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Service

  • Start a Business

    • Overview
    • Locating Commercial Space
    • Register Your Business
    • Permits & Licenses
    Starting a business means deciding on the right business structure, securing financing, registering your business name, finding a space, paying corporate taxes and more.
    • This Starting a Small Business Guide can help navigate these steps.
    • Visit our Business Resources section for links to services and resources to help you with all aspects of your business planning and development including conducting market research, securing financing and identifying export markets.
    • Small Business BC offers a great on-line Starting your Business Checklist which breaks down the necessary steps.
    • Contact us for information and guidance throughout the process of establishing your business in Richmond. We’ll make sure you get the help you need.

    Locating Commercial Space

    Once you’re ready to start your business, you’ll need to find the perfect space! We can help with that too.
    • SpaceList is a useful search tools for finding currently available commercial space for purchase or lease. 
    • The City’s Interactive Map tool can help determine if the site is zoned correctly for the proposed use. 
    • Richmond’s Zoning Bylaw can help determine if the zoning allows for the specific business activities on the selected site. 
    • Home Based Business regulations are specific to operating one’s business out of a residence. 
    • Mobile Vendor Information Sheet should be consulted prior to starting a mobile vendor business in Richmond. 
    • Contact us for help finding the perfect Richmond location for your business, and navigating the required municipal permits and licenses.

    Register Your Business

    Before obtaining a municipal business licence to operate in Richmond, you will need to register your business name with the Province of BC.
    • Obtain a Business Number through the BC Business Registry. This will allow you to register for GST, PST, payroll deductions, WorkSafeBC, and other Provincial and Federal business accounts.
    • The Richmond Chamber of Commerce can facilitate and/or expedite your business name approval.
    • Once you’ve registered your business with the Province of BC, you can apply for your City of Richmond business licence.

    Permits & Licenses

    Every business operating within the City of Richmond is required to have a business licence. Depending on your business activity, you may require additional permits and licenses from a variety of regulatory authorities relating to food handling, fire safety, electrical installations, building alternations, commercial vehicles, etc.

    • Use BizPaL to generate a complete and customized list of permits required from all levels of government, or contact us for guidance.
    • Business Licence: Requires every person carrying on a business in the City of Richmond to obtain a Business Licence.
    • Business Regulation: Regulates the operation of licensed businesses.
    • Zoning: Regulates the use of land and buildings.
    • Building Regulation: Regulates the construction of and occupant safety in and about buildings.
    • Sign Regulation: Under this bylaw signs advertising a place of business are required to have a sign permit. Alterations to an existing sign also require a permit.
    • Rezoning Guide: Policies and guidelines for rezoning property in Richmond.
    • Development Permit: Regulates the procedures for the issuance of development permits.
    • Fire Prevention and Life Safety: Relates to the prevention of fire and the control and regulation of fire safety in buildings and premises.
    • Public Health Protection: Regulates the operation of restaurants and food dealers, and general health conditions of business.
    • Vehicles for Hire Regulation: Regulates licensed businesses using vehicles for transporting passengers, including tow trucks, U-drives, driver training vehicles, taxi cabs, buses, limousines.
    • Commercial Vehicle Licensing: Requires that a Municipal Plate be obtained for commercial vehicles or other vehicles used for delivery or transport of goods in connection with a business.

    If you have any questions regarding what licenses or permits your business is required to have, view our Guide to the Business Licence Application Process, or contact the City of Richmond Business Licence Department at 604-276-4328 or [email protected].

  • Grow Your Business

    If you have an existing business in Richmond, the City’s Business Development Program can help you to address specific challenges, resolve operational issues and access opportunities to grow your business.

    We have a network of business development resources, service providers and government programs all dedicated to help you in areas such as expanding your facility, accessing funding, training your employees, commercializing a new product and growing your exports. To get involved, simply contact us and we will arrange an intake meeting to learn more about the unique needs of your business.

