[BC] Starting a Marketing & IT Consulting Agency in Vancouver. Sanity check and advice needed (Sole Prop, BC Registered)
Hey everyone!
After more than 15 years in the field, I have finally decided to take the plunge, and I'm in the early stages of launching my own boutique digital marketing and IT consulting agency based in Vancouver, BC, primarily serving local SMBs. Wanted to share where I'm at and ask for a gut-check from folks who've been through this.
What I've done so far:
- ✅ Registered as a sole proprietor under a trade name with BC Registries (have my BN)
- ✅ Applied for my City of Vancouver Business Licence
- ✅ Opening a dedicated business bank account
- ✅ Setting up bookkeeping software to track income and expenses separately
Two questions for the community:
1. Service agreements (Client Contracts): DIY or lawyer?
Is it worth using a platform like LawDepot for client contracts (scope of work, payment terms, IP ownership, kill fees)? Or is it worth paying a lawyer for a custom contract from the start? Curious what other solo consultants and agency owners have done here.
2. What else am I missing?
Any other registrations, licences, or formalities I should be aware of as a solo service-based business in BC? I know GST registration kicks in at $30K revenue. Is there anything else I might be overlooking?
Appreciate any advice! I’m happy to share what I've learned so far if it's useful to anyone just starting out!