Markup

Markup is the amount added to the cost of a product or service to arrive at its selling price, often expressed as a percentage of cost. It is a business and pricing term rather than a legal one, and businesses in BC are generally free to set their own prices and margins.

How BC law treats it

BC has no general price controls and no general ban on charging different customers different prices. The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, SBC 2004, c 2 prohibits deceptive and unconscionable acts in consumer transactions, and the federal Competition Act, RSC 1985, c C-34 addresses misleading price representations and price fixing among competitors.

What it means for your business

You can price as you choose, but how you advertise prices, discounts and 'regular' prices to consumers is regulated.

Risks and common mistakes

Agreeing with a competitor on prices or margins, even informally, can be a criminal conspiracy offence under the Competition Act.

For the full explanation, see our entry on Competition law.

General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.