This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, accounting, or tax advice. The information contained herein is subject to change and may vary from time to time in your region. For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.
Brampton is part of the Golden Horseshoe, which includes Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto in the Ontario province. With a population of over 656,000, it’s the 9th most populated city in the country and 3rd in the Golden Horseshoe.
In 1853, Brampton was named a village, became a town 20 years later, and finally earned the title of city in 1974. Immigration is largely responsible for the city’s recent population growth — it was only around 10,000 in the ’50s and has grown to over 650,000 today. Given its proximity to the greater Toronto area, this is a fantastic place to start a business. Settling on a name for your business is the first step.
Choosing a Business Name for Your Brampton Business
Before applying for a business licence in Brampton, you must have a unique name for your business — one that isn’t already in use or even similar to another business.
For instance, if you’re opening a pizzeria, Tonito’s or City North Pizza wouldn’t be acceptable names because Brampton already has Tonino’s and City South Pizza. Tonito’s is too similar to Tonino’s, and City North Pizza might give people the impression that it’s a new location by the same people running City South Pizza.
Or let’s say you’re opening a brewery or a pub and want to pay homage to Mill Street. Since Mill St. Brewery and Mill St. Brewpub already exist, Mill St. Pub wouldn’t be acceptable. Use your creativity and create a unique business name for Brampton, your business, and you. Make it meaningful.
You’ll have to conduct a business name search to ensure your business’s name isn’t already in use. You can do this on your own using the Canada Business Registry or NUANS. You could also hire a company to perform the search for you, but remember that private companies charge fees for these services.
Obtaining a Business Licence in Brampton, Ontario
To get your Brampton business licence (after you’ve performed the business name search), you’ll need to register according to the Ontario Business Name Act.
Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and companies (LLCs) are required to register.
You can find business name registration details on Ontario’s official website. Alternatively, Ontario Business Central can register your business for you. Depending on your industry and business, you might need additional licences and permits, which you can learn more about and obtain through the City of Brampton official website.
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Applying for a Brampton Business Licence
Before you apply for a Brampton business licence:
- Check to see what business permits you may need.
- Register for Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) collection through Revenue Canada by calling 1 (800) 959-5525.
- Register your business’s name with Service Ontario.
- Check out the BizPal website to obtain information about the exact type of business licence you must obtain.
Everything else you need can be found on Brampton’s Entrepreneur Centre page.
The following are handy resources:
Brampton City Zoning Bylaws
Brampton Business Licensing Bylaw
Brampton User Fees Bylaw
Tips for Success with a Brampton Small Business
In addition to offering guidelines for applying for a new business licence, the City of Brampton website asks new business owners if they’re ready to start a new business and the many challenges it entails. You can minimise your challenges by making a business plan and finding a solid partner. Ready for an upgrade? Streamline sales and reporting with Square.