Hey you!

Is that hobby of yours starting to really take off?  Are you starting to earn some income from it?  There comes a point in every small business owner's life where it starts to feel real—not just something you’re doing on the side, but something you want to build properly. For me, that meant taking those first steps to make my in-home studio and Photography business here in Kamloops legitimate AND legal. I promise it's not as scary as you are thinking!

I'm sharing what the process looked like for me, as a Photographer but I imagine it will be a similar one for any small business owner alike. Oh,   I've also included direct links to everything in hopes of making the process that much easier for you ;)

Choosing a name

The first step was choosing a business name that actually felt aligned with me, and what I wanted to create. I decided to keep it simple and use my personal name with the aim to better and more easily market myself.  Once I had that figured out , I submitted a Name Request through BC Registries to make sure it was available and could be used legally.

It’s a small step, but it really makes things feel SO official right away!

Registering the business

After my name was approved, I registered my business as a sole proprietorship through BC Registries. This part was surprisingly straightforward and gave me a Business Number (BN), which is what you’ll use for taxes and anything government-related moving forward.

And while we're on the subject, let's clear up THE BIGGEST common misconception when it comes to those who earn self-employment incomet:  "You don't need to claim income unless you make $30,000."  WRONG. This is completely false! It's fraud, actually. The CRA legally requires you  to claim and report any and all income earned - full time of not.  It is simply reported alongside filing your personal taxes using a T2125 form.  In not doing so, you may run the risk of your bank accounts being audited and facing possible fines and repayment. 

The best piece of advice I ever received from an accountant friend early on is that it’s just easier to be truthful when it comes to your business and earnings right from the start - call it peace of mind if you will!

Getting a Kamloops business licence

Even though I run my business from home, I still needed to apply for a business license  to ensure I was in compliance with  the City of Kamloops' regulations. It was a simple process, but the most important one.

This step mostly involved sharing basic details about the type of business I would be conducting, my address and confirming that it met the home-based zoning rules via an online application. 

I do recommend researching your City's home-based business rules and regulations BEFORE you apply. In some cases, businesses will have to pass zoning, parking and by-law guidelines, so the more prepared you are prior, the better.

Should you have clients visiting your residence, The City will send an Inspector out to verify your residence is in accordance with their regulations .

One main regulations for the City of Kamloops worth mentioning pertains to operating your business out of your home.  The type of residential dwelling you will be operating out of is important.  I have a lot of friends and acquaintances who may find themselves in this situation, so I feel it's a pretty important part to include here :

Basically, if you reside in a rental unit, or own a home with a rental unit / basement suite in it you will want to check with the city prior to applying to see if there is a variance you may need to apply for before opening up a studio or business...  ALWAYS ask the questions to avoid potential fines and shut downs.

After the Inspector made his visit and completed his report,  I had my license within two days via email.  

 *Please note:  Zoning rules and regulations may be different city to city.  Here is a full list for Kamloops Home Based Businesses. 

Understanding what I actually needed (and what I didn’t)

One of the biggest things I learned was that not every step applies to every business right away. And not every regulation applies to every type of business. 

Because I’m home-based and service-focused, I didn’t need a ton of extra permits than say someone in aesthetics or food might. I also didn’t need to register for GST right away since I wasn’t over the $30,000 threshold yet - this came a year or so later. 

Taking the time to figure out what actually applied saved me from overcomplicating things and becoming overwhelmed.

Setting up the back end

Once everything was registered, I focused on the practical side:

• Opening a separate business bank account for easy tax time 
• Creating a simple system to track income and expenses (I use Quickbooks and hold a Bookkeeping Certificate)
• Obtaining additional insurance for my home AND business for peace of mind and legality
• Registering for GST (Once I hit the 30k mark)

This part isn’t the most exciting, but it’s imperative in keeping your business organized and  running smoothly.

Why it mattered

Making my business legitimate wasn’t just about the paperwork. It changed how I and others saw what I was building. It created structure, clarity, and confidence in what I wanted to offer to my future clients.

There’s a level of trust that comes with knowing you’re working with a registered, licensed business.

Final thoughts...

If you’ve been putting off the business part of your business, I hope this blog showed you that it’s honestly more manageable than it seems. Taking it step by step made the whole process feel clear and doable.

And once it’s done, you get to focus on what actually matters—growing something that feels aligned, sustainable, fully your own....and legitimate.