy isn’t complete. Parts of it will very certainly alter as you get a better understanding of your market and develop.

Some experts even recommend starting with a business model canvas, which is a one-page document that has all of the information you’ll need to get started. This choice will help you save time and get up and running more quickly.

width=

Here’s where you can get a copy of the business model canvas and a complete checklist.

You may develop a more comprehensive strategy after you’ve been in company for a time or when you’re ready to seek financing. It should go through each area in more detail in the image above, including:

Operating resources
Your long-term marketing strategy
What will your cost and sales structure be like?
What you’ll do with your money, how you’ll expand, and more

4. Be aware of your starting expenses.

Even if you’re self-funding, you should be aware of your starting expenses. Here are some key details:

The vast majority begin with a budget of less than $10,000.
Three-quarters of those surveyed depended on their own funds.
When owners reflect on their first year, the most common regret is that they did not devote enough time to learning about financial management.
To feel secure about their long-term health, the majority of people need a yearly income of $50,000 or less.

To begin, make a list of all of the expenses you expect to incur in the next year. Then figure out how much money you’ll need to remain in business each month (e.g., your operating income and salary).

Keep in mind that increasing your income takes time. That’s why it’s so important to keep track of your expenses and cash flow, which brings us to the following stage.

5. Make a budget for the first several months.

If you don’t have any money to start your company, figure out how you’ll pay for it. There are a variety of alternatives to obtaining angel or venture financing that are frequently more suitable:

Crowdfunding

You’ve probably heard of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, two popular crowdfunding sites. For many new company owners, this is a common approach. Rather of relying on a single big investor, it raises money from a huge number of individuals.

Microloans

Small business loans, usually less than $10,000, are available to help you get your company off the ground. Depending on where you reside, you’ll need to look into your microloan choices, since there are a variety of businesses to select from.

Loans for individuals

You may take out a personal loan rather than a company loan if you have excellent credit. You may also use credit cards or a personal line of credit to borrow money. Just remember to consider the long-term interest and tax consequences before proceeding. Here’s a link to our in-depth guide on obtaining a small business loan.

Grants

You may be eligible for grants from your government or private groups to help you fund your project, depending on where you reside. You’ll have to look into what those grants are, if you qualify, and how to apply once again.

Note: Grant applications may be difficult, which is why we created an expert guide to assist you in applying for small business grants in Canada.

Family and friends

Last but not least, many companies are founded with the assistance of friends and family. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Simultaneously, take those proposals seriously by laying out all of your previous work on your canvas or blueprint.

6. Establish your company’s structure.

It’s now time to decide what kind of business you’ll run: your business entity. Is it preferable to be a solo proprietor or a sole owner? Do you have a companion? Do you intend to include it?

Each choice has its own set of benefits, as well as tax reporting obligations and regulatory restrictions.

The most frequent structures are defined as follows:

The term “sole proprietor” or “sole owner” refers to a person who is

When you’re initially starting out, this is a common choice for anybody who doesn’t have a lot of obligations (e.g., no workers or large assets). You may decide to incorporate later as your company develops.

Collaboration in the workplace

You must register as a business partnership if you are going into business with one or more partners. Because each partner will have an interest in the partnership, you’ll need to consult with a lawyer and a tax expert to determine the kind, terms, and tax consequences.

A company that has been formed (corporation)

Tax savings and the avoidance of personal or financial responsibilities if, for example, your firm is sued are two noteworthy advantages of incorporating your business. Due to the high expense of starting a business, many sole proprietors wait until they have enough money and are ready to incorporate.

In most cases, you must incorporate under a charter in your business’s home province, but if you operate in several provinces or countries, things may become complex, so check with a tax expert before doing so. Consult an accountant or bookkeeper to decide which choice is appropriate for your current and future requirements.

7. Look at your legal obligations.

Consult a lawyer before starting your company to be sure you’ve examined all of the legal requirements. Include legal costs in your budgeting as well. It’s critical to have a competent lawyer on hand in case of legal or contract problems, as well as for advise before signing a new contract.

Here are some of the questions you should ask a lawyer and the services you should request:

Is it necessary to register your company’s name or emblem as a trademark?
Do you need the protection of a patent, copyright, or intellectual property?
Is it possible for them to establish standard contracts for dealing with other companies and vendors?
What is the process of starting a business as a sole proprietorship, establishing a partnership, or incorporating your company?
When looking for private investors, what is the procedure for sharing equity?

