Check your municipal licence and zoning

It depends on your municipality

There is no general Manitoba business licence. Each municipality decides what it licenses.

• In Winnipeg, the city licenses only a short list of business types, such as used goods dealers, flea markets and precious metals dealers. It says you do not need a business licence if you work from home.
• If you sell used goods, check Winnipeg's used goods dealer licence before you start.

Look up your own municipality rather than assuming Winnipeg's answer applies to you.

Home-based business

Winnipeg requires a home-based business development permit under its zoning by-law if business mail comes to your home or you do the business's administrative work there. That covers most home-based online stores, so check the zoning rules for your address before you start.

Be upfront about what you sell

Some products or business types carry extra by-laws or requirements, including food and used goods. Tell your municipality exactly what you will sell so you know before you start, not after.

Keep the answer

Save your permit or licence. If the municipality confirms you need neither, get that in writing or save the page, because banks and suppliers sometimes ask.