Guides for Canadian small businesses
Plain answers to the questions that come up when you set up a business: your domain, your business name, sales tax and your phone line. Each guide links to the official sources and shows when we last checked them.
Getting a business phone number in Canada, and keeping the one you have
Your options for a business phone number in Canada, how to keep your existing number when you switch providers, and the CRTC rules that affect internet phone numbers.
Last reviewed:
Who can register a .ca domain? The CIRA rules for businesses
Who is allowed to hold a .ca domain under CIRA's Canadian Presence Requirements, which category fits your business, and what happens if CIRA asks for proof.
Last reviewed:
When do I have to charge GST/HST? The $30,000 small-supplier rule
How the CRA's $30,000 small-supplier threshold works, when you must register for GST/HST and start charging it, and what changes in Quebec.
Last reviewed:
Do I need to register my business name in Canada?
When a Canadian small business must register its name, how that differs from incorporating, and where to register in each province and territory.
Last reviewed:
VoIP and 9-1-1: what Canadian businesses should know
How 9-1-1 works on internet (VoIP) phone lines in Canada, the limits CRTC rules require providers to disclose, and what to do so an emergency call reaches help.
Last reviewed:
See ReadyOffice for your business
A 20-minute consultation with a ReadyOffice specialist: we review how your business handles calls, billing and marketing today, and recommend a configuration. No cost or commitment.
Book a consultation