Canadian Business or Nevada Corporation for E-commerce

Why a Nevada Corporation? Many Canadian entrepreneurs will ask themselves . The answer is straightforward, not like the effort that was involved. In the beginning it was suggested that a Nevada Corporation for an e-commerce business be used. It took a long period for it to sink in. No such entity as a registered Canadian business for e-commerce. Maybe some day it will be probable, but at the time it was not.

Fight through channels and get a Canadian registered business number. Filing for a GST and PST registration number is simple when a business number is obtained. The business number and GST number are acknowledged. The PST registration number? Wait eight weeks and get no reply. Ok, call, right? Yep! Sorry can't locate the registration application, please file again and the number ought to be sent out within eight weeks. OK fine, not a dilemma, absolutely file again. Mean while, start a Nevada Corporation registration and wait. Eight weeks go by and again no reply from the PST registration. Call again? Sure why not! The application has been discarded, you don't require a PST number for e-commerce. There are not enough suppliers in Canada, mostly international suppliers will be used. Sounds reasonable but, what if there are sales in Ontario or what if product is bought to sell it in Ontario? Well yes, a PST number would be required. File for a PST number again.

By this point in time the Nevada Corporation is filed and permitted. The Canadian business? Closed after fighting for more than four months but the GST paperwork continues for a full year.

At least a little of the ground work has been started for other Canadian entrepreneurs. Just something as minimal as a business bank account took over a month to get. No such thing as e-commerce in Canada! It is not a business, it is still classified as a hobby. One thing was correct though, there are a small amount of Canadian suppliers and a restricted number of suppliers that will ship to Canada out there for an e-commerce business. Optimistically in the future this will all change.