Every kind of company, product, or service is subject to different regulations. Each nation, and even each area, will have its own set of rules. The websites of your local and federal governments are great places to start your needs study.

When collecting personal customer information, you should also consider national consumer and privacy regulations.

width=

With the business canvas, you may get all 15 stages in this PDF checklist.

8. Choose a company name and register it.

It’s time to register your name once you’ve spoken with your accountant and lawyer. The procedure will vary by nation and even by area. Do your research to learn about the regulations in your area.

First, double-check that your name is accessible. An internet search is the fastest method to find out. Every major search engine will accept your chosen name. Look into social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. After that, consult your state and national registers.

Whether you intend to do business in several countries, double-check to see if the name is already in use in those nations. You may utilize local government services to double-check that the name isn’t already registered to someone else. Depending on where you’ll be operating, you’ll have to perform an internet search to locate each of those services.

Then, before producing business cards, logos, websites, and other materials, you should register that name (to ensure that it is approved). It will save you time, effort, and most likely a big headache in the future. Again, registration sites vary depending on which areas and nations are being used.

Finally, if you want to register your name as a trademark, you must do so at this time. This is something that your lawyer can help you with. Keep in mind that there are extra fees connected with each registration.

9. Submit an application for permissions and business licenses.

Find out whether any national or regional licenses are needed by contacting your government services or visiting the Small Business Administration’s website.

Check to see whether you qualify for any tax credits or deductions while you’re at it. Many municipal governments provide specific incentives to assist small companies in growing more quickly.

If you’ll be collecting goods and services taxes, you may additionally require a unique company number. Depending on the province you reside in, you’ll have to pay GST or HST. It has something to do with the quantity of money you make each year.

Visit the relevant government website to apply. Any additional tax-related applications you may need to complete may be discussed with your accountant. It also depends on where you reside and what kind of company you run.

10. Open a bank account for your small company.

There are many kinds of business bank accounts and products that may assist you in saving money and accelerating your growth. Arrange a consultation with a business banking expert as soon as you’re ready to start your company to decide which kind of account is best for you.

Consult your accountant about any savings bundles or special accounts you may need, based on the bank’s recommendations.

Opening a bank account in that market makes even more sense if you’re developing an international company strategy and anticipate to produce a large volume of sales in that area. You’ll save money on bank transfer fees as well as currency exchange rates.

Furthermore, having a financial presence in each nation will make tax season simpler for your bookkeeper and accountant, since they will be able to view separate statements for each country’s income.

11. Get your accounting systems in order.

You’ll save time and money in the long run if your accounting system is set up properly from the start, with future development in mind.

Many small company owners hire a bookkeeper or a chartered accountant to handle their accounts. While this may save you a lot of time, you’ll still need access to tools that allow you to track your money on a monthly basis.

Because cash flow is so important in the early stages of a company, don’t start without at least a cash flow spreadsheet in Excel. Do you need assistance in getting started?

You could also look into accounting software that automates this process and allows you to see how much money is coming in against how much money is going out each month.

Maintain a comprehensive record of all of your money in one location, regardless of which choice you select. Record-keeping is required by law and taxation at every level of company. Fixing your bookings from the start allows you to focus on expanding your company.

12. Early on, outsource critical tasks.

To save money while establishing a company, you may be inclined to do everything yourself. However, spending time on things that aren’t your expertise may lose you money. Make the most of your time by focusing on the business goals that will help you produce more money, quicker.

After that, delegate or outsource duties that aren’t your strong suit (e.g., accounting, admin, or public relations). You may hire a few workers to split the task if you have the money and legality in place.

It may seem difficult at first to entrust your business to others, but once you do, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

If money is limited but you still need assistance, you may hire contractors or freelancers to assist you in areas where you are weak. It’s just as essential to manage your sanity as it is to manage your time.

If you choose to employ someone rather than outsource…

13. Become familiar with payroll taxes.

Employee salaries need withholding of taxable amounts from their compensation. Certain contractor payments must be handled in the same way. Consult your accountant to verify you’re meeting all of your tax obligations.

