Promoting products online in Canada: costs, rules and what to ask
Promoting products on online sales channels in Canada has no fixed price list. Registering an e-commerce company typically costs CA$200–CA$550, plus name search, taxes and annual filings, and a business licence costs about CA$150–CA$500 depending on location. The quickest way to get current prices for your products and goals is to describe the campaign in a request on BlaBlaPrice.
The quote depends on:
- the sales channel you promote on and its promotion rules
- how many products you list and which niche they belong to
- your ad budget and goal, such as more sales, more visits or new customers
- whether your store is already open or still needs registering
Ask each provider whether the quote is per campaign, per month or per product, so you can compare like with like.
Business registration and licences
Some products need federal or provincial licences and permits, while others need only a basic business registration. In Manitoba, a provincial direct sellers or vendors licence may be required. Ontario's guidance asks new businesses to check licences and permits and to register online before they start selling.
Pricing rules for sale promotions
Canada's federal pricing regulator expects a discount to be measured against a real price. When you promote a sale, the regular price must be a price the item is genuinely sold at, and you must be able to prove it. Each sales channel sets its own promotion rules, so check them before you launch. In British Columbia, since 1 July 2023, online sales facilitators are not required to collect PST on goods located outside Canada at the time of sale, so confirm who collects tax on your orders.
Season and ad spend
Winter in Canada runs from December to February and summer from June to August. Set campaign dates around the months when your products sell best. Ad platforms usually set a daily budget for each campaign, so plan the daily amount for each season rather than one fixed total.
What to put in your request
Name the sales channel, what you sell, how many products you list and whether your store is already open or still needs registering. Give your ad budget and goal, and list the cities you ship to in Canada. Add your deadline and the service fee you expect. Sellers who receive the request reply in the chat with their offer, scope and timing.
Once the request is posted on BlaBlaPrice, the AI reads it, asks for missing details and looks through sellers' websites and price lists in Canada, then shows the prices and businesses it found. Specialists registered on BlaBlaPrice receive the request and reply in the chat. Your contact details stay hidden until you choose whom to contact. Related work is in Social media management and Search ads.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to register an online business in Canada?
Registering an e-commerce company typically costs CA$200–CA$550, plus name search, taxes and annual filings. A business licence costs about CA$150–CA$500, depending on location.
Do I need a licence to sell products in Canada?
Some products need federal or provincial licences and permits, while others need only a basic business registration. In Manitoba, a provincial direct sellers or vendors licence may be required.
Who collects tax on online orders in British Columbia?
Since 1 July 2023, online sales facilitators are not required to collect PST on goods located outside Canada at the time of sale, so confirm how your orders are taxed.
Can I advertise a discount on my products?
Yes, but the regular price must be one the item was genuinely sold at, and you must be able to prove it, according to the federal pricing regulator.
