Federal
Tax registrations and industry rules- CRA Business Number and program accounts such as GST/HST and payroll
- Some industry-specific permits, where they apply to your activity
Licences & Permits for Local Businesses
Business Licence Applications Across Canada
Which licences does your business need, and who issues them? We help owners in Toronto, Guelph, Calgary and across Canada find the answer, prepare the application and keep renewals on track, so you can open on time and stay in good standing with your city.
- Municipal licences, permits and renewals for local businesses
- Toronto, Guelph and Calgary rules explained in plain language
- Zoning and document checks before you apply
- 2,300+individuals & businesses served
- 8+years of tax & accounting experience
- 4offices in Ontario & Alberta
Business licence help from the first search to renewal
A business licence is permission from your city, province or an industry regulator to operate a particular kind of business. There is not one licence that covers every business in Ontario: what you need depends on what you do and where you do it. Restaurants, salons, renovators, retailers and home-based businesses can each face a different mix of municipal licences, zoning approvals, inspections and provincial permits.
Lira Tax & Accounting helps you find the licences that apply, prepare a complete application and keep renewal dates from slipping. We also line the licence up with your other start-up paperwork (business name registration, incorporation, CRA accounts and GST/HST) so each step supports the next.
Ideal forNew business owners, owners opening a second location or adding a service, and anyone renewing a licence that is about to expire.
- Businesses we help
- Restaurants & cafés
- Salons & personal services
- Retail & second-hand shops
- Home-based businesses
- Renovators & contractors
- Food trucks & carts
- Short-term rentals & B&Bs
- Mobile & outdoor vendors
Who issues what: federal, provincial and municipal
A business can deal with all three levels of government. Knowing which one is behind each requirement is half the work.
Provincial
Names, alcohol and regulated trades- Business name registration through the Ontario Business Registry
- In Ontario, an AGCO liquor licence and Smart Serve training for restaurants and bars
- Regulators for licensed professions and trades
Municipal
Your city's licence and approvals- The business licence for the activities your city regulates
- Zoning or land-use approval for your address
- Building, public health and fire inspections where they apply
BizPaL is a free government tool that lists the federal, provincial and municipal permits for your location and type of business. It is a good starting point, but it does not cover every business type, so we cross-check it against your city's own licence list.
Business licence requirements in Toronto, Guelph and Calgary
Each city licenses different types of business and asks for different things. Here is how our three main cities compare.
Toronto
City of Toronto, Municipal Licensing & StandardsMost Toronto business licences are issued by Municipal Licensing & Standards under the City's Licensing By-law (Municipal Code Chapter 545). The licence types, and what each one needs, vary by business.
Often needed for
- Eating and drinking establishments
- Personal service settings such as salons
- Building renovators
- Food trucks, food carts and ice cream trucks
Before you apply
- A police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (the City does not accept third-party checks)
- Overdue bylaw fines must be paid before a licence is issued or renewed
- Zoning questions go to Toronto Building, and construction needs a building permit
Good to know
- Food businesses also need a Toronto Public Health DineSafe pass
- Restaurants and bars serving alcohol also need an AGCO liquor licence and Smart Serve training
- A business trading under another name registers that name with the Province
Guelph
City of Guelph, LicensingGuelph licenses specific types of business under its Business Licence By-law, including food, personal and holistic services, accommodation, amusement, outdoor sales, used goods, and taxis and driving instructors. Check that your type is on the list before you open.
Often needed for
- Food establishments, catering and outdoor food sales
- Personal services establishments
- Bed and breakfasts and short-term rentals
- Second-hand goods stores
Before you apply
- Zoning review applies to many licence types
- Building permits and inspections must be complete before a licence is issued
- Food and personal service licences need a Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health review
Good to know
- If nothing is outstanding, the City typically issues a licence within 90 days, so plan ahead
- Most licences expire on December 31 each year, and many need an inspection to renew
- Commonly requested documents: floor plan, lease, articles of incorporation and general liability insurance
Calgary
City of Calgary, Planning & DevelopmentEvery business operating in Calgary registers with the City and gets location approval. Whether you also need a business licence depends on your activity.
Often needed for
- Restaurants, breweries and food production
- Retail and used merchandise
- Beauty, massage, cleaning and pet care services
- Home-based businesses, which need location approval too
Before you apply
- Check that your activity is allowed in the land use district for your address
- A development permit may be needed for a change of use
- Home Occupation Class 1 is granted with your licence if you meet every rule; Class 2 needs approval, which is not guaranteed and can take about 10 to 12 weeks
Good to know
- Provincially or federally regulated professions, such as accountants, lawyers and doctors, typically do not need a City business licence
- Applications are made online with a myID account
- Most licences are renewed annually, and the City mails a notice about 45 days before expiry
Checked against the City of Toronto, City of Guelph, City of Calgary and Ontario.ca pages in October 2026. By-laws and processes change, so we confirm the current requirements for your business before you apply.
