Starting a New Business
Thank you for choosing the Township of Langley as a home for your business. Whether you’re just starting out or are looking for ways to expand, we hope that you’ll find everything you need right here.
Get started Develop a business plan Secure financing and support Register your business Obtain your Township business licence Find your location Get ready to open Hire employees Grow your business
Get started
You have an excellent idea for a business and we want to see you succeed. Before you begin to develop your business plan, you should ensure your business is a permitted use and learn what zoning will be required for your space. Our Permits and Licensing team can also help you learn about any inspections, licence requirements, and approvals you may need as you develop your business plan.
| Contact information |
Our Economic Investment and Development team welcomes the opportunity to get to know you and your business. Contact the team by email or phone: invest@tol.ca or 604-533-6084. |
Develop a business plan
Your business plan is an invaluable tool when looking to start a new business, and most financing, funding, or granting agencies will require a solid business plan before considering support. If you need additional help with your business plan, here are some excellent resources below.
| Checklists and templates |
| Local knowledge |
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A Business Plan is an important stage for background research and to develop a strong understanding of the local community. Use our local knowledge to help build your business success.
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For a full list of all of our Data Tools please visit the Business Resource Toolbox.
Secure financing and support
As you develop your Business Plan, you may discover that securing outside funding is an important step. Fortunately, there are both government and private-sector sources you can tap into to get your business off the ground. Options include grants, loans, private and public sector financing, and leveraging personal assets.
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Province of BC funding opportunities |
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The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Supports small and medium sized businesses at every stage of growth with money and advice. BDC is the only Canadian bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. |
Depending on your situation you may qualify for additional support.
| Additional support opportunities |
| Small Business
Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with a wide range of products, services, education, and resources. Immigrant Entrepreneurs The Government of Canada offers a diversity of information to help newcomers start a business in Canada. Young Entrepreneurs Futurpreneurs offers financing and mentoring to young entrepreneurs. Women Entrepreneurs The Government of Canada offers women entrepreneurs a variety of information and resources to get business plans off the ground. Starting a Tech Business Innovate BC offers tech entrepreneurs resources and information on starting a tech business Innovative or Emerging Industry Western Economic Diversification Canada has been working to diversify the western economy while improving the quality of life of western Canadians. |
Register your business
British Columbia requires that all business names, partnerships, and limited companies be registered.
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BC Registries and Online ServicesThe Business Registry enables you to start a business in BC. This online tool enables you to request your Business Name, register or incorporate, and then keep your records up to date. |
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BizpalBizPal is an online service that provides a list of potential permits and licences to start, expand, or develop your business. The service is a combined effort by the federal, provincial/territorial, and participating municipal governments. |
Tax registry
Goods and services tax (GST) registry
If you sell or provide goods and services in Canada and your annual world-wide GST taxable sales, including those of any associates, are more than $30,000, you may be required to register for GST. To register online with the Canada Revenue Agency, go to BC Registries and Online Services.
Provincial sales tax registry
If you sell or lease taxable goods in B.C., provide four or more units of accommodation in B.C., or provide legal services, related services (services to taxable goods), you may need to register. For more information, visit gov.bc.ca/pst or eTaxBC.
Obtain your Township business licence
Every business in the Township of Langley is required to hold a valid business licence before beginning operation. Check out our guide to the business licence application process for more information on getting a business licence in the Township.
| Intermunicipal business licence |
| The Township of Langley is one of several municipalities that participates in the intermunicipal business licence program covering communities in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley area. The program enables mobile businesses related to the construction industry to operate in more than one municipality, under one licence, rather than obtaining non-resident licences from each municipality. |
| Business licence renewal |
| Licences can be renewed online on our secure business licence renewal webpage. |
Find your location
Choosing the right location for your business is one of the most important decisions you will make early on. There is a lot you should consider and we have provided a number of powerful tools to help you. These resources can help you identify where your customers are most likely to live, where to find potential employees, better understand the local business climate, and see what parts of the Township are developing.
Next you will need to decide whether to lease or purchase your space.
| Find commercial space |
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If the zoning for your property doesn’t fit your proposed use, contact the Township to see if changes are possible. You can learn more on our development services webpage or by contacting the department at 604-533-6034 or cdinfo@tol.ca.
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Get ready to open
Congratulations on getting this far! Before your grand opening, make sure you have everything ready to go.
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Licensing and PermitsVerify that there are no outstanding inspections, licensing, or approvals needed by contacting our team Permit, Licence and Inspection Services department by phone at 604-533-6018. |
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Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)You will need a business number with the CRA if you incorporate, or to interact with other federal, provincial, and municipal governments and take advantage of their programs. The CRA website is also a wealth of information on savings plans, benefits, duties and levels, and payroll. For example, employers must deduct Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and income tax from an employee’s remuneration and then remit to the Government of Canada. For more information, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website. |
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WorkSafeBCAll employers are legally required to have WorkSafeBC coverage unless the employer is exempt. An employer is a person or firm that hires workers or unregistered subcontractors and an employer can be a self-employed proprietor, partnership, corporation, society, or any other type of legal entity. |
Hire employees
Find talent, post a job, get help with recruitment and retention, and explore financial support and funding programs. From federal and provincial government programs to the Township’s Economic Investment and Development department, we’re here to help you succeed.
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WorkBCA service of the BC Provincial Government, WorkBC provides multiple resources for employers, including:
Work BC Local Office: |
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Service CanadaThis section of the Government of Canada website provides information for employers, including employment insurance, skills development and training, job grants and funding, regulations and legislation, labour market data, and more. Visit servicecanada.gc.ca for more information. |
The Township is home to a diverse population of educated and highly trained individuals. The following data may help you begin searching for the right person for your business.
| Workforce advantages |
Grow your business
Owning a business is a challenging and rewarding venture and we want you to know that we are here to help. The resources below can help you grow your network, prepare your business for challenges, and push your enterprise to the next level.
Growing your business Connect with useful contacts
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We are here to work with entrepreneurs, businesses, stakeholders, and investors to explore, experience, and excel in the Township of Langley. We want to hear about your challenges and work with you to find solutions. For example, we can help you to grow your network, identify the right person to talk to at the Township, or identify possible funding and support resources. There are multiple ways to reach out on our Connect page. |
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| Find customers in your own backyard | ||||||||||||
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The demand for locally sourced good and services has never been greater. Here is some data that may help you design your next marketing campaign.
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| Enhance your online presence | ||||||||||||
| The Township presents three 90-minute webinars as part of our mastering online growth bootcamp series. These webinars feature experts in eCommerce, digital marketing, and online sales. In these short sessions you’ll learn how to capture your customers attention, how to design your website to convert sales, how to find new customers online, and much more. These webinars are freely available here. | ||||||||||||
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Emergencies can happen, they are unavoidable and happening more frequently. Township residents and visitors rely on local businesses to supply the necessary goods and services, before, during, and after emergencies. It is important that businesses are prepared to be up and running as soon as possible after an emergency or business disruption. Here are some resources to help you develop a business resiliency plan. |
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