Resources & Toolkit
The tools & links I actually use to build in Canada.
My working stack plus every official government link you need to start and run a business in Canada — bookmarked in one place.
Browse by category
🏛️Business RegistrationStructure, registration, trademarks, permits & hiring🧾Taxes & GST/HSTCRA accounts, GST/HST, payroll & corporate tax📦ImportingCBSA, CARM, tariffs & the import-export account💰Loans & GrantsGovernment-backed loans, grants & funding programs🧰Tools I UseThe banking, payments & selling tools I actually use
No matches — try a different word, or browse the sections below.
Disclosure: Some links below are referral or affiliate links. If you sign up through them, I may earn a small commission or bonus at no extra cost to you — and sometimes you get a bonus too. I only recommend tools I actually use or believe in. See my full disclosure.
Banking & money
Venn
Business banking built for Canadian small businesses.
Wise
The cheapest way I've found to pay international suppliers (I use it for India).
EQ Bank
High-interest savings for personal and business.
Wealthsimple
Investing and longer-term savings.
Selling online
Shopify
Where I build my stores — the easiest way to launch without a developer.
Running the business
Google Workspace
Professional email on your own domain, plus docs and storage.
Content & marketing
Metricool
Schedule and track your social posts in one place.
Free & paid downloads
Supplier Due Diligence Checklist (Canada)
Free — vet any overseas supplier before you pay.
Small Business Starter Toolkit (Canada)
A full 49-page guide — validation to launch. Launching soon for $5.
🏛️ Government & official links
Last checked: August 2026 — I review these monthly. Programs, rules, and links change, so always confirm on the official government site before you act.
Every official link you need, from registering your business to running it — CRA, incorporation, trademarks, importing, permits, and hiring. Federal plus Alberta. These go straight to the source (canada.ca, alberta.ca, and government agencies), so you're never guessing.
Registering & structuring your business
Starting a business (Government of Canada)
Federal hub that walks you through every step before you operate, including choosing a business structure.
Corporations Canada
Canada’s federal corporate regulator — incorporate federally and file annual returns and corporate changes.
Business registration with the CRA
When you need a Business Number and program accounts, and how to register your business with the CRA.
Incorporate an Alberta corporation
Step-by-step provincial guide to setting up an Alberta corporation as its own legal entity.
Register a business name (Alberta)
How to register an Alberta trade name (sole proprietorship) or partnership and get your registration statement.
Registry agents (Alberta)
Alberta registrations and incorporations are filed through authorized private registry agents — find one here.
CRA & taxes
CRA My Business Account
Register for and sign in to manage GST/HST, payroll, and corporate tax online.
GST/HST for businesses
Everything on registering for, charging, collecting, reporting, and remitting GST/HST.
When to register & charge GST/HST
The $30,000 small-supplier threshold and exactly when you must register and begin charging.
Payroll
Open a payroll account and calculate, deduct, and remit source deductions for employees.
Payroll Deductions Online Calculator
Free CRA tool to calculate federal and Alberta payroll deductions per pay period.
Corporation income tax (T2)
CRA hub for corporate income tax, including filing the T2 return, rates, and payments.
Small business & self-employed income
Income tax guidance for sole proprietors, partnerships, and the self-employed.
Making payments to the CRA
Payment methods for remitting GST/HST, payroll, and corporate taxes.
Trademarks & intellectual property
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Main entry point for all IP registration in Canada — patents, trademarks, copyright, and designs.
Trademarks
Search the trademarks database and apply to register a brand name, logo, or slogan.
Patents
Information and applications for exclusive rights to an invention.
Copyright
Learn about, search, and register copyright for creative and written works.
Industrial designs
Register and protect the visual shape, configuration, or ornamentation of a product.
Importing & exporting
Import commercial goods into Canada (CBSA)
CBSA hub of services and programs for commercial importers — tariffs, valuation, rulings, compliance.
Step-by-step guide to importing
Six-step, plain-language walkthrough of the full commercial import process.
Import-export program account (RM)
How to add an import-export account to your Business Number, required to import commercial goods.
CARM — assess & pay duties/taxes
The CBSA system importers now use to manage and pay duties and taxes on imported goods.
CARM Client Portal
Online portal to register your RM account, view statements, and pay duties and taxes.
Customs Tariff
Find the classification number and duty rate that applies to your imported goods.
Permits, licences & hiring
Permits, licences & regulations
Federal gateway to permits and licences across all levels of government.
BizPaL — find your permits
Tells you the exact permits and licences your business type needs at your specific location.
City of Calgary business licence
Apply for and manage a municipal business licence within the City of Calgary.
Hiring & managing employees
Federal hub on payroll, wages, recruiting, and employer obligations.
WCB-Alberta (workers’ compensation)
Alberta’s workplace injury insurance system — most employers must set up coverage.
Employment standards (Alberta)
Provincial rules on minimum wage, hours, overtime, leaves, and termination.
Record of Employment (ROE)
The ROE you must issue when an employee stops working, and how it supports EI claims.
Provincial & local (Alberta / Calgary)
Small business resources (Alberta)
Alberta’s central hub of guidance, funding, and mentorship for small business.
Business Link
Government-funded nonprofit offering free, tailored advice to Alberta small businesses.
Find a business registry (Alberta)
Locate an Alberta registry to file incorporations, trade names, and corporate transactions.
Find corporation details (Alberta)
Search Alberta’s corporate registry for details about a registered corporation or business name.
💸 Government-backed loans & grants
Official federal and Alberta programs that lend to or fund small businesses. Programs and eligibility change often — always confirm current details on the program's own page before you apply.
Government-backed loans
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Shares lending risk with banks so small businesses can get loans up to $1.15M for equipment, property, and more.
BDC financing
The federal bank for entrepreneurs — small business loans, working capital, equipment, and real estate financing.
Futurpreneur startup financing
Government-backed startup loans up to $75,000 plus mentorship for entrepreneurs aged 18–39.
Grants & funding programs
Business Benefits Finder
Official search tool that matches your business to federal, provincial, and municipal grants, loans, and tax credits.
CanExport SMEs
Grants covering up to 50% of costs (up to $50,000) to help small businesses develop new export markets.
NRC IRAP
Funding, advice, and connections to help innovative small businesses accelerate R&D and get to market.
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
Whole-of-government funding and support to help women-owned businesses start, grow, and reach markets.
Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Loans up to $50,000 for women entrepreneurs, delivered through partner community organizations.
Black Entrepreneurship Program
Loan fund (up to $250,000), ecosystem fund, and knowledge hub for Black business owners across Canada.
Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program
Non-repayable contributions and business services for Indigenous entrepreneurs via Indigenous financial institutions.
PrairiesCan
The federal regional development agency for Alberta, funding business growth, innovation, and community projects.
Canada Digital Adoption Program
Grants/financing to adopt digital tech (status: closed to new applicants as of 2026 — pre-approved grantees only).
Alberta funding
Capital & financing for entrepreneurs (Alberta)
Alberta hub directing entrepreneurs to equity, debt, and grant options at every business stage.
Alberta Innovates funding
Provincial grants and vouchers across health, ag, clean tech, and digital (some programs paused during a 2026 transition).
Community Futures Alberta
Federally supported network providing business loans and advice to entrepreneurs in rural Alberta.
These government links are provided for convenience and were checked at the time of writing. Government pages move and program rules change — please verify on the official site. Nothing here is legal, tax, or financial advice.