Business somewhere else in Canada? Contact us.
Contact us about your city
Licence rules are set city by city and province by province. We also work with owners in other regions across Canada, by phone and video. Tell us your city and we will confirm the steps that apply to you.
How a business licence application works
Six steps from “What do I need?” to a licence you can renew on time.
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1
Work out what applies
We look at your activity, address and structure, then search the federal, provincial and municipal lists.
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2
Confirm the location
Zoning or land use, and any building permit your premises need, ideally before you sign a lease.
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3
Register the name or corporation
If you trade under a name, it is registered first. Incorporated? Have your articles ready.
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4
Prepare the application
Forms, police check, floor plan, lease and insurance, all checked before you submit.
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5
Submit and pass inspections
Public health, building or fire where required. We keep track of what the City asks for.
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6
Licence issued, renewal diarized
You get the expiry date and a clear list of what renewal needs.
What most often slows a licence application down
These are the usual reasons an application stalls, and how we deal with each.
| What goes wrong | Why it matters | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| The location is not zoned for your use | Cities check zoning or land use for many licences, and a mismatch can stop an application. | We help you check the City's zoning information early, ideally before you sign a lease. |
| An open building permit or unfinished inspection | In Guelph, building permits and inspections must be complete before a licence is issued. | We ask about permits at the start so they do not hold up your opening date. |
| Overdue bylaw fines | Toronto does not issue or renew a licence until overdue bylaw fines are paid. | We flag it in the first conversation, so there are no surprises at the counter. |
| A missing or wrong kind of police check | Some licences need one, and cities accept only certain kinds, for example a check from a police service. | We tell you which one to request and when. |
| A public health review not yet done | Food, personal service and similar businesses need a health review or inspection before opening. | We line it up with the rest of your application timeline. |
| Missing documents | Floor plans, leases, articles of incorporation and liability insurance are commonly requested. | You get a checklist for your licence, and we review the documents before you submit. |
| Missing the renewal date | Renewal dates vary by licence type and city. In Guelph, for example, most licences expire on December 31. | We note your dates, so you renew inside the window. |
What our business licence service covers
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Licence and permit search
A clear list of the licences and permits that apply to your activity and address.
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Application preparation
Forms completed and documents checked, including police checks and proof of insurance.
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Location checks
Help reading your city's zoning and land-use information before you commit.
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Submission and follow-up
We file the application and respond to the City's questions with you.
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Renewals
Renewal dates tracked, with the paperwork ready before the deadline.
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Pointers to regulators
For professional and trade licences, we point you to the right regulator.
What stays with the City
Approvals, inspections and processing times are decided by the City or the regulator, so no one can promise an outcome or a date. What we do is make sure your application is complete, correct and filed at the right time.
How much does a business licence application service cost?
Every business is different, so we quote each one individually instead of publishing a one-size-fits-all price. City licence fees are set by each municipality and are separate from our fee. You will know what we charge before we start.
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Type of businessWhich licences and permits apply.
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Number of licencesOne licence, or several at once.
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LocationsOne address or more, and which cities.
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InspectionsPublic health, building or fire involved.
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New or renewalA first application, a renewal or a catch-up.
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TimingA relaxed timeline, or a fast start.
- Free, no-obligation consultation
- Clear quote agreed before we start
- No hidden fees or surprise billing
Prefer to talk it through first? Call us, or send a quote request.
Call (437) 421-7171 Request a QuoteBusiness licence help across Canada
Get directionsMeet us in person at any of our four offices, or work with us by phone and video. We support owners in Toronto, Guelph and Calgary, and across Canada.
Outside Ontario or Alberta? We can still help.
Ask about your city
Licensing rules are set city by city and province by province. We work with owners across Canada by phone and video, and will confirm the steps that apply to you in your free consultation.
What our business clients say
View other testimonials★★★★★
“I have been to number of accountants for my multiple business ventures, however i found Mr. Razu from Lira Tax and Accounting to be one of the better ones. He is very informative and easily accessible. He is always answering calls and helping small business owners to do their taxes properly. I highly recommend.”
★★★★★
“I had a great experience with Lira Tax & Accounting. The team is professional, knowledgeable, and really goes the extra mile to make things simple and stress-free. They explained everything clearly and took the time to answer all of my questions with patience.
