Government fees to open a cleaning business in Burnaby come to about $503 in the first year: $30 for the name, $40 to register, and $378 for the city licence, plus a $55 application fee. From year two the Burnaby licence drops to $133.
What Burnaby charges a cleaning business
Burnaby licenses this work as Contractor — Misc. It is the only city of the four with a high first year and a low renewal: $378 the first year, then $133 a year.
| Fee | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| BC Registries — name request | $30 | Up to three names |
| BC Registries — sole proprietorship | $40 | Or $350 to incorporate |
| City of Burnaby — business licence | $378 | First year. $133 a year after. |
| City of Burnaby — application fee | $55 | One time |
| First-year total | $503 | As a sole proprietor |
Read off Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw 14485, Schedule A2, as amended for 1 January 2026 on 22 September 2026: the fee schedule, alongside City of Burnaby: business licences. City fees change every year. We confirm your exact figure before anything is filed and pass it through at cost.
When the Burnaby licence renews
A Burnaby licence runs 1 January to 31 December and is not pro-rated. Apply in November and you pay the full year, then renew about six weeks later. The city mails a reminder 30 days ahead. Late payment adds $53.
Running it from home in Burnaby
Most new cleaning businesses start from a spare room and a driveway. Burnaby’s rules for that:
- Only people who live at the address may work in the business. No outside staff at all.
- One customer and one customer vehicle at a time.
- No outdoor storage of materials or equipment.
- In the R1 to R8 residential districts: one commercial vehicle up to 4,500 kg, parked in the rear yard.
From City of Burnaby business licences. A licence can be refused over one of these after you have paid, so we read them before we file.
Taking jobs outside Burnaby
The Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence ($300) is written for trades that build, repair or maintain buildings. A cleaning business is usually not eligible. If you take regular work in a second city, plan on that city’s own licence.
The table below shows what the other three charge. Who the Metro West licence covers.
| City | Licence for a cleaning business | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $277–$376 | $77 |
| Burnaby | $378 first year, $133 after | $55 |
| Surrey | $230 | $50 |
| Richmond | $166 | — |
Richmond is the lowest of the four at $166. The full rules for each city are on the city guides: Burnaby · Vancouver · Surrey · Richmond.
What a cleaning business needs in BC
Cleaning needs no trade ticket in BC. You need the business registered, a city licence, and liability insurance. Many strata buildings and offices ask for proof of insurance before you get a key. Hire your first helper and WorkSafeBC registration becomes mandatory.
The full guide, with gear costs and the seven steps: how to start a cleaning business in BC.
What cleaning work goes for in Burnaby
The 2026 market range for cleaning work in Metro Vancouver is $40–$75 an hour. That comes from the engine behind our public calculators. Your prices are yours to set. Turnover in the Metrotown and Brentwood towers is constant, which suits recurring and move-out cleaning.
See cleaning prices in BurnabyOpen the pricing calculator
Open in Burnaby in about 10 business days of build work
We build the customer side first: a website people find, online booking, and payments. Then the Burnaby licence and the registration get filed for you. Launch is $497 as a sole proprietor, $997 as a company, and includes your first 3 months of Standing. BC Registries and the City of Burnaby set their own approval times.
+ applicable government registration & licensing fees, billed at cost — we quote your exact figure before filing.
Cleaning business in Burnaby: questions
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in Burnaby?
Government fees come to about $503 in the first year: $30 for the name request, $40 to register a sole proprietorship, and $378 for the City of Burnaby business licence, plus a $55 application fee. Insurance and equipment are on top.
When does a Burnaby business licence renew?
A Burnaby licence runs 1 January to 31 December and is not pro-rated. Apply in November and you pay the full year, then renew about six weeks later. The city mails a reminder 30 days ahead. Late payment adds $53.
Can I work in other cities on a Burnaby licence?
Not on the city licence alone, and a cleaning business is usually not eligible for the $300 Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence. Regular work in another city needs that city's own licence.
Can I run a cleaning business from home in Burnaby?
Yes, as a home-based business, within the city's rules. Only people who live at the address may work in the business. No outside staff at all. One customer and one customer vehicle at a time.