STARTING A BUSINESSin Fort Saskatchewan

Fort Saskatchewan Economic Developmentecdev@fortsask.ca780-992-6278

FORTSASK.CA

Table of Contents PAGE # Business Planning

Business Plan 1 Business Type 1 Business Name 1 Location 1

Permits

Development Permits 2 Building Permits 2 Sign Permits 2 Food & Health Permits 2

Business Licenses

Federal Business Licences 3 Provincial Business Licenses & Registration 3 Municipal Provincial Business Licenses 3

Starting a Home Based Business What is a Home Based Business 4 Home Based Business Development Permit 4 Home Based Business License 4 Home Based Business Bylaws 5

Land Use Districts

C1 - Commercial - Neighbourhood Retail and Service 6 C2 - Commercial - Vehicle Oriented 6 C3 - Commercial - Shopping Centre 7 C4 - Commercial - Central Business District 7 IL - Light Industrial 8 IM - Medium Industrial 8 IH – Heavy Industrial 9

Additional Considerations Corporate Taxes & GST 10 Business Insurance 10

Hiring 10 Employment 10

Business Resources Canada Business Network 11 The Business Link 11 Alberta Innovates 11 City of Fort Saskatchewan Business 11 Business Development Bank of Canada 11 E-Commerce Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce 12

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Business Planning

Business Plan The first step in starting a business is to develop a business plan. A business plan is the best way to evaluate the risks and potential success of a business idea. It is a necessary supporting document when approaching bankers or potential investors. A business plan becomes your blue print to build the business, and a useful management tool once you have started your business. A business plan is a written document that outlines the market environment, your competitive strengths and weaknesses and your strategy to capture a feasible share of the target market, as well as projecting sources of funds to start and operate your venture. Some things you will want to include in your business plan are

1. Business Strategy 2. Marketing Strategy 3. Operating Plan 4. SWOT Analysis 5. Human Resources Plan 6. Financial Plan

See the Business Resources section on page 11 for more information on developing your Business Planning. Business Type You will have to determine what business structure or form of organization suits your needs. The structure of your business will depend on whether you want to run your business yourself or with a partner or associates. There are four types of business structures:

1. Sole Proprietorships 2. Partnerships 3. Limited Companies 4. Co-operatives

It may be advisable to hire a lawyer to further explore the appropriate business organization for you. Sole proprietorships, partnerships and limited companies or corporations will need to be registered with the province through a registry agent or law firm.

Business Name The right name can be an effective advertising tool that can assist customers in understand what your business does and which market you are targeting. The wrong name can be confusing to customers. NUANS This corporate name search tool is use to compare your proposed business name to those of existing corporations and trade-marks. www.nuans.com Corporate Registry To register your business name in Alberta, contact one of the Alberta registry agents. You will need to register:

• Cooperatives • Corporations • Extra-provincial registrations • Non-profit companies • Societies • Trade names and partnerships

Domain Names Before you select your business name, it may be a good idea to look into domain names that you might use if your business will have an online presence. Location Choosing the right location is an important factor in your success. Ensure your location meets the needs of your type of business, customers and your employees. Consider whether it is best to operate a home based business, home office, lease a space or build. It is also important to ensure that your business located within the proper Land Use District of the City. See pages 6-9 for more information on Land Use Districts and their permitted use.

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Permits Development Permits Development relates to land use, i.e., the use to which a piece of land and the building on that land is put. The City of Fort Saskatchewan has a Land Use Bylaw which stipulates what type of uses are allowed and which ones are discretionary in commercial, industrial, residential districts, etc. A Development Permit must be applied for in order for the Development Officer to verify that the use is allowed. If it is allowed and there is to be development of a new building to house the new business, a site plan must be provided to verify that the building location and other site improvements meet all the requirements of the Land Use Bylaw. Development Permit Fees Commercial, Light Industrial & Institutional Home Office $100 New Occupancy $150 Change of Use $250 New Construction

THE GREATER OF: $300 + $0.10/per sq. ft. of building or $300 + $0.15 per $1,000 of project value

Accessory Building or Sea Container

$150 + $0.25 per sq. ft.

