Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)
Reporting Guide
This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2014 Survey of Service Industries. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.
Help Line: 1-800-972-9692
Your answers are confidential.
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.
Table of contents
Business activity
Reporting period information
Revenue
Expenses
Industry characteristics
Sales by type of client
International transactions
General information
Data-sharing agreements
Record linkages
Business activity
The description on file for this business comes from the North American Industrial Classifications System (NAICS). This database contains a limited number of activity classifications. The classifications on file might be applicable for this business, even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business’s main activity.
By selecting "Yes, this is the main activity.", you indicate that the description is applicable, and it describes the main economic activity which typically generates the most revenue for this business.
By selecting "No, this is not the main activity.", you indicate that this description is not applicable as a main or a secondary activity of this business. You will be given a chance to describe this business’s main activity.
If none of the above activities describes your main source of revenue, please call 1-800-972-9692 for further instructions.
Reporting period information
Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:
- May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014
- June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014
- July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014
- August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014
- September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2014
- October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014
- November 1, 2013 to October 31, 2014
- December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014
- January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014
- February 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015
- March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015
- April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015
Here are other examples of fiscal periods that fall within the required dates:
- September 18, 2013 to September 15, 2014 (e.g., floating year-end)
- June 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 (e.g., a newly opened business)
Revenue
- Sales of goods and services (e.g., fees, commissions, services revenue)
Include: sales, commissions, rental and leasing revenue if they are this business’s primary revenue source.
Report net of returns and allowances.
Sales of goods and services are defined as amounts derived from the sale of goods and services (cash or credit), falling within a business’s ordinary activities. Sales should be reported net of trade discount, value added tax and other taxes based on sales.
Include: Sales from Canadian locations (domestic and export sales); Transfers to other business units or a head office of your firm.
Exclude: Transfers into inventory and consignment sales; Federal, provincial and territorial sales taxes and excise duties and taxes; intercompany sales in consolidated financial statements.
- Rental and leasing
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If rental and leasing are your primary revenue source, report in question 1.
Include: Rental or leasing of apartments, commercial buildings, land, office space, residential housing, investments in co-tenancies and co-ownerships, hotel or motel rooms, long and short term vehicle leasing, machinery or equipment, storage lockers, etc.
- Commissions
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If commissions are your primary revenue source, report in question 1.
Include: Commissions earned on the sale of products or services by businesses such as advertising agencies, brokers, insurance agents, lottery ticket sales, sales representatives, and travel agencies - compensation could also be reported under this item (for example, compensation for collecting sales tax).
- Subsidies (including grants, donations, fundraising and sponsorships)
Include: Non-repayable grants, contributions and subsidies from all levels of government; Revenue from private sector (corporate and individual) sponsorships, donations and fundraising.
- Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees
A royalty is defined as a payment received by the holder of a copyright, trademark or patent.
Include: Revenue received from the sale or use of all intellectual property rights of copyrighted materials such as musical, literary, artistic or dramatic works, sound recordings or the broadcasting of communication signals.
Include: Dividend income; Dividends from Canadian sources; Dividends from foreign sources; Patronage dividends.
Exclude: Equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
- Interest
Include: Investment revenue; Interest from foreign sources; Interest from Canadian bonds and debentures; Interest from Canadian mortgage loans; Interest from other Canadian sources.
Exclude: Equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
- Other revenue - specify (including intracompany transfers)
Include: Amounts not included in questions (1) to (7).
- Total revenue
The sum of sub-questions (1) to (8).
Expenses
- Cost of goods sold
Many business units distinguish their costs of materials from their other business expenses (selling, general and administrative). This item is included to allow you to easily record your costs/expenses according to your normal accounting practices.
Include: Cost of raw materials and/or goods purchased for resale – net of discounts earned on purchases; Freight in and duty.
- opening inventories
- purchases
Include: raw materials, goods purchased for resale and non-returnable containers
Exclude: change in inventories
- closing inventories
- cost of goods sold
(opening inventories plus purchases minus closing inventories)
- Employment costs and expenses
- Salaries, wages and commissions
Please report all salaries and wages (including taxable allowances and employment commissions as defined on the T4 – Statement of Remuneration Paid) before deductions for this reporting period.
Include: Vacation pay; Bonuses (including profit sharing); Employee commissions; Taxable allowances (e.g., room and board, vehicle allowances, gifts such as airline tickets for holidays); Severance pay.
Exclude: All payments and expenses associated with casual labour and outside contract workers (report these amounts at sub-question (3) - Subcontracts).
- Employee benefits
Include contributions to: Health plans; Insurance plans; Employment insurance; Pension plans; Workers’ compensation; Association dues; Contributions to any other employee benefits such as child care and supplementary unemployment benefit (SUB) plans; Contributions to provincial and territorial health and education payroll taxes.
- Subcontracts
Subcontract expense refers to the purchasing of services from outside of the company rather than providing them in-house.
Include: Hired casual labour and outside contract workers; Custom work and contract work; Sub-contract and outside labour; Hired labour.
- Research and development fees
Expenses from activities conducted with the intention of making a discovery that could either lead to the development of new products or procedures, or to the improvement of existing products or procedures.