    Through this program we can assist in a variety of areas including:
    • Expanding or relocating your business within Richmond.
    • Sourcing economic, property, demographic or other statistical information.
    • Identifying economic development and other incentives.
    • Serving as a liaison between your business and City departments and other government agencies.
    • Connecting you with local and regional business services and resources.
    • Facilitating municipal permits, licenses and processes.
    • Helping you identify new markets, source suppliers or hire employees.
    Contact Us
  • Move Your Business to Richmond

    • Overview
    • Locating Commercial Space
    • Industry & Market Intelligence
    • Incentives
    Think Richmond for the future location of your business. Learn about some of the key competitive advantages this city can provide, including its strategic location, unparalleled logistics networks, and affordable commercial space. Contact us and we’ll make sure you have what’s needed to build your business case for Richmond as the new home for your business.

    Locating Commercial Space

    • SpaceList is a useful search tools for finding currently available commercial space for purchase or lease. 
    • The City’s Interactive Map tool can help determine if the site is zoned correctly for the proposed use. 
    • Richmond’s Zoning Bylaw can help determine if the zoning allows for the specific business activities on the selected site. 
    • Contact us for help finding the perfect Richmond location for your business, and navigating the required municipal permits and licenses.

    Industry & Market Intelligence

    Local Richmond-specific economic, industry and market data is available to assist with your business case.

    • Visit Data Centre for statistics and trends related to the local economy.
    • Visit Key Sectors for insight into Richmond’s industry and sector capabilities.
    • Use the Business Directory to view, filter or download information on 13,000+ local businesses.
    • Contact us for more insights into the economic development climate and business and investment opportunities in Richmond, British Columbia.

    Incentives

    A range of incentives are available to British Columbia businesses.

    • Visit the Key Sectors section for industry-specific incentives, or Business Costs & Incentives for more general incentives.
    • Use the Funding Portal to search a database of 7000+ public and private funding sources.
    • Contact us to learn more about the specific incentives available for your industry.
  • Self-Serve Toolbox

    Space & Facilities
    Search all commercial and industrial real estate listings to find the perfect business location. Go

    Data & Intel
    Explore interactive, up-to-date statistics on housing & development, tourism & trade, business growth, commercial space and more. Go

    Sector Profiles
    View, download or print information about Richmond’s key sectors including major employers and government incentives. Go

    Links to Funding
    Find available capital, loans and grants through a database of 7000+ government and private funding sources. Go

    Permits & Licenses
    Generate a custom list of required business permits and licenses from all levels of government, in one place. Go

    Interactive Map
    Use Richmond’s dynamic mapping system to find information on commercial properties such as zoning, rights of way, legal details and tax values. Go

    Business Directory
    View, filter or download information on 13,000+ Richmond businesses. Go
  • Business Resources

    Market Research Financing & Investment
    Human Resources & Training Importing, Exporting & Trade Development
    Technology Commercialization & Intellectual Property Government Procurement
    E-Commerce Buying, Selling or Exiting a Business
    Business Planning & Startup Permits, Licenses & Business Regulations
    Market Research

    BC Statistics Statistics Canada Trade & Invest British Columbia Trade Commissioner Service BC Site Selector Guide BC Global Business Accelerator Small Business BC Canada Business Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

    Financing & Investment

    BC Venture Capital Program Richmond Funding Portal Government of Canada Funding Concierge Canada Business Network Small Business BC Women’s Enterprise Centre BC Provincial Nominee Program Sustainable Development Technology Canada BC Renaissance Capital Fund Business Development Bank of Canada CanExport Program Startup Visa Futurpreneur

    Human Resources & Training

    Avia Employment Centre Work BC Industry Training Authority BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training BC Provincial Nominee Program Get Youth Working Mitacs

    Importing, Exporting & Trade Development

    Import/Export Guide Canada Border Services Agency Trade & Invest British Columbia Export Development Canada BC Global Business Accelerator Canada Business Network The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service Small Business BC CanExport

    Technology Commercialization and Intellectual Property

    Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative Canadian Intellectual Property Office Canada Business Network Build in Canada Program Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada Sustainable Development Technology Canada

    Government Procurement

    BC Bid Build in Canada Innovation Program City of Richmond Tenders & Proposals Merx Office of the Procurement Ombudsman

    E-Commerce
    Canadian Internet Registration Authority Small Business BC Canada Business Network
    Buying, Selling or Exiting a Business

    Venture Connect Business Development Bank of Canada Canadian Franchise Association ICX Business Listings