Self-service and full-service alternatives are available with digital payroll services. The following are some of the advantages of utilizing payroll software:

Employee health insurance, retirement programs, and deductions may all be set up and tracked.
Keep track of employee payroll information and yearly adjustments (e.g. bonuses and salary bumps)
Have a digital procedure in place to automatically deposit your taxes with the appropriate federal agencies.
Add new workers to your payroll system automatically.
Allow automated direct deposits to send money to your workers’ accounts anywhere in the globe.

Check out How to utilize payroll software to successfully handle payroll for additional information on what’s involved in setting up and managing payroll. If you’d rather do it yourself, check out our resource center’s payroll calculator.

14. Create a basic online presence

Do you even exist in today’s always-on, digital world if you don’t have a website and an email address?

width=

Data courtesy of BrightLocal

A website must be part of your marketing plan if you want to attract new consumers. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have your small company website up and running. There are a plethora of low-cost, simple-to-use alternatives accessible.

When you have the time and money, you may add social media accounts and explore additional digital marketing strategies such as sponsored advertisements, reviews, and SEO.

According to 99Firms, 61 percent of small companies invest in social media marketing, with almost half spending $10,000 or less on digital marketing each year.

As your company develops, so will your funding for developing a more effective digital marketing plan.

15. Look into forming commercial alliances.

While we discussed why you should partner with others to establish a company, we should also discuss how you may collaborate with other companies to develop together.

There are many methods to establish a partnership, including:

Referrals and a cut of the income Some partners assist them in selling services in return for a commission or revenue sharing agreement (e.g., one business gives another one a percentage of the sale). If you have a small sales force and wish to increase your efforts without adding additional full-time workers, this is a typical scenario. When it comes to referrals, you may pay a commission to a partner who helps you introduce and close a new potential client. Businesses that assist a client in better using your product or service typically get a higher revenue share. Program companies, for example, may have specialist partners who may assist a mutual client utilize the software more effectively and, as a result, spend more money with the software vendor. As a result, the expert partner would get a portion of sales depending on conditions agreed upon by both sides.
Joint Ventures are a kind of business arrangement in which two or more If you want to construct an office tower or produce a film, you may want to explore establishing a joint venture with another company or a group of companies. Assume you have all of the necessary equipment and personnel to shoot the narrative, but you want to add computer graphics afterwards. That’s when partnering with a production company that has the same personnel and skills makes sense.
Cross-promotions. When two companies’ target consumers are similar, it’s frequently a good idea to collaborate on a cross-promotion. Spend some time considering if there are any local companies with whom you might form a relationship. When approaching them, remember to:

Be open and honest about what you want and what you expect from them.
To guarantee that all sides are satisfied with the transaction, be patient and ready to negotiate.
If you can’t come to an agreement that is both fair and beneficial for all parties, be ready to walk away.

Place a premium on trust, just like you would when recruiting workers. You may always ask their current or previous partners whether a recent joint venture or cross-promotional experience went well.

This story was syndicated by MediaFeed.org and first published on the Quickbooks Canada Resource Center.

It’s possible that the information is condensed and therefore incomplete. This document/information is not intended to be a replacement for legal or financial advice, and should not be used as such. Because each financial situation is unique, the advice given is meant to be broad. For information relevant to your circumstances, please contact your financial or legal advisers.

Starting a business in Canada is not as difficult as it seems. Here are the steps to starting your own company in Canada. Reference: starting a business in canada for dummies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 15 steps to starting a business?

There are many steps to starting a business, but the most important ones are finding your niche and coming up with a good idea. You also need to be able to market and advertise your product.

What are the steps to register a business in Canada?

To register a business in Canada, you need to fill out the appropriate paperwork and submit it to the government. The process can be time-consuming and expensive if you are not careful.

How do you start a business in 12 steps?

The first step is to come up with a business idea. This can be anything from selling ice cream to creating a new type of clothing line. Next, you will need to find out if your idea is already being done by someone else and if so, what they are doing. Thirdly, you will need to research the market that you plan on entering and how it works. You should also do some market research on yourself as well as your competitors. After this, youll want to create a marketing plan for how youre going to advertise your product or service in order to get people interested in buying it. Next, youll have to set up a budget for your business which includes all the expenses involved such as rent, utilities, staff members salaries and more. Finally, once everything is set up and ready to go, make sure that everyone knows about your company and what its all about before launching into production.