Going Online: Websites and Ecommerce
Although you don’t need any special permits or licences to launch a website, there is legislation governing specific aspects of website operations.
For example, if you're collecting data from your visitors, your site might be subject to Canadian and international privacy laws (in Canada, collecting personal data online falls under PIPEDA, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act).
If you're sending emails for a marketing campaign, you will need to be aware of anti-spam legislation. And although Canada doesn’t have specific laws around marketing online to children, in the U.S., the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)governs how data can or cannot be collected from children.
If you wish to collect data online, send regular emails, or market to children, a lawyer specializing in privacy law can help guide your efforts.
Taxes and Your Online Business
Many of the tax and export regulations that a “bricks and mortar” business must adhere to apply to the ecommerce world as well. A general rule of thumb for taxation purposes is that your storefront is the computer that your client is purchasing your goods and services from. You’re therefore expected to register, collect, and remit taxes accordingly. This doesn’t mean, however, that you need to register to collect tax in every jurisdiction in the world.
Most sales taxes have a threshold at which your business needs to start collecting and remitting taxes. Refer to our Tax Requirements—Starting section for more information.
For more information on doing business online, visit Small Business BC's E-Business Connection.
Franchising: Duplicating Your Success
You can take your successful business idea and create a franchise model that can be sold to others. There are certain national regulations that apply to franchises that you should be aware of, including special tax rules. However, unlike some other provinces in Canada, British Columbia does not have specific franchise legislation.
The Canadian Franchise Association is a great resource for you if you’re interested in franchising your business.
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