Direct Seller Company Permit

Apply for a Direct Seller Company Permit. You need the permit if your company has representatives making direct sales to people somewhere other than in a retail outlet. This includes home parties, door-to-door sales, telephone sales, sales by multi-level distributors and home installation companies selling door to door.

By law, you must have a Direct Seller Company Permit if your company has representatives that sell door to door, host home parties or sell through multi-level distributors. This includes continuing service contracts (like home alarm installations) and home installations.

Installations include home renovations, siding, paving, roofing, heat pumps, heating systems, hot water heaters, furnaces, security alarms, medical alarms and alarm monitoring systems.

You don’t need a Direct Seller Company Permit for:

  • direct sales of food and drink for humans or animals
  • sales by charitable organizations
  • students raising funds for school

Eligibility

Your company needs to sell goods or services outside a retail outlet.

How to apply

  1. Complete the application form.
  2. Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
  3. Include payment with your application.
  4. Send your completed application, supporting documents and payment by mail or fax.

How long it takes

It should take 2 weeks to get the permit. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.

Cost

The cost of the permit is based on the licensing category.

Activity Fee
P1 Sole Proprietorship or Partnership (no salespeople) $150
P2 Sole Proprietorship or Partnership (1 to 10 salespeople) $150
P3 Sole Proprietorship or Partnership (11 or more salespeople) $150
C1A Corporation with 10 or fewer salespeople $150
C1B Corporation with 11 or more salespeople $500

Payment options

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, cheque, money order. A cheque or money order should be made payable to the Minister of Finance. Payment options may vary depending on how you apply.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

  • Registry of Joint Stock Companies number
  • name, address, position, and date of birth for you and any partners and officers
  • 3-year employment history for you and any partners and officers
  • address for service in Nova Scotia
  • address for notice and returns

You need to provide additional supporting documents including:

  • original surety bond amount determined by the licensing category and average sale amount
  • sample of product catalogue and price list
  • sample of the consumer contract containing the buyer’s right to cancel

Application form


Renewal

You need to renew your Direct Seller Company Permit by 31 January each year. You should get a renewal package (including instructions) in the mail before the renewal date. It’s your responsibility to renew on time.