Seven guides, written in the order you need them — each one from a process the founder actually went through, and each checked against official sources before publication. Guide 1 is live now; the rest are in preparation and will be published here as they are finished. Follow them in order, or jump to the one that matches your situation.
What a sole proprietorship is, the own-name vs. trade name decision, the registry-agent filing step by step, your Business Number, and the first moves after you register.
For: first-time founders starting solo Read the guideThe BN is the key to every door, from a business bank account to importing — and a wrong or missing program account later means penalties and delays. How to get your BN, which CRA accounts you need, and setting up CRA My Business Account.
For: owners who registered but are unsure what CRA requiresIf the money setup is not in place from day one, tax time and credit applications both get harder. Why a separate account, the documents banks ask for, and a simple cash-flow routine.
For: solo operators mixing personal and business moneyThe official side of importing, in order: a Business Number, an RM import account, and registration on the CBSA's CARM portal — plus working with a customs broker and checking product certification before your first order.
For: entrepreneurs planning to bring in products to sellMost people assume provincial registration is enough — a missing city licence usually surfaces at the first inspection. Who needs a City of Edmonton licence, home-based business rules, renewals and address changes.
For: Edmonton founders who finished provincial registrationHourly or per-job pricing, the registration–licence–insurance trio, bookings and work orders, and where the first customers come from — drawn from two businesses still operating in Edmonton, MunirBuilds and Prairie Polish.
For: people selling a trade or cleaning service from homeIf first-year taxes arrive as a surprise, cash flow breaks. Which records to keep and for how long, the habit of setting a tax share aside, the GST/HST filing rhythm, and a month-by-month first-year calendar.
For: sole proprietors approaching their first tax seasonWork through the one-page Canada Business Startup Checklist. Every item on it points back to the guide that explains it.