Concerns surrounding licensing fees for Humboldt businesses brought a home-based business owner to Humboldt City Council. Cindy Lee Frank, a local hair stylist, made a virtual presentation to City Council in an effort to seek relief from a $375 fee levied against Humboldt home businesses. Frank said that circumstances brought on by COVID are making it a challenge for businesses like hers to operate. 

Frank has operated styling businesses since 1997 and had been located as a storefront operation in Caleb Village since 2011. The City recently introduced a business licensing fee of $100 to storefront operations, mostly to cover costs of expanding database and promotional supports. 

When COVID hit, Frank was forced to relocate her operation to her home, thereby becoming a home based business and subject to the higher fee. Frank represented other home based business operators, mostly hairstylists and registered massage therapists, who asked her to speak on their behalf as well in her presentation.

“We feel that the rate is quite high compared to the rest of Saskatchewan,” stated Frank. “For example, in Saskatoon, an initial license is $125 and a renewal is $85. The city of Melfort is $100; Moose Jaw is $25.” 

Frank’s survey of a dozen or so communities showed licensing fees averaging $100 - 150. She concluded her statement by simply asking for Council to give some consideration to the fee being charged.

During the Council meeting and in response to Frank’s request, Mayor Michael Behiel indicated that Council had been engaged in discussions about the fee, particularly in light of the stresses on businesses brought on by the pandemic. 

Following the meeting, Mayor Behiel commented further. 

“It’s an ongoing concern from home based businesses,” confirmed Behiel, “And prior to the Council meeting, we had indicated to administration to commence the development of a revised business fee licensing concept that will allow us to be somewhat more just in levying those fees, so that we are not overly penalizing these businesses.”

Behiel confided that one home based business owner approached him, indicating that 90 percent of their business had dropped off due to COVID.

The original rationale for the higher home based business licensing fee was to balance the fact that home based businesses are not levied taxes as storefront businesses are. 

Council and administration continue to address the matter.