My Dufferin Business Launch Plan

Retail shop in the Township of East Garafraxa

• 1. Book a free consultation with the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre
  Orangeville & Area SBEC · Official source
• 2. Register your business name or corporation (sole proprietorship $60, corporation $300)
  ServiceOntario · Official source
• 3. Get a CRA Business Number and register for GST/HST once revenue passes $30,000 over four quarters (or sooner by choice)
  Canada Revenue Agency · Official source
• 4. Confirm zoning allows your use at the address before you sign a lease or buy
  Township of East Garafraxa · Official source
• 5. Get a building permit before renovations, change of use or new construction
  Township of East Garafraxa · Official source
• 6. Check grants and loans that match your stage
  WhyDufferin funding finder · Official source
• 7. Add your business to the free WhyDufferin directory and meet local owners through the Dufferin Board of Trade
  Dufferin Board of Trade · Official source

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Requirements change and some depend on your exact location and activity. Confirm each item with the office linked. Not legal advice. Checked Oct 20, 2026.

Industry & workforce Verified fact

Verified public data for this type of business in East Garafraxa, with source and date.

Business counts Verified fact

Business locations with employees, January 2026. Business locations with employees, counted where each establishment is located. Excludes businesses without employees (sole proprietors, most home businesses). Source: Statistics Canada, January 2026 (released 2026-08-14).

NOC = National Occupational Classification, Canada's standard job codes used for wage data. NAICS = North American Industry Classification System, the standard industry codes used for business counts. Codes link to the official Statistics Canada definitions (NOC 2021 Version 1.0, NAICS Canada 2022 Version 1.0).

Census industry employment Verified fact

Retail trade employs 9% of the labour force living in East Garafraxa, vs 11.6% county-wide and 10.8% in Ontario.

Share of the employed labour force living in the area (by place of residence), 2021 Census. Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020).

Wages for key occupations Verified fact

Hourly wages, economic region ER3540 Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie (includes Dufferin), Job Bank 2025. "–" = not published for the region. Source: Employment and Social Development Canada, 2025 wages (mostly Labour Force Survey 2023–2024), revised 2025-11-19.

NOC = National Occupational Classification, Canada's standard job codes used for wage data. NAICS = North American Industry Classification System, the standard industry codes used for business counts. Codes link to the official Statistics Canada definitions (NOC 2021 Version 1.0, NAICS Canada 2022 Version 1.0).

East Garafraxa at a glance Verified fact

• Commuting: 87.1% of commuters with a usual workplace work outside East Garafraxa.
• Labour force participation 71.1%, unemployment 8.7% (county 69.3%, 10%).
• Median household income (2020) $137,000 (county $108,000).
• Renter households 8.3%; median tenant shelter cost $1,140/month.
• CMHC rent data is published for Orangeville only (average $1,532, October 2025).

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 (income: 2020); Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, October 2025.

Internet and transit Verified fact

Broadband: in 6 of 6 ISED hexagons in East Garafraxa, more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps.

• East Garafraxa: Garafraxa Woods · 107 homes and businesses · Complete (SWIFT)

Providers: Rogers 1-888-764-3771 (check). All provider contacts

ISED hexagons (~24 km²) assigned by centre; share of hexagons where more than 75% of households can get 50/10 Mbps. Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, files dated 2026-05-05; provider details checked 2026-10-20 on official sites.

No GO Transit stops in East Garafraxa (GTFS feed 20261005110625).

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