What stood out to me most was their attention to detail and how committed they were to making sure my tax filing was accurate and worked in my favor. I felt confident knowing everything was being handled properly. Their service is reliable, efficient, and the team is also very approachable.
Whether you need help with personal taxes or business accounting, I'd highly recommend Lira Tax & Accounting. They're trustworthy, responsive, and provide excellent value. I'll definitely continue working with them in the future. Thank you for your support. We are happy to give you Five star again 2026 for you excellent services.”
★★★★★
“I had the best experience with Lira Tax & Accounting! From start to finish, their team was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. They made the entire process smooth and stress-free, addressing all my questions with patience and clarity. I truly felt like a valued client, and their attention to detail was outstanding. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for reliable and top-notch tax and accounting services in Canada! They are the best tax and accounting service provider in the town. wish you all the best for help us. Lovely service bring back me again 2026.
Lovely help they done for our business.”
Business licence FAQs: Ontario, Toronto, Guelph and Calgary
Straight answers to the questions business owners ask us most.
It depends on your activity and your city. There is not one licence that covers every business. Many licences are issued by the municipality, and some activities also need provincial or federal permits. BizPaL, a free government tool, lists the permits for your location and type of business, and we cross-check it against your city's own list.
Most Toronto business licences are issued by the City's Municipal Licensing & Standards division under the Licensing By-law. Some businesses also need approvals from Toronto Public Health, such as a DineSafe pass for food businesses, or from the AGCO for alcohol.
Every business operating in Calgary registers with the City and gets location approval. A business licence is required depending on your activity. Provincially or federally regulated professions, such as accountants, lawyers and doctors, typically do not need one.
Guelph licenses specific types of business, including food, personal and holistic services, accommodation and used goods. Zoning, building and public health requirements often come first. If nothing is outstanding, the City typically issues a licence within 90 days.
A business name registration is filed with the Province through the Ontario Business Registry and lets a sole proprietorship or partnership operate under a name. A business licence is permission from a city or regulator to carry on a particular kind of business. Many businesses need both. See our Register or Renew a Business service for the name registration.
Often you need at least location approval. In Calgary, every home-based business needs it, and Home Occupation Class 1 is granted with your licence if you meet all the rules. In Toronto and Guelph, zoning decides whether your activity is allowed at home. We help you check before you start.
It varies by city, licence type and inspections. In Guelph, a licence is typically issued within 90 days if nothing is outstanding. In Calgary, a Home Occupation Class 2 approval can take about 10 to 12 weeks. Because the City or regulator decides, we cannot promise a date, but we can make sure your application is complete and on time.
It depends on the licence. Commonly requested items include a floor plan, your lease, articles of incorporation if you are incorporated, general liability insurance and proof that your business name is registered. Some licences also need a police check. We give you a checklist for your licence.
Yes. A restaurant or bar that serves alcohol applies to the AGCO for a liquor licence and needs Smart Serve training, in addition to the City's licence and any public health approval.
You may be operating without a valid licence, which can cause problems with the City. Renewal dates vary by licence type and city. In Guelph, most licences expire on December 31. We note your dates and prepare the renewal in advance.
Licensed professions and trades are usually regulated by their own regulator rather than the City. We point you to the right one, and we help with any municipal licence or zoning approval your premises need.
It depends on your type of business, how many licences are involved, how many locations you have and whether inspections are needed. City licence fees are set by each municipality and are separate from our fee. Book a free consultation and you will have a clear quote before we start.
Official sources we check
We confirm requirements on the issuing government's own pages. You can read them too:
- Check if you need licences and permitsontario.ca (opens the official site in a new tab)
- BizPaL: business permits and licencesised-isde.canada.ca (opens the official site in a new tab)
- City of Toronto: business regulationstoronto.ca (opens the official site in a new tab)
- City of Guelph: business licencesguelph.ca (opens the official site in a new tab)
- City of Calgary: opening a businesscalgary.ca (opens the official site in a new tab)
Related services for your business
View other servicesRegister/Renew a Business
Register your business name before you apply for a licence.
Learn moreOntario Incorporation
Incorporating? Your licence application uses your corporate details.
Learn moreNUANS Business Name Search
A certified name search before you commit to a name.
Learn moreBusiness Name Change
Changing your business name later.
Learn moreGST/HST Registration
Register for GST/HST once your sales pass the limit.
Learn moreAccounting & Bookkeeping
Keep your books ready from opening day.
Learn moreGuides for new business owners
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Read the guideLet’s get your business licensed
Book a free consultation. We will work out which licences apply, explain the steps in your city and give you a clear quote, with no obligation.
