BUSINESS START - UP GUIDE

Are you looking to start a business? This guide will help you navigate this process.

Starting a business takes a lot of research. The essential step is to develop a business plan, a written document that describes in detail how your business is going to achieve its goals.

Questions you need to think about:

Who are your customers?
Who is your competitor?
Where will you find suppliers?
What government regulations should I follow?
How much money do you need, and where do you get funding?
How will you market your products or services?
Where will you find labour, etc.?

Who can help you prepare a business plan?

BusinessLink
AMA
Find business plan templates: Interactive Business Plan Builder, ATB Business Plan, BDB template, Business Plan Guide.

Choosing how you structure your business is one of the bigger decisions you’ll make as you set up your new business. The type of structure you decide on will depend on whether you want to run the business solely as a trade name, partnership, or with associates as a limited corporation. Learn more about each type of business structure, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each HERE or HERE.

Provincial Requirements:

Register Business Name. Before you register it, you must conduct a province- or Canada-wide name search to ensure that no other business has registered a similar name that you want to use for your business.
Pick the type of ownership (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) and register your business with the Alberta Registry.

Federal Requirements:

You need to get a BN (a 9 digit business identifier) at Canada Revenue Agency if you need:

GST account (if your business total gross revenue is greater than $30,000 in any four consecutive calendar quarters, it is required to register, collect and remit GST;
Payroll account (to submit employees Pension Plan, Employment Insurance and Income Tax deductions);
Import-Export account (if you planing to import into Canada or export). Visit Canada Border Services Agency for a step-by-step guide.
Most businesses in AB that employ workers must register and create accounts with the Worker's Compensation Board (WCB). WCB provides workplace insurance coverage.

Municipal Requirements:

Camrose County doesn't require business licenses to operate business in Camrose County, although you need to get a Business Development Permit if you building a new structure, moving an existing one, or doing renovations. Check out zoning requirements.

Find the permits and regulations that your business needs at BizPaL.
Health Regulations for food establishments (all operations involving food), personal care facilities (hair salons, aesthetics, and massage studios), and recreational facilities (swimming pools and whirlpools).
Some businesses need provincial or special licenses, including, but not limited to: ♦ Auctions ♦ Cemeteries ♦ Cemetery pre-need contract sales and salespersons ♦ Charitable organizations ♦ Collection and debt repayment agencies ♦ Collectors and debt repayment agents ♦ Cooperatives ♦ Direct (door-to-door) sellers ♦ Energy marketing companies and energy marketers ♦ Employment agencies ♦ Fund-raising businesses ♦ Mausoleums ♦ Monument sales and monument salespeople ♦ Prepaid contractors ♦ Retail home sales (mobile homes, modular homes, packaged homes) ♦ Travel clubs.
Any company planning to establish a business in the Camrose Region that may have an impact on the air, water or land environment, which would include waste management, substance release, conservation and reclamation, pesticides, designated material, water wells or potable (drinking) water go to the Environment Alberta website for more information on regulations or obtaining special permits or licenses.

It’s a good idea to purchase your business's domain name before registering your business, just to ensure it’s available. Custom websites can be expensive, so if hiring a professional web designer isn’t in your budget, consider using a website builder (for example: WIX) where you can bring your vision to life with no coding required. Alternatively, if you’re not ready to commit to a website just yet, you could start by creating free accounts on the social media platforms where your customers are most likely to spend their time.

If you have registered your business in Camrose County or operate within Camrose County, please follow these next steps:

Fill out the Camrose County Business Registration Form.
Sign up for the Monthly Business e-Newsletter.
Include your business in the Camrose County Business Directory.
Contact the Camrose County Economic Development Department to introduce yourself. We would be happy to meet with you and learn more about your new business and how we can help you succeed.

BUSINESS SUPPORT AND GRANTS

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COUNTY BUILDING PERMITS INFORMATION

Opening your doors or reaching an exciting milestone? We’d be happy to support you.

Our Council and Economic Development team can stop by for a photo to mark your grand opening or business milestone. A formal celebration isn’t required. We’re here to recognize your success and show community support. We’ll organize a ribbon cutting, present a commemorative plaque for your business, and feature your business at no cost in the Camrose Booster and on Camrose County social media channels. Contact our Economic Development team at ecdev@county.camrose.ab.ca to get started.

Contact Us

Economic Development
3755 - 43 Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 3S8
Phone: 780-678-3070 | Email: ecdev@county.camrose.ab.ca

Camrose County is located on Treaty 6 territory. We acknowledge the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.