Stripping & Grading $250 Demolition $250 Medium & Heavy Industry New Construction

THE GREATER OF: $400 + $0.05 per sq. ft. of building or $400.00 + $0.10 per $1000 of project value

Accessory Building or Sea Container

$200

Stripping & Grading $150 Demolition $300

Building Permits If a building is being constructed or altered in any way (renovated), a Building Permit is required. Also, if the occupancy of a space changes, a Building Permit may be required, i.e., office space turned into a restaurant or office space turned into retail space. Building Permits not only deal with construction, but with safety and fire codes as well. Gas, plumbing, fire protection, heating, ventilation and air conditioning permits are also issued by the City of Fort Saskatchewan. For questions or to apply for permits, contact the City of Fort Saskatchewan’s Planning & Development department at 780.992.6198. Sign Permits A Sign Permit is required before installing any signs for your business. Signs include:

• Permanent Signs • Temporary Signs • Free Standing Signs/Pylon Signs • Wall/Fascia Signs • Developer Off-Site Sign • Projecting Canopy • Roof Signs • Illuminated Signs • Non Illuminated Signs

The fee for a Sign Permit is $125 For additional information visit: www.fortsask.ca/city-government/planning-development/development-building-permits/signs Food & Health Permits Whether you are operating a restaurant or selling food products of any kind, you require a Food Handling Permit from Alberta Health Services. Food Handling Permit Application Form: www.albertahealthservices.ca/frm-03298.pdf

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Business Licenses BIZPAL Bizpal is a convenient one-stop online service which quickly provides a customized list of potential permits and licenses from all levels of government that you may require to operate your business. www.bizpal.ca Federal Business Licenses The Federal Government has wide licensing powers within the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, communication and inter-provincial and international transportation For additional information on Federal business licenses contact the Canada Business Network. www.canadabusiness.ca Provincial Business Licenses & Registration The Provincial Government regulates some businesses by requiring them to obtain a Provincial business license. A Provincial business license does not exempt a business from obtaining a municipal business license. The following types of businesses and persons are required to be licensed or registered by Service Alberta in addition to municipal licensing.

• Auctions • Cemeteries • Charitable organizations • Collection and debt repayment agencies & agents • Cooperatives • Direct (door-to-door) sellers • Energy marketing companies and energy marketers • Employment agencies • Fund-raising businesses • Home Inspection Business & Inspectors • Monument sales and monument salespeople • Payday lenders • Prepaid contractors • Retail home sales • Time Share and Points-based Time Share contracts • Travel clubs

For additional questions, contact Service Alberta www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/consumer-licences.cfm

Municipal Business Licenses The City of Fort Saskatchewan has a Business License Bylaw, No. C20-05. This Bylaw allows the City to license and control all businesses within the City of Fort Saskatchewan, including the manner of operation, the nature of the operation and the location thereof, and whether or not the business has a business premises within the municipality, unless that business is otherwise exempt by Provincial legislation. Once all other permits have been issued and complied with, a Business License can be issued. Business Licenses are issued based on the calendar year, with all renewals due no later than January 31 of the New Year. Resident Business A business which has a permanent office or place of business situated in either a commercial, industrial or urban service district of the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Non-Resident Business: means any business which does not have a permanent office or place of business in the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Accessory Home Occupation or Home Based Business: means an occupation carried on within a dwelling unit in a residential area of the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Business License Fees Resident Business $90/calendar year Non-Resident Business $300/calendar year Accessory Home Occupation or Home Based Business

$90/calendar year

Transient Trader/Hawker $300/calendar year or $100.00/day

For questions or to apply for you municipal business license contact the City of Fort Saskatchewan’s Planning & Development department at 780.992.6198.

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Starting a Home Based Business What is a Home Based Business? A home based business is no different from any other business, it just happens to be run out of a residence. The principles of running a business are the same; the challenges, however, are different. Home Based Businesses are regulated under the Land Use Bylaw as either a home office or a home business: Home Business means the accessory use of a principal dwelling, or a combination of a principal dwelling and an accessory building, in a residential neighbourhood to conduct one or more businesses. Such businesses may generate more than one business associated visit per day. Home Business shall not involve more than one non-resident person to be employed in the dwelling; is not detectable from outside the dwelling; and does not use any outside yard for any type of business activity. Home Office means the accessory use of a principal dwelling, in a residential neighbourhood to conduct a small scale business or Professional Services Office and is limited to a desk, telephone, computer and other related office equipment. A home office does not require business associated visits; 0does not require non-resident persons employed within the dwelling; is not detectable from outside the dwelling; does not extend the business activity to the garage or outside yard; and does not require parking of commercial vehicles. Home Based Business Development Permit Application Process To obtain permission to operate a business out of your residence, you must apply for a development permit. Depending on the land use category of the residence the business type may be a permitted, discretionary or not allowed use. Each application is reviewed on its own merits. Once you have an approved development permit you can apply for the business license. The entire process takes approximately one month. The development permit should be completed in as much detail as possible. Some of the questions may not pertain to your business, so just ignore them. It is also recommended that you think about how you want to run

your business not just today, but in the future, as the development permit is issued based on the information you provide the City at the time of application. If at any time the nature of the business or the intensity changes, you should notify the City immediately. The development permit cannot be transferred to another residence; if you move to another residence within the City, you must re-apply for a new home occupation permit. Approval Process The Development Permit process for home based businesses involves the following: • Once a completed Development Permit is

submitted, it is reviewed and, if approved, conditions will be outlined. This is called conditional approval.

