How to Start a Roofing Business In British Columbia
Here is some information on how to start a roofing business in the province of British Columbia, Canada. You must do your own thorough research, as laws change regularly. Here are some steps you may have to take (not necessarily in order) to start your roofing company, along with links to more information.
Getting started– British Columbia provides a few helpful websites for getting your business started: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/managing-a-business/starting-a-business and http://smallbusinessbc.ca/
1. Choose and register your business name.
Find out more about choosing and registering your business name here: https://www.bcregistrynames.gov.bc.ca/nro/
2. Select your business structure.
Sole-proprietor, Partnership, Corporation, etc. Find out more here: http://smallbusinessbc.ca/article/how-to-choose-the-right-business-structure-for-your-small-business/
3. Register your business.
You can register your business here: http://www.bcbusinessregistry.ca/
4. Open a Business Account with your bank.
You will need to open a separate bank account for your business with your new business name.
5. Find out about taxes and hire an accountant.
You may want to file your own taxes if you are a small company. As you grow, it will be easier to have an accountant do the work. More info about taxes here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/taxes.html
6. Get Liability Insurance.
Find an insurance agent that offers liability insurance. You may want to shop around, as prices and options can vary. Roofers have a higher risk than other types of contractors, so insurance costs will be more for roofers than landscapers, painters, etc.
7. Register as a Contractor.
Check with your local government agency to see if you need to register as a contractor.
8. Worker’s Compensation.
The insurance agency that provided your liability insurance should be able to help with this.
9. Get Health Insurance.
Since you will be self-employed, you will need your own health insurance. If you have employees, you will need a plan that will include their health needs also.
10. City License.
You may be required to obtain a license to do business in a particular locale, whether you are a resident, or not.
11. Permits.
Depending on the locale, you may need to apply for permits before commencing certain types of roofing jobs.
12. Building Code and Inspections.
You must be aware of building codes for particular jobs, and may be subject to inspections.