    Business Planning & Start-up

    BC Ministry of Employment, Business & Economic Development Small Business BC Canada Business Business Development Bank of Canada BizPaL Online Business Permits and Licences Futurpreneur

    Permits, Licensing & Business Regulations

    BizPaL Online Business Permits and Licences BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation BC Corporate Registry Corporations Canada Canadian Franchise Association BC Business Registry Canada Business One Stop BC Business Registry International Business Activity Program

    Market Research

    BC Statistics Statistics Canada Trade & Invest British Columbia Trade Commissioner Service BC Site Selector Guide BC Global Business Accelerator Small Business BC Canada Business Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

    Financing & Investment

    BC Venture Capital Program Richmond Funding Portal Government of Canada Funding Concierge Canada Business Network Small Business BC Women’s Enterprise Centre BC Provincial Nominee Program Sustainable Development Technology Canada BC Renaissance Capital Fund Business Development Bank of Canada Startup VisaGranted Consulting

    Human Resources & Training

    Back In Motion Work BC Industry Training Authority BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training BC Provincial Nominee Program Get Youth Working Mitacs

    Importing, Exporting & Trade Development

    Import/Export Guide Canada Border Services Agency Trade & Invest British Columbia Export Development Canada BC Global Business Accelerator Canada Business Network The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service Small Business BC

    Technology Commercialization and Intellectual Property

    Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative Canadian Intellectual Property Office Canada Business Network Build in Canada Program Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada Sustainable Development Technology CanadaNational Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) 

    Government Procurement

    BC Bid Build in Canada Innovation Program City of Richmond Tenders & Proposals Merx Office of the Procurement Ombudsman

    E-Commerce
    Canadian Internet Registration Authority Small Business BC Canada Business Network
    Buying, Selling or Exiting a Business

    Venture Connect Business Development Bank of Canada Canadian Franchise Association ICX Business Listings

    Business Planning

    BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation Small Business BC Canada Business Business Development Bank of Canada BizPaL Online Business Permits and Licences

    Permits, Licensing & Business Regulations

    BizPaL Online Business Permits and Licences BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation BC Corporate Registry Corporations Canada Canadian Franchise Association BC Business Registry Canada Business One Stop BC Business Registry

  • Programs

    Richmond Business Resilience program

    The City of Richmond has launched a Business Resilience Program to help local entrepreneurs recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and adapt their businesses so they can emerge from the crisis thriving and able to withstand future economic shocks.

    The program provides businesses with tools and resources from experts including videos, templates and worksheets that can be accessed at the user’s own pace over the next year. It is designed to take an entrepreneur through the process of assessing their current situation, developing new plans and taking simple and achievable steps to strengthen their business. Users of the Richmond Business Resilience Program will also have access to an online community of local entrepreneurs sharing their best practices and ideas, as well as one-on-one support from the City’s Economic Development Office.

    Richmond-based businesses and entrepreneurs can access the free program through an online learning platform delivered by the City’s Economic Development office and powered by Spring Activator, a leading global incubator and accelerator empowering entrepreneurs to build better businesses.

    Course Format
    • Online program hosted in Thinkific that participants have access to for 12 months.
    • Learners can go at their own pace and jump around to different content depending on their current needs.
    • Each lesson has a video delivering the core content, along with a worksheet and resource guide.
    • Learners will also have access to an online community of curated resources and local entrepreneurs.
    Registration

    Register for the free Richmond Business Resilience Program HERE.


     

  • Contact

    The Richmond economic development team can assist you with:
    • identifying a Richmond location for your business
    • expanding or relocating your business within Richmond
    • sourcing economic, property, demographic or other statistical information
    • identifying incentives for locating in Richmond
    • serving as a liaison between your business and City departments and other government agencies
    • connecting your business with local and regional business services and resources
    • facilitating municipal permits, licenses and processes

     

    Contact the Richmond Economic Development Office at [email protected] or call:

     

    Katie Ferland, Economic Development Manager Phone: 604-247-4923
    Julie-Anne Toda, Business Development Liaison Phone: 604-247-4934
    Sherry Baumgardner, Tourism Development Liaison Phone: 604-276-4103

     

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