Business Registration 101: Essential Steps to Start Your Business

Join us for an informative and practical webinar designed to help refugee entrepreneurs navigate the process of starting a business in Canada. This session will provide foundational knowledge, actionable steps, and useful resources to help you get started with confidence.

Featured Speakers from RBC:

We’re pleased to welcome two expert speakers from RBC:

One brings legal expertise in business registration
The other has a background in business banking and taxation
Each speaker will present content aligned with their respective areas of knowledge.

Meet the Speakers

Denise Robertson

Partner at Mills & Mills LLP
Chair of the firm’s Business Law Group

Since joining the firm in 2005, Denise Robertson has built a practice advising private businesses on a wide range of legal issues. Her practice focuses on providing practical legal guidance to help clients navigate complex regulatory environments and achieve long-term success.

Denise has extensive experience supporting sole proprietors and privately-held businesses in a variety of sectors. She also regularly supports businesses expanding into Canada.

Denise is a frequent speaker on topics of interest to private business owners including starting a business, buying and selling businesses, the importance of putting agreements in writing and minimizing legal risk during business growth.

In this session, Denise will share foundational knowledge on registering a business in Canada. She will highlight practical steps, common challenges, and key resources available to refugee entrepreneurs, offering valuable insights to help participants confidently begin their business journey.

Shawn M. Bausch, CPA, CPA (CA), MA

Principal, SB Advisors Inc.
Canadian and U.S. Tax Accountant

Shawn is a Canadian CPA and a US CPA. A native of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Shawn spent eleven years working and studying in the USA. Shawn is the principal in SB Advisors. He has a particular interest in planning for business owners, assisting them in navigating their business matters and their family trust and retirement structures. In addition to Canadian tax services, Shawn delivers US tax and compliance services from SB Advisors’ offices in Ontario, and through his network, provides international tax support more than a dozen countries.

SB Advisors specializes in guiding businesses and their owners with immediate access to deep and expert advice, and comprehensive Canada/US knowledge within the same individual. The firm serves businesses in diverse industries, in both for-profit and not-for-profit endeavours.

SB Advisors has offices in Toronto and Oakville, Ontario.

Webinar Agenda:

1. Welcome & Introductions (5 mins)

Quick round of introductions
Recap of webinar purpose and audience

2. Review of Webinar Objectives (5 mins)

Equip participants with foundational knowledge of registering a business in Canada
Highlight practical steps and common challenges
Introduce key resources available to refugee entrepreneurs
Ensure content is clear, beginner-friendly, and culturally accessible

3. Proposed Webinar Content Outline (20 mins)

a. Introduction to Business Registration in Canada

Why registration is important
Overview of legal business types: Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation

b. Step-by-Step Guide to Registration

Choosing a business structure
Name registration vs. incorporation
Where and how to register (provincial/territorial links, federal option)
Key documents and IDs needed (BN, SIN, etc.)

c. Tax & Regulatory Compliance

Registering for a Business Number (BN)
Understanding HST/GST
Permits and licenses (as applicable)
CRA filing basics for small businesses

d. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Misunderstanding business structures
Not separating personal and business finances
Missing deadlines or filings

e. Resources & Support Available

Government websites/tools
Local small business centres and newcomer services
Jumpstart and CAMSC support opportunities
Where to get help with registration or legal advice

4. Q&A Flow for Webinar (5 mins)

Open floor after presentation (10–15 mins)
Option to pre-collect questions via registration

Important Note:
While speakers will provide valuable insights and general guidance, they will not be able to respond to questions requiring specific tax or legal advice, as they may not have the necessary context to tailor responses to individual businesses. However, they will share relevant resources and direct participants to where they can access accurate and detailed information for their specific situations.

This event marks the second session in our new webinar series with CAMSC—built to support refugee entrepreneurs access new business opportunities and build capacity through community and collaboration.