Business Growth
“Business Growth” as measured by the increase in the number of business licenses issued by the City of Saskatoon is an indicator of the City’s Economic Diversity and Prosperity goal. The City of Saskatoon Business License Bylaw requires all businesses to obtain a license prior to operating.
How are we doing?
In 2016, the total number of businesses increased by 1.1% compared to 2015. As of December 31, 2016, the City of Saskatoon had 10,775 licensed businesses, including 6,235 commercial businesses and 4,540 home-based businesses.
Data Table
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage Growth (%) | 5.7 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.1 |
Data Table
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Based | 3213 | 3582 | 3829 | 4013 | 4222 | 4341 | 4483 | 4540 |
| Commercial | 5582 | 5717 | 5803 | 5934 | 6031 | 6103 | 6176 | 6235 |
How are other cities doing?
Edmonton is the only other benchmark western Canadian city that requires business licenses for all active businesses. From 2014 to 2015, Edmonton had a 5.9% increase in business licenses to 29,980 in total. Regina, Winnipeg, and Calgary only require licenses for businesses operating in a few specific sectors.