Government fees to open a painting 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 painting 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 painting 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
A painting business works on buildings, so it fits the Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence. It costs $300 for twelve months, is not pro-rated, and covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster on one licence. You buy it on top of your Richmond licence, from Richmond.
It pays for itself the day you take a job in a second city. Without it, each city wants its own licence. How the Metro West licence works.
| City | Licence for a painting business | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | $277–$376 | $77 |
| Burnaby | $378 first year, $133 after | $55 |
| Surrey | $377 | $50 |
| Richmond | $166 | — |
Richmond is the lowest of the four for a painting business. The full rules for each city are on the city guides: Richmond · Vancouver · Burnaby · Surrey.
What a painting business needs in BC
House painting needs no provincial ticket in BC. Red Seal exists, but it is voluntary for home repaints. You need the business registered, a city licence, and liability insurance. Exterior work at height can bring WorkSafeBC rules, and homes built before 1990 call for lead-safe prep.
The full guide, with gear costs and the seven steps: how to start a painting business in BC.
What painting work goes for in Richmond
The 2026 market range for painting work in Metro Vancouver is $40–$100 an hour on site. That comes from the engine behind our public calculators. Your prices are yours to set.
See painting 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.
Painting business in Richmond: questions
How much does it cost to start a painting 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. A painting business can add the Metro West Inter-Municipal Business Licence for $300 a year, which covers Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster.
Can I run a painting 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.