Complete guide on how to start a new business in Canada
Starting a new small business in Canada can seem daunting but this guide is designed to help you through the steps to launch your Canadian business. It’s not as difficult as you may think and we’ll guide you through the steps from registering your business to finding the best Canadian web host. This business guide is targeted to Canadians looking to start an online business. We’ll cover the basics assuming you have a business idea and need to take the next step to make your dream come true!
Choosing the right name for your Business
Okay so you’ve got a product or service but can’t think of a name. The best advice is to choose a name that describes what you’re selling and to keep it short. The idea of keeping it short allows people to remember your name easily and also helps you when registering a domain name. Single word names are hard to get in terms of domain registration so keep that in mind as well. Generally a two-word name is a good guideline when naming your Canadian business. Avoid choosing a name based off a current trend as we all know trends won’t last. Stick to a name that will define your business for years to come. If you plan to trademark your business name then keep that in mind because common words may already be trademarked.
Shopify has a great Business Name Generator you can use to drum up some ideas.
Domain Hosting in Canada
Once you have chosen a business name the first step is to register the domain name. This will ensure you have the actual domain that matches your business name. These days most web hosting companies offer a free domain name if you purchase a web hosting plan from them. Now before you rush off to register your domain you want to make sure you choose a Canadian web hosting provider with servers in Canada. Hosting your website in Canada can increase your search engine rankings so it’s crucial you host with a Canadian company with servers located in Canada. We’ve gone through and tested various Canadian web hosts and the top two Canadian Web Hosts based on user reviews are:
HostUpon.ca – Canadian web hosting company that offers a free domain and have servers located in Toronto. They offer shared hosting plans for those starting off and also dedicated servers for a more powerful and secure hosting solution. Your website will be hosted in Canada and their support is in-house in Toronto. Based on reviews and feedback they are the best choice when it’s comes to Canadian Hosting providers, hands down.
HostHero.ca – Canadian cloud web hosting provider that offers a free domain name and have servers in Canada. They also offer Cloud VPS Hosting for those looking for root access and more flexibility. HostHero also hosts your website in Canada and support is also in-house which is one of the reason they have been so successful in the web hosting industry.
Both HostUpon and HostHero are highly recommended and we actually had test accounts to ensure their servers were reliable but more importantly the support was there when we needed it. They have an amazing team that’s not outsourced which is a big plus. They both have servers in Canada which will increase your rankings in Google.ca.
When registering your domain name make sure you do both the .com and .ca. Even if your target audience is strictly in Canada you should register the .com. If you’re a non-for-profit then you’ll also want to register the .org extension as well. Domains are generally under $20/year so it’s a small cost but can drive more traffic to your website so it’s a no brainer.
Registering your Canadian Business legally
These days you don’t need to hire a lawyer to file for a new business registration in Canada. The process can be done entirely online. Before registering you need to decide if your business is a sole proprietorship, partnership or a corporation. The Canadian government website for small business has a description of each you can read here to understand which is right for you. You can also read their Canadian small business check-list.
If you’ve always dreamed of starting your own business in Canada now is the time. Don’t procrastinate, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to get started. With focus and determination you can achieve anything but you need to take the leap!
