The setup roadmap is a single dated document that tells you what to do, in what order, before your Burnaby company opens. It links every government step to the official source and marks every legal, tax or insurance decision for the professional who should make it with you.
What the roadmap is, and what it isn't
It is a project-management tool for founders. Starting a company involves a dozen agencies and suppliers, each with its own website, and none of them tells you what comes before their step. The roadmap does.
It is not legal or tax advice, and we never file on your behalf. We are business and marketing consultants. Where a choice affects your liability or taxes, such as sole proprietorship versus incorporation, the roadmap says "decide with your lawyer and accountant" and lists the questions to bring.
Who it is for
- Founders who have checked the market and are ready to set up. If you haven't, start with the launch plan.
- People opening their first company in BC, who don't yet know how the provincial and City steps fit together.
- Owners opening a Burnaby location of a company registered elsewhere.
- Anyone with a fixed opening date that the setup work has to meet.
What is included
The steps vary by company, but most roadmaps include these, in roughly this order:
- Name screening. We help you shortlist names and check them against obvious conflicts, domain availability and search results. For trademark searching, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office has a public database, and a trademark lawyer or agent should advise on anything you plan to rely on.
- BC name request. The Province says an approved name is held for 56 days, so you must register or incorporate within that window. We schedule the request so the clock doesn't run out while you wait on something else.
- Registration through BC Registries. Done by you or your lawyer through BC Registries and Online Services, after the structure decision.
- Location and zoning confirmation. The City advises checking the Zoning Bylaw before signing a lease. This step sits before the lease, not after it.
- City of Burnaby business licence. Applied for through the City's business licence page, with a note of any extra departmental checks your type of business needs.
- Business number, GST question and banking. The CRA sets a $30,000 small supplier threshold for most businesses; whether and when to register is a question for your accountant, and the roadmap reminds you to ask it.
- Insurance, contracts and hiring. Flagged for your broker and lawyer. If you will hire staff, we link WorkSafeBC so you can confirm your obligations directly.
- Tools. Phone number, business email, booking or quoting software, payments and bookkeeping software, chosen so they connect to the launch website.
- Public launch steps. Domain, Google Business Profile, signage and printed material, all after the name is final.
Timeline
Preparing the roadmap takes one to two weeks. Following it is up to you, and the realistic duration depends mostly on your location: a home-based consultancy may move from name to licence in weeks, while premises that need building work or extra approvals can take months. The roadmap shows that before you announce an opening date.
How results are measured
Success is simple to check: no step done twice, no step done out of order, and an opening date that holds. We include a status column so you can see at a glance which steps are waiting on you, a government office or a professional.
Mistakes we see most
- Buying the domain and printing cards before the name is approved. Name first, everything else after.
- Letting the 56-day name reservation lapse while waiting on a lease or a partner.
- Signing a lease before checking zoning for your exact use.
- Assuming a registered business name is a trademark. They are different systems, which is why trademark questions go to a lawyer or agent.
- Choosing software in isolation. Your phone, website, booking and bookkeeping tools should work together from day one.
For a free version of the sequence, read our Burnaby launch sequence guide. For costs, see pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Will you register the company for me?
No. Registration happens through BC Registries, either by you or by a lawyer you hire. The roadmap tells you when to do it, what to have ready and what decision you need to make first.
Can you tell me whether to incorporate?
No, that is a legal and tax decision for a lawyer and an accountant. We list the questions to bring them, such as liability, expected profit and whether you plan to bring in partners, so the meeting is shorter and cheaper.
Do I need a Burnaby business licence if I work from home?
The City of Burnaby says home-based businesses need a licence too, and they must follow home-business rules such as limits on customers on site. Confirm your situation with the City's licensing office before you open.
How long does the roadmap take to prepare?
Usually one to two weeks after the intake call, because it depends on your structure, location and opening date.
Sources
- City of Burnaby: Business Licences (2026-10-23)
- Province of BC: Businesses and Incorporated Companies (2026-10-23)
- Province of BC: Request approval for a business name (2026-10-23)
- Canada Revenue Agency: When to register for and start charging the GST/HST (2026-10-23)
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office: Trademarks (2026-10-23)