General Business: Getting a Business Licence
Overview A business license indicates to your customers that you have met the City's licensing requirements. Some professions are exempt for City business licensing (phone 496-5233). If you need a City business license, your application can be taken over the phone. When you pay for the license notice, your application will be processed. Your license application may be sent to other departments such as the Capital Health, Police and Fire for review. After all departments approve your application, your business license will be mailed. The license must be displayed in the premises. 3 Sir Winston Churchill Square 2nd Floor, Chancery Hall T5J 2C3 If City Business Licensing advises you that a development permit is needed, please phone 496-3100 to find out what you need to apply. The offices are at: 10250 - 101 Street NW 2nd Floor, MetroNet Tower T5J 3P4 All businesses in the City of Edmonton are required to pay business tax. Check with Business Assessment (City of Edmonton, Corporate Services) at 496-6388 Some of these departments or agencies may need to inspect your premises as part of the licensing process. Some businesses need to be inspected on an on-going or annual basis. Some businesses that do not have a premises or location need to be licensed, including direct sellers, hawkers, tradesmen, entertainers, food services. The cost of the license is based on the cost of performing the appropriate inspections and approvals (not on the square feet occupied or invested capital). If the business owns real property (buildings or land), it will also have to pay property taxes which support city operations and public schools. You may also have to pay business taxes on your business premises, on top of your property taxes. These taxes are based on property valuation, and if you are a tenant of the premises (rather than the owner) your allocation, if so provided for in the lease, is based on the square feet you occupy or lease. If you move, you need to re-apply for a new license and get all the appropriate approvals. If you sell your business, then the new owners must re-apply for their license and obtain their own approvals since licenses are not transferable. License fees are not refundable. Other New Business Issues Trade names are not registered with the city but with Alberta Municipal Affairs (427-4088). You do not need be incorporated for a business license, but should check with your lawyer or accountant if there are other reasons to do so. To incorporate a business contact Alberta Municipal Affairs (297-3442). You can pick up forms for these at: 9945 - 50 Street NW 3rd Floor, Capilano Centre T6A 0L4 You should also get a Business Identification Number (BIN) from Revenue Canada, which is also your GST number (no expenses qualify for a GST refund until you have a number!!). If you expect gross revenues over $30,000 you are required to collect and remit GST, and need a BIN number. Call Reveneue Canada at 495-5400 or visit them at: 9700 Jasper Avenue Main Flr, Canada Place T5J 4C8 Licenses for home-based businesses There are two types of licenses for home-based businesses. The fundamental issue with granting home-based business licenses is the preservation of the nature of the neighbourhood, since your neighbors bought their homes hot knowing about your business beforehand. A "major home-based occupation" can cover many small businesses. If you have a partner, want to have people visit your home, or have an employee work at your home, then this is probably the license class for you. The cost for a "major home-based occupation" license is $80. You must also comply with certain rules:
Minor Home Occupations are those that are considered to have no impact on the neighbours, and are basically invisible (that is, nobody notices that a business is being run). Typical businesses would be consultants, computer programmers and other service oriented businesses where the proprietor goes to the customer rather than the customer coming to the home. The application fee for a Minor Home Occupation is $20.00. A Minor Home Occupation must follow these rules:
To view the actual bylaw text: Minor Home Occupation (Bylaw #5996). To make an online application: Home Occupation Application.
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