Starting a business in Newfoundland and Labrador
A province of St. John’s, hundreds of outports and the vast North of Labrador, with a culture all its own. Here’s how new entrepreneurs get started, and get online.
The landscape for new businesses
St. John’s is the province’s hub: government, the university, the port, the offshore industry and a lively downtown of restaurants, pubs, shops and music. Many first businesses start there, in food, tourism, trades and professional services.
Outside the capital, the economy follows the sea and the land. Fishing and seafood, boat and engine repair, construction trades and home services keep communities going along every bay, while Labrador’s mining and the island’s forests add their own spin-offs. Tourism — icebergs, whales, hiking trails and historic sites — brings a short, busy summer season for tours, rentals, crafts and small lodgings.
The province has a small but proud francophone community, notably on the Port-au-Port Peninsula, and many entrepreneurs who come home after years working away. Its music, crafts and food traditions are a natural starting point for creative businesses.
Real help for new entrepreneurs
Help for new entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- NL Registry of Companies — Government Services’ registry for business names and companies in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) — The federal regional development agency for the four Atlantic provinces.
- CBDC Newfoundland and Labrador — Community Business Development Corporations: local loans, advice and training across the province.
- Horizon TNL — Francophone economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Futurpreneur — Start-up financing paired with a volunteer business mentor, for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39.
- BDC — The Business Development Bank of Canada: financing, plus free guides and templates for people starting out.
Your first steps in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Register your business name with the Registry of Companies (Government Services) if you trade under a name other than your own.
- Know your HST. The province uses the 15 % HST. Registration with the CRA is required once taxable sales pass CA$30,000 over four consecutive quarters; you can register earlier and get your business number.
- Mind the clock. Most of the island runs on Newfoundland time, half an hour ahead of the Maritimes. Put your hours on your website so mainland customers don’t guess.
- Get found and look the part. A free Google Business Profile and an email at your own domain help customers across the bays find and trust you.
Canada Revenue Agency: get a business number · CRA: GST/HST rates by province
How WebNewBee helps
When your customers are spread across outports and visitors plan from far away, your website does the travelling for you. WebNewBee builds it from your answers in about a minute, with one of 30 designs, in English, French or both.
One simple price
CA$6.99/month · plus applicable taxes
- Website with up to 6 pages, written by our AI from your facts
- Up to 3 email addresses on your own domain
- Your own domain from CA$24.99/year, or a free yourname.webnewbee.page address
- Secure (https), fast, mobile-friendly
- English, French or both
- Cancel anytime — no contract
Questions
Are there WebNewBee town pages for Newfoundland and Labrador?
Not yet. Our town guides cover New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI for now; WebNewBee itself works everywhere in the province.
What tax do I charge in Newfoundland and Labrador?
If you’re registered for GST/HST, the 15 % HST on most sales. Below CA$30,000 in taxable sales over four quarters, registering is optional.