• At the discretion of the Development Officer, notice of the proposed home occupation may be sent to all landowners within 60 metres (200 feet) of the applicant's property. If so, a placard will also be sent to the applicant to display within 2 metres (6.5 feet) of the front property line.

• There is a 14 day appeal period in which the adjacent landowners as well as the applicant may file an objection. If no objections are filed within this period, the business license can then be paid for and issued.

• If any objections are filed, they are referred to the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board and a public hearing is held.

• If the application was originally denied, the applicant can also appeal that decision to the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board.

Home Based Business License Application Process Application for a Business License can be made at any time, however a business license cannot be issued until the Development Permit process is completed. A business cannot start operation until the business license is issued. For more information visit: www.fortsask.ca/business/business-license

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Home Based Business Bylaws Fort Saskatchewan Land Use Bylaw 4.32 Home Business 14.32.1 A home business shall:

(a) Generate only pedestrian or vehicular traffic or parking which, in the opinion of the Development Authority, is characteristic of the Land Use District in which it is located;

(b) Not be a cause of inconvenience to adjacent landowners or tenants;

(c) Not employ more than one non-resident

employee or business partner working onsite at any one time;

(d) Not involve outside storage of material, equipment or products nor shall the business be conducted on the lot outside the dwelling unit or accessory building;

(e) Ensure that all goods sold are made and/or the services permitted are provided within the dwelling unit or accessory building;

(f) Have signs only in accordance with Part 12 – Signs of this Bylaw;

(g) Not use mechanical or electrical equipment that creates external noise, or visible and audible interference with home electronics equipment in adjacent dwellings;

(h) Require separate Development Permits and Alberta Building Code approvals where alterations to the dwelling or accessory building associated with a home business are required; and

(i) Involve no maintenance or repairs to vehicles or equipment which occur on-site (indoors or outdoors).

4.32.2 The Development Authority may impose such conditions on the approval of an application as, within their opinion, are necessary to ensure that home businesses permit residents of the community a broad choice in the use of their homes as a place of livelihood and supplemental income while protecting residential areas from potential adverse impacts

4.33 Home Office 124.33.1 As determined by the Development Authority, home office shall:

(a) Not be a cause of inconvenience to adjacent landowners or tenants;

(b) Not employ any person on-site other than a resident of the dwelling;

(c) Not have outside storage of material, equipment or products nor shall the business be conducted on the lot outside the dwelling unit;

(d) Have signs only in accordance with Part 12 – Signs of this Bylaw;

(e) Require separate Development Permits and Alberta Building Code approvals where alterations to the dwelling or accessory building associated with a home office are required;

(f) Not involve any business associated visits; and (g) Not involve any parking of commercial vehicles.

4.33.2 The Development Authority may impose such conditions on the approval of an application as, within their opinion, are necessary to ensure that home offices permit residents of the community a broad choice in the use of their homes as a place of livelihood and supplemental income while protecting residential areas from potential adverse impacts.

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Additional ConsiderationsCorporate Taxes & GST Taxes are an important consideration for any business. Ensure that you know what taxes you will be required to pay prior to starting your business.

Municipal Tax The City of Fort Saskatchewan does not have a business tax, however the City does levy property taxes. The 2015 non-residential property tax rate is 9.38. Provincial Tax Provincial Corporate Income Tax Rates:

• General 12.0% • Mfg & Processing 12.0% • Small Business 3.0%

Federal Tax Contact Canada Revenue Agency for questions related to

• Registering your business/business number • Reporting corporate income • GST/HST • Exercise taxes • Payroll deductions

For more information on corporate taxes visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bsnsss GST Are you required to or should you register for a GST account? How do you charge, report and pay your GST? All the questions can be answered by the Canada Revenue Agency. www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/ Business Insurance For businesses, having the right insurance is essential to surviving and thriving in a world that is full of opportunity, but also full of risk. The right type and amount of insurance will provide some financial peace of mind to organizations navigating their way through the sometimes-complex world of business. There is a wide variety of insurance available to protect a business and business premises. Contact your local insurance companies for more information.

