Questions, answered

You can start as a sole proprietor, which is the simplest and cheapest route. In Alberta you register a trade name through a registry agent, or you can incorporate for liability protection. My full walkthrough is in Starting a business in Alberta.

You may need to register once your worldwide taxable supplies exceed $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters. Some business types differ — confirm with the CRA. See GST/HST: when to register.

Landed cost is the all-in cost of getting one unit from your supplier to your shelf in Canada — product, freight, duty, import GST, brokerage, and currency. It’s usually far higher than the invoice price, and it’s what you should price off. Try the free landed-cost calculator or read how to calculate it.

It varies a lot by type, but for a lean home-based product business I’d budget roughly $5,000–$15,000, with inventory being the biggest swing. See the real breakdown and the startup-cost calculator.

Often yes — even a home-based online business in Calgary usually needs a municipal business licence. Rules differ by city, so check your own municipality.

The real cost is hidden in the exchange rate, not the wire fee. I use Wise for the mid-market rate with a transparent fee. Full comparison in best ways to pay overseas suppliers.

Not legally, but most new importers use one for their first shipments — they classify your goods, calculate duty and GST, and clear the shipment. See customs brokerage fees explained.

Some are. If you sign up through my link I may earn a small bonus (often you get one too) at no extra cost, and I only recommend tools I actually use to run my own businesses. See my full affiliate disclosure.

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It’s a paid guide I’m building that walks you from idea validation to launch, tailored for Canadian founders. It’s launching soon — join the waitlist on the toolkit page and I’ll let you know when it’s ready.