a business license. Once a license is obtained the business is expected to operate within the scope of business
activities authorized by the license. In cases where undertakings do not reasonably fall into the authorized scope of
business activities of the licensed business, then additional licenses must be obtained for those distinct and separate
business activities.
Individuals wishing to obtain a business license should contact the Ministry of Finance at Tel: 649-946-2801 ext. 41821.
Some businesses may be exempted from the requirement to hold a license or the payment of license fees.
License Fee
License fees range from zero (agriculture and apartment rental not exceeding four units) to ten thousand dollars
(provision of hotel accommodation, 100 bedrooms or more). License fees are due and payable at the beginning of each
financial year, 1 st March. Late fees attract a penalty of 10 percent for each month the fees remain outstanding.
| Business Type |
License Fees |
| Accountancy (including audit, actuary, bookkeeping and statistician)Accountancy (including audit, actuary, bookkeeping and statistician) |
Professionally qualified - $4,000, other: $500 |
| Agency (including airline, freight forwarding, shipping, travel, sales, advertising and any other professional agency) |
$500 |
| Agriculture (farming, animal husbandry, fishing etc) |
Nil |
| Bakery Operation |
$300 |
| Boatyard Operation |
$2,000 |
| Brokerage services |
$3,000 |
| Building Materials manufacture |
$500 |
| Company formation and provision of corporate management |
$2,000 |
| Computer Sales/Services |
$1,000 |
| Engineering Consultancy |
$4000 |
| Miscellaneous business |
$150 |
| Medical Practice |
$2000 |
| Motor Vehicle sales or rental |
$1000 |
| Operation of vessels for hire or reward |
Vessels 30 feet and over is $1000 while others is $300. |
| Printing (other than newspapers) |
$150 |
| Property Development |
$4000 |
| Provision of sanitary services |
$500 |
| Provision of security services |
$500 |
| Provision of tourism related services (other than those specified here) |
$500 |
| Provision of tourist accommodation (other than hotel accommodation) |
$150 |
| Provision of transport services |
Land transport - $150, Sea transport - $150 per vessel, air transport - $500 per aircraft |
| Publishing |
$500 |
| Restaurant or café operation |
Designated restaurants/cafes - $350 and other category - $150. |
| Service Station or garage operation |
$750 |
| Trucking |
Small – Nil, Medium - $500 and Large - $1,000 |
| Water Sale and distribution |
By pipe - $4,000, others - $500 |
| Wholesale importer |
$2000 |
A business license may be issued to a private individual or a company. The company may be incorporated or
unincorporated. The decision to incorporate or form a company for this reason or any other purposes lies with the
individual(s) concerned.
Reserved Categories
There are several business activities that fall into a reserved category for the Belonger population. It is a requirement
that a Belonger must hold at least fifty one percent of the controlling interest of the business. Possibilities do exist for
Non-Belongers to obtain a license under the reserved business category when it is evident that such a business will be
beneficial to the overall development of the Islands. Generally, the local authorities have no serious objections against
any genuine joint venture or partnership undertakings between Belongers and Non-Belongers in areas within the
reserved business category, provided that the regulations are adhered to.
- Agency, but only if agents, freight forwarding agents, shipping agents or sales agents.
- Apartment or condominium sales, rental or management.
- Auctioneering
- Bakery operation.
- Bars, that do not form part of a hotel or restaurant.
- Dancehall or discotheque operation (including when part of a hotel)
- Motor vehicle sales or rental or both.
- Operation of vessels for hire or rental if less than 30 feet.
- Printing
- Provision of sanitation services
- Provision of security services
- Provision of transportation services on land including taxis, tour bus operators, buses and haulage services.
- Real estate agency (being the business of dealing in real estate or tenancies thereof as agent for another
person). - Retail stores.
- Service stations and garage operations, including any business engaged in the fueling of motor vehicles with
petroleum or diesel or in repairing vehicles. - Trucking