Hiring Hiring the right staff is can be a challenge. The following resources will assist you in finding the right employees for your business. Job Bank Job Bank is the Government of Canada's leading source for jobs and labour market information. It offers users free occupational and career information such as job opportunities, educational requirements, main duties, wage rates and salaries, current employment trends, and outlooks. www.jobbank.gc.ca Careers Under Construction Careers Under Construction provides services to individuals seeking employment and/or information to obtain their career goals. They also provide employers with resources and services to find their next great employee. www.careersunderconstruction.ca Get the Workers You Need Brochure http://work.alberta.ca/documents/Need-Help-Attracting-Keeping-Workers.pdf Employment Once you have hired employees, you will need to know the employment standards and how to keep happy healthy staff. Employment Standards www.work.alberta.ca/employment-standards.html Alberta Health Care Insurance Commission 10025 Jasper AVE EDMONTON, AB T5J 3Z3 780.427.1432 Help with Payroll www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/pyrll/menu-eng.html Worker's Compensation Board www.wcb.ab.ca

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Business Resources

Canada Business Network Canada Business Network provide your business with the resources it needs to grow and prosper, including a wide range of information on government services, programs and regulations. www.canadabusiness.ca Grants & Financing Government departments and agencies provide financing such as grants, contributions, subsidies, and loan guarantees. Find out what type of government financing might be available for your business. www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2848// Importing If the goods you need for your business are unavailable in this country or cost less in other countries, then you may want to import them. This information should help you understand the basics of importing. http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2838/ Exporting Learning the basics, conducting research and staying informed can help you succeed in your export venture. www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/105/165/ Checklist for starting a business www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/page/2850/ The Business Link The Business Link is a great resource business information and services in Alberta. http://businesslink.ca Creating a Business Plan http://businesslink.ca/planning-your-business/creating-business-plan Business Startup Checklist http://businesslink.ca/starting-your-business/getting-started/startup-checklist

Alberta Innovates A place where government, academia and business are working together to bring great ideas to the world. Whether you're a researcher, an entrepreneur or just an average guy or gal with an above-average idea, Alberta Innovates partners you with the resources you need to crack the nut that keeps you awake at night. www.albertainnovates.ca City of Fort Saskatchewan Business The City of Fort Saskatchewan’s business section of the website provides various community specific business resources such as research, statistics, bylaws, and a business directory. www.fortsask.ca/business City of Fort Saskatchewan Land Use Bylaw www.fortsask.ca/city-government/bylaws/land-use-bylaw Business Development Bank of Canada BDC offers business loans and consulting services to help Canadian businesses grow, both at home and abroad. www.bdc.ca E-Commerce The Digital Policy Branch support a safe and strong online marketplace that promotes business innovation, competition, and growth through the development of policies, legislation, and regulations. They also promote the adoption and use of digital technologies in Canadian business to support and facilitate the growth of the Canadian economy. www.e-com.ic.gc.ca

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Fort Sask. Chamber of Commerce

What is the Chamber of Commerce? A Chamber of Commerce or Board of Trade is a non-profit action organization designed to meet community or area needs. It is a voluntary organization of progressive individuals and businesses that work together to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic interests of a community. The Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst — a common vehicle mobilizing enlightened members from all segments of the business community to work together for the common good of the total community. With the aim of achieving economic success, staff, volunteers and business people strive to keep their area’s economic conditions at a level where businesses and residents willingly and enthusiastically risk their capital in their community in the hope of making a profit. What does the Chamber Do? Strategic Intentions

1. Advocacy To develop a respected voice that is effective in influencing governments at all levels on issues that impact business in our region.

2. Communication and Marketing Increase awareness of the value the Chamber brings to the business community.

3. Value for Membership Provide programs and services that generate value for members.

4. Structure the Chamber for Success Continue to develop Board, Committee and management structures and processes to achieve our mission and implement our strategic intentions.

Membership Benefits • One category listing in the Business Directory. • Basic website directory listing (address, phone

number and Google map). • One category listing in the Online Directory. • Access to member discounts on all a la carte

menu options. • Government advocacy at the local, provincial &

federal level for a pro-business environment. • Receive key business e-updates and notices from

the Chamber. • Reduced rates for fuel at participating stations. • Reduced rates for commercial, home & auto

insurance at participating insurance brokers/agents.

• Assistance with specific local business advocacy issues upon request.

• Merchant bank services at reduced rates. • Eligible for Chamber of Commerce Group

Insurance Plan. • Discounts with Constant Contact e-mail

marketing program. • Access to Fort Saskatchewan Trade Show & Sale

preferred member pricing. • Complimentary admission to all Business After

Hours, unlimited guests. • Personal attendance of Chamber representative

for Ribbon-Cutting / Open Houses, upon invitation.

• Opportunity to place business announcements in the Member e-newsletter.

• Preferred pricing to Fort Saskatchewan Chamber Events.

Rates & Packages: $200 - $1,500 www.fortsaskchamber.com/rates-and-packages The Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce 10030 99 AVE P.O. Box 3072 FORT SASKATCHEWAN AB T8L 2T1 780.998.4355 FAX: 780.998. 1515 e-mail: chamber@fortsaskchamber.com