Start a business in Nova Scotia.
Registration with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, 14% sales tax, WCB Nova Scotia, licences, bank account and Nova Scotia Nominee Program business plans. Here is how it works and what we do for you.
- Capital · cities
- Halifax (capital) · Dartmouth, Sydney, Truro
- Statute
- Companies Act (Nova Scotia)
- Name search
- NUANS report (Nova Scotia) for incorporations
- Sales tax
- 14% combined: 14% HST
- Workers’ compensation
- WCB Nova Scotia
- Business immigration
- Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP): Entrepreneur Stream, International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Business support
- Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) · Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)
What makes Nova Scotia different.
Nova Scotia registers businesses through the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, and Halifax has one of the fastest-growing populations in the country, much of it newcomers starting restaurants, care businesses, trades and professional practices. The HST is now 14%, the lowest in Atlantic Canada.
We prepare your NUANS report and incorporation or partnership registration, register your business name, set up CRA accounts and WCB Nova Scotia, and prepare an NSNP Entrepreneur Stream business plan when you need one.
- Every business operating in Nova Scotia registers with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, including sole proprietorships and partnerships.
- HST is 14% since April 2025; charge one rate and file one return through CRA.
- A registered agent address in Nova Scotia is required for companies.
- Annual renewal with the Registry keeps the business in good standing.
- Employers register with WCB Nova Scotia; coverage is compulsory in most industries with three or more workers.
Popular with newcomers here: Ocean technology and fisheries, Restaurants and hospitality, Health and home care, Construction and trades, Retail, Professional services.
How to start a business in Nova Scotia.
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 Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), this is where the business plan is written.
Business plansChoose the structure and the name
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, Nova Scotia or federal. Name search: NUANS report (Nova Scotia) for incorporations.
Registration & incorporationRegister with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies
File the registration or articles of incorporation under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia). Federal corporations register extra-provincially here as well.
Get your CRA Business Number and tax accounts
Business Number with GST/HST (14% HST), payroll and corporate tax accounts. Nova Scotia reduced its HST to 14% effective April 1, 2025. One registration and one return through CRA.
Register as an employer
Register with WCB Nova Scotia 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 Joint Stock Companies.
ComplianceEvery business solution, delivered remotely in Nova Scotia.
From Halifax to Truro, the same eight service lines, with the Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia 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.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
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 Nova Scotia: questions we hear most
Short answers. For anything specific to your situation, book a consultation and we will walk through it.
What is the first step to start a business in Nova Scotia?
Choose the structure, reserve or search the name, and register with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. We then set up the CRA Business Number, HST and payroll accounts, and your bank account.
What is the HST rate in Nova Scotia?
14%, following the reduction on April 1, 2025. We make sure your invoices, point of sale and accounting software use the right rate.
Do I need a Nova Scotia address to incorporate?
A company must have a recognized agent and registered office in the province. We explain the options and coordinate the address requirement as part of the registration scope.
How does the NSNP Entrepreneur Stream work?
Candidates establish or buy and actively run a business in Nova Scotia, then may be nominated. The expression of interest and application require a business plan, which we prepare with your consultant.
Start a business in another province or territory.
Expanding from Nova Scotia to a second province? That is an extra-provincial registration; we file it and keep both in good standing.
Starting in Nova Scotia? 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.