FAQ’S

Societies and non-profits are registered under the Society Act of BC. The first step in registering a Society is to get a name approval. This process is much the same as you would for a for-profit business. We recommend that Societies have the designation “Society, Association or Foundation” in their name. The second step is to go through the information provided by the BC Registry Services website then complete the remaining steps required to incorporate a Society.

Whether you are an at home business or in a commercial space, most municipalities of BC require that you obtain a business license. This license gives you permission to operate your business on that premises within that municipality. You can contact your city hall (or the city hall where you are conducting your business) to find out which permits you might require for your specific type of business. Please be aware that additional municipal, provincial or federal regulations may apply. There are some instances where you may be required to obtain a license in a municipality where you do not maintain premises but do carry on business. If you are unsure of any of the above information, you can contact us here at Smith Alliance, we can point you in the right direction.