Start Floriculture Production in Burnaby (NAICS 111422): A 6-Step Launch Guide
This page offers a practical, step-by-step plan to launch floriculture production in Burnaby under NAICS 111422. It cuts through the guesswork with a clear overview of the six requirements, the permits you’ll likely need, typical startup costs, and a realistic timeline from idea to harvest-ready operation.
What you’ll learn: a practical six-item checklist to move quickly from concept to crop. 1) Register your Burnaby business and confirm greenhouse zoning; 2) secure any building or occupancy permits if you’re constructing; 3) set up WorkSafeBC coverage and a safety plan; 4) plan water and drainage, waste handling, and pest-control compliance; 5) register for GST/HST and understand provincial tax steps; 6) arrange insurance and draft supplier contracts.
Burnaby’s strategic location—close to Vancouver’s thriving flower markets, an established greenhouse supply network, and strong support from local business programs—helps you reach customers faster and scale your floriculture production with less friction. Plus, Burnaby offers practical permit guidance and supportive small-business resources to help you navigate start-up smoothly.
Requirements Overview
The most critical requirement for operating a floriculture business in Burnaby is Business Number (BN) Registration. This is legally required and you cannot operate without it. Having a BN gives your business a unique ID for all dealings with federal and provincial agencies, including taxes, payroll, and licenses, so it’s essential to get set up before you do anything else. Getting this in place early helps you open bank accounts, file returns, and stay compliant from day one.
For health, safety, and permits, you’ll want to focus on On-Farm Food Safety Program and WorkSafeBC Coverage and Registration. The On-Farm Food Safety Program helps ensure your floriculture operations meet basic food safety standards, with proper handling, record-keeping, and traceability where relevant. WorkSafeBC coverage is mandatory to protect workers, so you’ll need to register and comply with safety training, equipment, and incident reporting requirements. These items establish the day-to-day safeguards and regulatory alignment that keep your operation running smoothly.
Business Registration & Tax comes next. With your BN in place, you’ll typically register a BC Business Name if you’re operating as a sole proprietor or partnership, and you’ll consider GST/HST registration if your sales reach the threshold. Payroll Deductions Registration will also come into play once you hire staff, ensuring proper handling of payroll taxes and withholdings. These steps formalize how you bill customers and manage taxes and payroll.
Ready to move forward? Start by obtaining your BN, then register your business name if needed, and set up the GST/HST and payroll accounts. Check whether the On-Farm Food Safety Program applies to your sales channels and partner with WorkSafeBC for coverage. If you’d like, I can build a simple, step-by-step checklist tailored to your Burnaby floriculture plan.
Detailed Requirements
Here are the specific requirements for starting a floriculture production in Burnaby:
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Business Number (BN) Registration RequiredA 9-digit Business Number is required for most businesses operating in Canada. It is used to interact with the Canada Revenue Agency and other federal programs. Required for GST/HST, payroll, corporation income tax, and import/export accounts. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) at canada.ca. Takes 15-30 minutes. As of November 3, 2025, online registration is MANDATORY for new BNs - phone registration no longer available. You'll need: business name, address, owner SIN, business type, and start date. BN (9-digit number) issued INSTANTLY online. Available 21 hours/day, 7 days/week (closed 3-6am ET for maintenance).
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BC Business Name Registration (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership) RequiredRegistration of sole proprietorship or partnership business names with BC Registries Register sole proprietorship or partnership at bcregistry.gov.bc.ca. Name reservation: $30 (standard) or $100 (priority 1-2 days). Registration fee: $40. Total: ~$70. Name reserved for 56 days after approval. Registration is continuous (no renewal required). No name protection for sole proprietorships. Personal names operating under own name do not require registration. Contact BC Registries: 1-877-526-1526.
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On-Farm Food Safety Program ConditionalRequired for specific regulated activities. Many commodity sectors require on-farm food safety programs (e.g., CanadaGAP for produce, CQA for beef/dairy). Demonstrates compliance with food safety practices from farm to gate. On-Farm Food Safety Program. CFIA-recognized programs. CanadaGAP for produce. CQA for pork. Proaction for dairy. Contact CFIA: 1-800-442-2342.
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GST/HST Registration ConditionalRequired if annual taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 (small supplier threshold). Taxi/ride-share drivers must register regardless of revenue. Businesses with gross revenues over $30,000 in any single quarter or over four consecutive quarters must register for, collect, and remit GST/HST. Small suppliers (under $30,000) may register voluntarily. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when your revenue exceeds $30,000 in any 4 consecutive quarters (small supplier threshold). Takes 15-30 minutes. You MUST register within 29 days of exceeding threshold and start charging GST/HST immediately on the sale that made you exceed it. Need your BN (or get one simultaneously). As of Nov 3, 2025, online registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration available anytime for input tax credits.
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Payroll Deductions Registration ConditionalRequired if you pay salaries, wages, or other remuneration to employees. Must register before first pay period. Required if you have employees. You must withhold Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), and income tax from employee wages and remit to CRA. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when you hire your first employee. Takes 15-20 minutes. You'll need your Business Number (BN) or can get one simultaneously. Payroll account (RP) added to your BN instantly. Register BEFORE your first pay date. Required to deduct CPP, EI, and income tax from employee wages. For 2025: CPP rate 5.95%, EI employee rate $1.66/$100 insurable earnings.
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WorkSafeBC Coverage and Registration ConditionalRequired if you have workers in BC. Workers compensation insurance coverage through WorkSafeBC for employers in British Columbia WorkSafeBC coverage required for most BC employers. Average base premium rate: 1.55% of assessable payroll ($1.55 per $100). Register online at worksafebc.com. Apply 30 days before starting business or hiring workers. Processing: ~10 business days. Premium rates vary by industry classification (514 classification units). COR certified employers eligible for 10% rebate. Contact: 604-276-3100 or 1-888-967-5377.
Funding & Grants
Available funding programs that may apply to your floriculture production:
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50% cost-share grant under the Sustainable CAP framework (2023–2028) with two streams: On-Farm Irrigation (up to $17,500 for purchases or $6,000 for upgrades per parcel, max $35,000/fiscal year) and On-Farm Water Supply (max $40,000 per applicant over the 2023–2028 program period). Continuous intake subject to available annual funding.
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A $25.7M program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership open to not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations. AAFC contributes up to 70% of eligible costs (max $1M/year or $5M over 5 years; $100K/year or $500K for national fair projects). In-kind contributions capped at 15% of total. Priority intake closed May 30, 2025; …
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A non-refundable BC personal and corporate income tax credit equal to 25% of the fair market value of eligible agricultural products donated to qualifying registered charities in BC. Available for donations made between February 16, 2016 and December 31, 2026. The credit is claimed in addition to the regular charitable …
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The Agricultural Living Laboratories Initiative (now operating under the Agricultural Climate Solutions — Living Labs program) is a $185-million, 10-year federal initiative that brings together farmers, scientists, and sector stakeholders to develop and evaluate innovative technologies and practices in real-world farm conditions. Fourteen living labs across Canada were launched in …
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The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative (AYGI) was a wage subsidy program under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada designed to attract youth to environmentally focused careers in agriculture. It offered two streams: the Green Farms Stream (subsidizing on-farm youth internships up to $10,000 per intern) and the Green Internships Stream (subsidizing …
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