Building a business in the Yukon
Yukon is a small territory with a big landscape and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Here’s what people start in the North, where to get help, and how to get online.
Yukon’s entrepreneurial landscape
Most Yukoners live in Whitehorse, where government, health care, the university and services employ many people, and where first businesses often fill local gaps: trades, cleaning, child care, food, fitness, design and consulting.
Tourism is a pillar: the Klondike and Dawson City, the Alaska Highway, wilderness rivers and the northern lights bring visitors for guiding, outfitting, rentals, lodgings, crafts and photography, with a busy summer and a growing winter season. Mining exploration creates demand for camp services, expediting and trades.
Yukon First Nations, many self-governing, are central to the territory’s economy and culture, and there’s an active francophone community. Remote distances and long winters reward businesses that are easy to reach online.
Real help for new entrepreneurs
Help for new entrepreneurs in Yukon:
- Yukon: declare a business name — Yukon Corporate Affairs’ page for registering a business name.
- CanNor — The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, for Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- Yukon Chamber of Commerce — The territory-wide chamber of commerce.
- Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce — Networking and events for businesses in the capital.
- Association franco-yukonnaise — The hub of Yukon’s francophone community, including services for people working and doing business in French. For people working and doing business in French.
- Yukon University — The territory’s university, with business programs.
- 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 Yukon
- Declare your business name with Corporate Affairs if you use a name other than your own; registrations are valid for three years.
- GST only. Yukon has no territorial sales tax. You charge the 5 % GST once registered with the CRA, and registration is mandatory when taxable sales pass CA$30,000 over four consecutive quarters.
- Plan for the seasons. Tourism businesses should publish their summer offers in winter, when visitors plan their trips north.
- Be reachable from far away. A website, a Google Business Profile and an email at your own domain let customers outside the territory find and trust you.
Canada Revenue Agency: get a business number · CRA: GST/HST rates by province
How WebNewBee helps
Visitors planning a northern trip search months ahead. WebNewBee gives you a fast, mobile-friendly site 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
Does WebNewBee work in the territories?
Yes. WebNewBee works anywhere in Canada, and its sites are built light so they load quickly even on slower connections.
What tax do I pay on WebNewBee in Yukon?
CA$6.99 a month plus the 5 % GST.