Guidance and Training from a Cannabis License Consultant Protects Your Investment

If you’re considering starting a retail cannabis store in BC or Alberta, an experienced cannabis license consultant that’s on your side can protect your considerable investment in time and money. Cannabis licenses are rare and valuable, so once you have one, it needs to be protected. How? A consultant can ensure compliance by implementing hands-on training, policy and procedures manuals that help your business meet provincial government retail non-medical cannabis licensing terms and conditions. A consultant can also provide invaluable operational insight and optimization that can make your cannabis store function more effectively and increase profit.

The term “cannabis license consultant” doesn’t adequately describe the support a strong consultant provides. While a consultant will guide you through the retail cannabis store licensing process – increasing the chances of a successful cannabis license application – their added value comes from their knowledge of government rules and regulations and retail business operations. Since 2003, Rebecca Hardin, President and lead consultant at Thrive Liquor & Cannabis Advisors, has provided compliance and operations consulting to businesses in BC’s competitive and complex world of private retail liquor and more recently, cannabis sales. Rebecca’s experience as a liquor licensing consultant and hospitality business owner means she’s walked in your shoes and understands how to overcome the many challenges you’ll face throughout the lifetime of your business.

A cannabis license consultant’s services can be divided into two broad categories: before cannabis license approval and after cannabis license approval.

Before Retail Cannabis Store License Approval

Each province in Canada determines how retail cannabis may be distributed and sold within their jurisdiction. Rules and regulations vary from province to province. As and example, compare BC’s retail cannabis license application steps with those for cannabis licensing in Alberta. The application requirements of both provinces are complicated and sometimes confusing.

Before you open a retail cannabis store, you’ll need support to understand and meet the requirements of the application process, which include:

• Registering your business
• Submitting a complete application and all relevant documents
• Passing security and financial integrity checks
• Finding a store location that meets government guidelines

A quick scan of BC Cannabis Retail Store Terms and Conditions (PDF) will give you an idea of the complexity of rules and regulations. Once your retail cannabis store license is approved, a cannabis license consultant can ensure that the store build, layout, security and operations meet (and continue to meet) provincial government regulations.

After cannabis license approval, a consultant can:

• Act as liaison with municipal authorities, builders and other contractors to ensure the store build meets government terms and conditions.
• Ensure the store layout complies with retail cannabis license terms and conditions.
• Ensure the store layout is practical, functional and supports sales.
• Ensure in-store and exterior advertising and branding complies with provincial government rules while supporting sales.
• Develop policy and procedure manuals and training manuals that help ensure continued compliance.
• Provide staff training with a focus on sales and customer service techniques that meet government guidelines.
• Help you select the right products (SKUs).
• Provide continued operational insight, including product performance audits, staff training improvements, policy and procedure manual improvements.
• Keep you informed of changes to provincial government non-medical retail cannabis rules and regulations.

Rebecca Hardin and her team can guide you from cannabis license application to retail cannabis store opening and beyond. The experience and practical guidance you receive from our cannabis license consultants will help your business succeed.