Start a business in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Registration with the Registry of Companies, Digital Government and Service NL, 15% sales tax, WorkplaceNL, licences, bank account and Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program business plans. Here is how it works and what we do for you.
- Capital · cities
- St. John's (capital) · Mount Pearl, Corner Brook, Gander, Labrador City
- Statute
- Corporations Act (Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Name search
- Name reservation through the Registry of Companies
- Sales tax
- 15% combined: 15% HST
- Workers’ compensation
- WorkplaceNL
- Business immigration
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP): International Entrepreneur Category, International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
- Business support
- Business NL (Department of Industry, Energy and Technology) · Community Business Development Corporations
What makes Newfoundland and Labrador different.
Newfoundland and Labrador registers businesses through the Registry of Companies and its online CADO system, with HST as one 15% tax. The province actively recruits immigrant entrepreneurs through the NLPNP, and businesses in St. John’s and the regional centres face far less competition than in larger cities.
SZ Business Solution reserves your name, files your incorporation or registration, sets up CRA and WorkplaceNL accounts, prepares your NLPNP business plan with your consultant, and gets your bank account and bookkeeping running remotely.
- Companies and business names are filed through the Registry of Companies, mostly online via CADO.
- HST is 15% through CRA; no separate provincial sales tax return.
- Employers with payroll above the threshold pay the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax (HAPSET).
- WorkplaceNL registration is required for most employers.
- Annual returns keep a company in good standing with the Registry of Companies.
Popular with newcomers here: Fisheries and aquaculture, Oil, gas and mining services, Tourism and hospitality, Construction, Health care services, Technology.
How to start a business in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The sequence matters: a bank will not open the account before the registration exists, and CRA cannot issue accounts before the Business Number. We run the steps in order.
Plan the business
Confirm the idea, the market and the money. If you are applying through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), this is where the business plan is written.
Business plansChoose the structure and the name
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, Newfoundland and Labrador or federal. Name search: Name reservation through the Registry of Companies.
Registration & incorporationRegister with the Registry of Companies, Digital Government and Service NL
File the registration or articles of incorporation under the Corporations Act (Newfoundland and Labrador). Federal corporations register extra-provincially here as well.
Get your CRA Business Number and tax accounts
Business Number with GST/HST (15% HST), payroll and corporate tax accounts. HST (15%) is administered by CRA with a single registration and return.
Register as an employer
Register with WorkplaceNL when you hire, set up payroll deductions and remittances, and issue T4s each February.
Payroll & taxLicences, permits and bank account
Municipal business licence and industry permits (BizPaL lists them), then the business bank account with the registration documents in hand.
Bank accountsBrand, website and launch
Logo, signage, Google Business Profile, business email and website, so the business looks established from day one.
Branding & signsKeep it running and in good standing
Monthly bookkeeping, sales tax returns, payroll, the T2 or T1 at year-end, and the annual return with the Registry of Companies, Digital Government and Service NL.
ComplianceEvery business solution, delivered remotely in Newfoundland and Labrador.
From St. John's to Labrador City, the same eight service lines, with the Newfoundland and Labrador rules handled for you.
Business Registration & Incorporation
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, federal or provincial, in all 13 provinces and territories.
Make it official. Anywhere in Canada. 02 · PlanBusiness Plans for Immigration, Banks & Investors
Canada and USA immigration business plans, bank and BDC loan plans, investor pitch decks and financial projections.
A plan that opens doors. 03 · BankBusiness Bank Accounts
Open your business account at any Canadian bank or credit union, with the paperwork prepared and the appointment booked.
Open for business. Literally. 04 · CountAccounting, Bookkeeping & Tax
Monthly bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST, T1 personal and T2 corporate returns, financial statements and CRA support.
Books that balance. Filings on time. 05 · BrandBranding, Marketing, Social Media & Signs
Logo and identity, business cards and print, storefront and vehicle signs, social media, Google Business Profile and ads.
Look established from day one. 06 · BuildIT & Digital Solutions
Domain and business email, website and online store, booking and POS, accounting and CRM software, cloud and security basics.
Your business, online by launch day. 07 · RunVirtual Assistance & Office Support
Inbox and calendar, appointments, customer follow-ups, data entry, document preparation and the back office, monthly.
A back office without the overhead. 08 · KeepCompliance, Corporate Changes & Closing
Annual returns, director and address changes, name changes, extra-provincial registrations, licences, dissolutions and wind-downs.
Stay in good standing. Change with confidence.Business plans for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program.
We write the plan to the stream’s criteria (investment, job creation, location, your experience) in the format the program expects, working directly with your licensed immigration consultant or lawyer, who manages the application. We do not provide immigration advice.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- International Entrepreneur Category
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
Federal pathways that also apply
- Start-up Visa (SUV)
- Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)
- C11 entrepreneur and self-employed work permits
- Owner-operator and LMIA-supported plans
Program names, streams and intake status change; your consultant confirms what is open before we start the plan.
Starting a business in Newfoundland and Labrador: questions we hear most
Short answers. For anything specific to your situation, book a consultation and we will walk through it.
Can I register a business in Newfoundland and Labrador from outside Canada?
Yes, registration can be completed remotely. We prepare and file the documents and coordinate your bank account opening; your immigration consultant advises on any status requirements.
What is the NLPNP International Entrepreneur Category?
A provincial pathway for entrepreneurs who establish or buy a business in the province and operate it before nomination. The application requires a business plan, which we prepare to the program’s format.
Which taxes does a small business in NL collect?
HST at 15% once registered. Payroll deductions apply if you have employees, and HAPSET applies only above the payroll exemption.
Do you serve Labrador and the regional centres?
Yes. Everything we do is remote and document-based, so Corner Brook, Gander and Labrador City get the same service as St. John’s.
Start a business in another province or territory.
Expanding from Newfoundland and Labrador to a second province? That is an extra-provincial registration; we file it and keep both in good standing.
Starting in Newfoundland and Labrador? Tell us what you are opening.
One short call, then a written scope with our fee and the government fees listed separately. Registration, bank account, books and brand can all be one scope.