Government fees to open a cleaning business in Richmond come to about $236, plus the application fee in the first year: $30 for the name, $40 to register, and $166 for the city licence.
What Richmond charges a cleaning business
Richmond has no contractor category. It prices service businesses by head count: $166 a year for 0 to 5 employees, $281 for 6 to 15.
| Fee | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| BC Registries — name request | $30 | Up to three names |
| BC Registries — sole proprietorship | $40 | Or $350 to incorporate |
| City of Richmond — business licence | $166 | Every year |
| City of Richmond — application fee | Not published | We phone the city and confirm it |
| First-year total | $236, plus the application fee | As a sole proprietor |
Read off the City of Richmond business licence fee schedule on 22 September 2026: the fee schedule, alongside City of Richmond: business licences. Richmond does not publish an application fee as a separate line. Its page says to phone the Licence Division at 604-276-4328, which we do before quoting you. City fees change every year. We confirm your exact figure before anything is filed and pass it through at cost.
When the Richmond licence renews
A Richmond licence lasts one year from issue and expires on the first of the month after its anniversary, not on 31 December. The renewal notice goes out about 30 days ahead.
Running it from home in Richmond
Most new cleaning businesses start from a spare room and a driveway. Richmond’s rules for that:
- No commercial vehicle may be stored or parked at the house. For a van-based trade, this is the rule that decides where you park.
- No outdoor storage of goods or equipment.
- Up to three clients at the property at a time.
From City of Richmond 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 Richmond
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 for a cleaning business. The full rules for each city are on the city guides: Richmond · Vancouver · Burnaby · Surrey.
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 Richmond
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. Large homes and busy households make house cleaning one of Richmond’s steadier trades.
See cleaning prices in RichmondOpen the pricing calculator
Open in Richmond in about 10 business days of build work
We build the customer side first: a website people find, online booking, and payments. Then the Richmond 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 Richmond set their own approval times.
+ applicable government registration & licensing fees, billed at cost — we quote your exact figure before filing.
Cleaning business in Richmond: questions
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in Richmond?
Government fees come to about $236, plus the application fee in the first year: $30 for the name request, $40 to register a sole proprietorship, and $166 for the City of Richmond business licence. Insurance and equipment are on top.
When does a Richmond business licence renew?
A Richmond licence lasts one year from issue and expires on the first of the month after its anniversary, not on 31 December. The renewal notice goes out about 30 days ahead.
Can I work in other cities on a Richmond 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 Richmond?
Yes, as a home-based business, within the city's rules. No commercial vehicle may be stored or parked at the house. For a van-based trade, this is the rule that decides where you park. No outdoor storage of goods or equipment.