best Canadian city to begin small business? (rent, taxes)

[dreamz05]

I am looking to start a small business and looking at

Vancouver,
Edmonton
Calgary and
Montreal

Which city offers the best benefits to starting a business?
Secondary priority would be a good outdoor life not specifically meaning warm weathers.

Please suggest.

[Eva_2930]

I think Nova Scotia would be a great place to start. I know it was not on you list but right now is a good time to open a business in NS

[dreamz05]

I will do some research on Halifax. But if looking at my list, which would be a good city?

[Robynator]

I honestly couldn't tell you as I've never opened up a small business. Rent would be most expensive in Vancouver but the outdoor activity options would be limitless, nearby (as in within 15-20 minutes you have beaches, mountains, temperate rainforests, golf courses, islands, etc), and it's available year round. It's a great city to live in, but I don't know how easy it would be to maintain a small business. I do have friends that have successfully opened small businesses, so it can certainly be done.

In Montreal you can live quite cheaply as rent is quite affordable, but you'd be paying the most taxes and you'd have to be able to work and speak in French as it's the official language of the government of Quebec. You'd be expected to do business in French primarily, English secondary. There are less outdoor options in Montreal, but the Laurentiens and millions of tiny little lakes are an hour's drive away. Saying that, the urban culture of Montreal is the best in the country - it would be fun to live there.

Edmonton would be cheapest, but the weather would be harshest and the outdoor activities most limiting. They have a beautiful river valley in the city itself which makes it picturesque and great for jogging and cycling. There are lakes outside of Edmonton, but the Rockies are 4 hours away. Edmonton would also be the most isolated location of the 4 - it's in the middle of the prairies although it has a surprisingly strong arts culture.

Calgary would be more expensive than Edmonton and Montreal and cheaper than Vancouver, but it's a rapidly growing (and sprawling) city - lots of opportunities for somebody opening a business I imagine. Saying that, Calgary's the ugliest of the cities you've listed, its prime industry is oil, it has a corporate vibe, and the main outdoor activities exist an hour's drive away in the Rockies. People tend to move to Calgary for work first, lifestyle secondary.

Note that there is no provincial tax in Albeta.

[LeJeremy]

I know it's not on your list, but I would suggest Toronto. It's the largest city in Canada, has huge sprawling suburbs for lots of locations to open a business, and it's comparitively warmer compared to Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary. Toronto has a lot to; it's downtown is booming, lots of shows, museums, etc., but not a lot of space for outdoors stuff. Probably the closest place you could find outdoor activities is North, because East there's a lot of buildup, and West/South you're into the Niagara region, which is almost entirely built up except for the vinyards.

Many people I know have moved to Toronto because of the business opportunities, and they seem to have done well for themselves. The only other thing to keep in mind, is that if you want to live in downtown Toronto, it can be very expensive; best bet is to go to Missisauga or something, or at least live in the 'burbs, and commute.

[mikeyyc]

Calgary or Edmonton.

Lower taxes, greater entrepenurial spirit and acceptance, and at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

[Tinalilly75]

Toronto is way too expensive....I will go with Calgary