Messy Bed by Helga Weber
Are you one of the many dreaming of having their own cozy, friendly house providing lodging for travellers and other guests? Why not go for it?! Hopefully, the following lines will give you an idea on some of the basic considerations you should think of before taking the decisive step.
Getting over the hurdle
Of course, starting your Bed & Breakfast business in Toronto can be a tough job; the top B&B web page, lists more than 80 B&Bs in the area, and fighting your way through the skilled competition is never easy at the beginning. However, if you manage to offer your guests first-class service and a personalized approach, and combine a bit of luck with some entrepreneurial skills, you’re on the best track for success.
Permits & Licenses
Another issue that should be examined carefully is the horrendous amount of paperwork that you have to get through to start your business. The list of various permits that you have to acquire in Toronto certainly is far from short — it can reach up to 31 items. On the other hand, some of the regulations may not apply to you. Check out the short overview that we’ve prepared.
First of all, you’ll certainly need a business license issued by Municipal Licensing and Standards. Additionally, don’t forget to register with the Canada Revenue Agency to get a Business Number. If you lack either, it’s more or less impossible to start a B&B. Another must is a Master Business License that confirms that your business name has been registered on the public record maintained by the Ministry of Government Services, Companies and Personal Property Security Branch and needs to be renewed every five years.
If you decide to build your B&B house from scratch, you’ll encounter loads of construction regulations that are mostly taken care of by the construction company. Just to give you an idea about some of the permits you may need: there’s a Building Permit, a Drain Service Permit, a Plumbing Permit, a Swimming Pool Enclosure Permit or Sewage Works related permits, and more than 13 others, so don’t hesitate to look for professional help to avoid any inconvenience.
If think this must be everything, make no mistake: the bureaucracy stretches even further. To install a sign on your home or nearby, you will be required to obtain a Commercial Sign Permit, Sign Permits for signs on your building or property, and a Temporary Sign Permit for signs that are not permanently fixed to the ground.
Concerning your services, you’ll have to request a Liquor Sales License that may not be so easy to get from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and also prove that you possess Food Handler certification. Moreover, make sure to get rights for music production — a Performing Rights License for live music and Sound Licences for recorded sound.
The last and the least probable permit you might need is called a Migratory Birds Regulations Permit in case you disrupt the habitat or hunt of migratory birds.
We can only hope that this article hasn’t just disrupted your dreams of starting up your own B&B. Don’t worry; the paperwork isn’t as difficult as it seems, and your passion for your dream will surely overcome the many obstacles.
