- Register as a sole proprietor or incorporate with BC Registries (~$40–$380)
- File your Vancouver business licence ($100–$250/yr)
- Get general liability insurance
- Set your rates ($6–$12/sq ft installed — a typical two-car garage runs $2,500–$5,000)
- Build a brand, website, and online booking
- Set up card payments and simple bookkeeping
- Launch a Google Business Profile focused on Vancouver
Every city rewards a different kind of epoxy flooring business — here's what Vancouver specifically pays for. Vancouver garages are small but the budgets aren't — laneway-house floors, character-home basements being finished, and condo building amenity rooms. Smaller square footage, higher rates, and design-conscious clients who buy flake and metallic finishes.
Why Vancouver specifically
Where the work is: Partner with basement-finishing contractors for flooring referrals on every project. Neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, the West End each have their own client base — your Google Business Profile and local pages should name them.
Startup costs in Vancouver
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| BC business registration (sole prop) | ~$40 |
| Name request fee | ~$30 |
| Vancouver business licence | $100–$250/yr |
| General liability insurance | $500–$1,200/yr |
| Equipment & supplies | $3,000–$7,000 (grinder, vacuum, mixers, spike shoes, materials float) |
| Branding, website & booking setup | $0 DIY – $3,000+ agency |
Government fees change — confirm current amounts with BC Registries and the City of Vancouver. Vancouver's business licence is filed through the City's online portal; home-based businesses are broadly permitted for service trades since clients don't visit your home.
Realistic earnings
Epoxy Flooring rates in Metro Vancouver commonly run $6–$12/sq ft installed — a typical two-car garage runs $2,500–$5,000. A solo operator with a steady calendar can realistically build toward $8,000–$16,000+ per month solo at 2–3 garages a week — results vary with your niche, your area, and how established you look. No certification required; surface-prep skill is the moat.
Let's name it
In a market this competitive, hesitation costs you jobs — so let's kill the big one. “What if a floor peels and I'm on the hook for a redo?” Moisture testing, documented prep, a workmanship warranty with clear exclusions, and insurance keep one bad slab from sinking you — every Prontco launch ships with the agreement written right.
Talk it through on a free callTrue Cost of Launching Calculator
Before you quote your first job in Vancouver, work out what launching actually costs you — then price so the work covers it. Real 2026 Canadian rates, every source listed.
Run the numbers →Your first clients in Vancouver — the epoxy flooring playbook
- Market basement and laneway-suite floors, not just garages — Vancouver's renovation economy is your volume.
- Show metallic and designer finishes prominently; this market buys aesthetics over utility.
- Partner with basement-finishing contractors for flooring referrals on every project.
The shortcut
Every step above is DIY-able if you have the evenings to spare. The alternative: Prontco builds it all in roughly 10 business days — Vancouver licence filed, brand and website live, booking and payments connected, books set up — then stays with you for 30 days of launch support. From $997, and you own everything.
Related guides
How to start a epoxy flooring business in BC · How to start a business in Vancouver · The complete BC startup guide · Free calculators & checklists