OneStop Business Registration

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Registering a business has never been simpler

OneStop Business registration is a web-based tool created to simplify the business registration process in British Columbia (BC). The B.C. Ministry of Finance sponsors the program in partnership with numerous other provincial, federal and municipal agencies. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) contributed funding through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement, a joint multi-million-dollar agreement developed to encourage economic development and job creation in B.C.

Launched in 1996, the OneStop initiative is a thriving example of e-government. Services include:

• Business Registration, enabling a business to register with multiple public sector agencies and local governments in one step.
• Business Address Change, enabling a business to notify multiple public sector agencies and local governments of an address change in one step.
• Business Number, assignment of a business number (BN) for each B.C. business interacting with the public sector. BNs are unique identifiers that make it easier and more convenient for businesses to work with the public sector.

Additional services are available, Including GST, PST and Workers’ Compensation Board registration; payroll deductions; corporate income tax services; hotel room tax and import/export accounting. Businesses can also apply for municipal business licenses and instantly register their sole proprietorship or partnership with the province.

So far, 78 B.C. municipalities have joined the OneStop Business Registration initiative, allowing entrepreneurs to purchase municipal business licenses for serveral municipalities at a central location.

To date, 643,000 clients have used the system to register their businesses with participating government departments and agencies, saving business people and new entrepereneurs both time and money.

In 2001, Onestop Business Registration was selected as a finalist in the Public Services and Democracy category for the Stockholm Challenge Award, which recognizes pioneering IT projects around the world. OneStop was also selected as the winner in the Electronic Service Delivery category for the 2002 B.C. Public Sector Transformation Awards. These awards formally recognize leadership, innovation and excellence in the management and use of information technologies within B.C.’s public service and Crown corporations.

OneStop is currently accessible through 102 computer kiosk locations throughout the province, including: Small business B.C., Victoria Connects, the B.C. Champers of Commerce and Community Futures Development Corporations. For a listing of locations, or to use the OneStop Business Registration online, please visit http://www.onestop.gov.bc.ca/ or by phone through the OneStop Help Desk at 1-877-822-6727 or (250) 370-0332.