Opening a salon in Canada (2026): GST/HST, provincial licensing, payroll
Federal GST/HST plus provincial sales tax, provincial cosmetology boards, and CRA payroll — what to set up before week one.
GST/HST registration
You must register for GST/HST with the CRA once you cross $30,000 CAD in revenue over four consecutive quarters. Voluntary registration earlier lets you claim input tax credits on rent, products, and equipment.
Provincial licensing varies
Cosmetology licensing is provincial, not federal. Ontario relies on apprenticeship via the Ministry of Labour; Quebec requires a DEP en Coiffure plus the CSMOTA card; BC and Alberta have their own boards. Confirm before hiring out-of-province staff.
CRA payroll
If you have employees, open a Payroll Program Account (RP) with the CRA. Deduct CPP, EI, and income tax; remit monthly or quarterly. Booth renters are self-employed contractors — issue T4A, not T4, and document the rental agreement.
WSIB / WorkSafeBC
Workers' comp is mandatory in most provinces once you have staff. Premiums are based on payroll and risk classification.
Bilingual booking in Quebec
Bill 96 enforcement means client-facing booking, receipts, and marketing must be available in French. Beautifyx ships with French-Canadian locale support and PIPEDA-compliant data residency in Canada.