- Professional and business fees
Include: Legal services; Accounting and auditing fees; Consulting fees; Education and training fees; Appraisal fees; Management and administration fees; Property management fees; Information technology (IT) consulting and service fees (purchased); Architectural fees; Engineering fees; Scientific and technical service fees; Other consulting fees (management, technical and scientific); Veterinary fees; Fees for human health services; Payroll preparation fees; All other professional and business service fees.
Exclude: Service fees paid to Head Office (report at sub-question (21) - All other expenses).
- Utilities
Utility expenses related to operating your business unit such as water, electricity, gas, heating and hydro.
Include: Diesel, fuel wood, natural gas, oil and propane; Sewage.
Exclude: Energy expenses covered in your rental and leasing contracts; Telephone, Internet and other telecommunications; Vehicle fuel (report at sub-question (21) - All other expenses).
- Office and computer related expenses
Include: Office stationery and supplies, paper and other supplies for photocopiers, printers and fax machines; Postage and courier (used in the day to day office business activity); Computer and peripherals upgrade expenses; Data processing.
Exclude: Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication expenses (report this amount at sub-question (8) - Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication expenses).
- Telephone, Internet and other telecommunications
Include: Internet; Telephone and telecommunications; Cellular telephone; Fax machine; Pager.
- Business taxes, licenses and permits
Include: Property taxes paid directly and property transfer taxes; Vehicle license fees; Beverage taxes and business taxes; Trade license fees; Membership fees and professional license fees; Provincial capital tax.
- Royalties, franchise fees and memberships
Include: Amounts paid to holders of patents, copyrights, performing rights and trademarks; Gross overriding royalty expenses and direct royalty costs; Resident and non-resident royalty expenses; Franchise fees.
Exclude: Crown royalties
- Crown charges
Federal or Provincial royalty, tax, lease or rental payments made in relation to the acquisition, development or ownership of Canadian resource properties.
Include: Crown royalties; Crown leases and rentals; Oil sand leases; Stumpage fees.
- Rental and leasing
Include: Lease rental expenses, real estate rental expenses, condominium fees and equipment rental expenses; Motor vehicle rental and leasing expenses; Studio lighting and scaffolding; Machinery and equipment rental expenses; Storage expenses; Road and construction equipment rental; Fuel and other utility costs covered in your rental and leasing contracts.
- Repair and maintenance
Include: Buildings and structures; Machinery and equipment; Security equipment; Vehicles; Costs related to materials, parts and external labour associated with these expenses; Janitorial and cleaning services and garbage removal.
- Amortization and depreciation
Include: Direct cost depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of leasehold improvements; Amortization of intangible assets (e.g., amortization of goodwill, patents, franchises, copyrights, trademarks, deferred charges, organizational costs).
- Insurance
Insurance recovery income should be deducted from insurance expenses.
Include: Professional and other liability insurance; Motor vehicle and property insurance; Executive life insurance; Bonding, business interruption insurance and fire insurance.
- Advertising, marketing, promotion, meals and entertainment
Include: Newspaper advertising and media expenses; Catalogues, presentations and displays; Tickets for theatre, concerts and sporting events for business promotion; Fundraising expenses; Meals, entertainment and hospitality purchases for clients.
- Travel, meetings and conventions
Include: Travel expenses; Meeting and convention expenses, seminars; Passenger transportation (e.g., airfare, bus, train, etc.); Accommodations; Travel allowance and meals while travelling; Other travel expenses.
- Financial services
Include: Explicit service charges for financial services; Credit and debit card commissions and charges; Collection expenses and transfer fees; Registrar and transfer agent fees; Security and exchange commission fees; Other financial service fees.
Exclude: Interest expenses (report at sub-question (19) - Interest expense).
- Interest expense
Report the cost of servicing your company’s debt.
Include: Interest; Bank charges; Finance charges; Interest payments on capital leases; Amortization of bond discounts; Interest on short-term and long-term debt, mortgages, bonds and debentures.
- Other non-production-related costs and expenses
Include: Charitable donations and political contributions; Bad Debt expense; Loan losses; Provisions for loan losses (minus Bad debt recoveries); Inventory adjustments
- All other costs and expenses (including intracompany expenses)
Include:
Production costs; Pipeline operations, drilling, site restoration; Gross overriding royalty; Other producing property rentals; Well operating, fuel and equipment; Other lease rentals; Other direct costs; Equipment hire and operation; Log yard expense, forestry costs, logging road costs; Freight in and duty; Overhead expenses allocated to costs of sales; Other expenses; Cash over/short (negative expense); Reimbursement of parent company expense; Warranty expense; Recruiting expenses; General and administrative expenses; Interdivisional expenses; Interfund transfer (minus expense recoveries); Exploration and Development (including prospect/geological, well abandonment & dry holes, exploration expenses, development expenses); Amounts not included in sub-questions (1) to (20) above.
- Total expenses
(sum of sub-questions 1 to 21)
Industry characteristics
1. Total admission receipts
Please report revenue from admissions.
2. Advertising revenue
Please report revenue earned from business promotion activities.
Include:
- on-screen advertising of products;
- the distribution of sample products and newspapers;
- the display of posters in the lobby;
- revenue from government advertising (e.g., military recruiting or anti-smoking messages);
- revenue received from selling advertising for smaller theatre chains.
Expenses
3. Amusement taxes collected
Please report the total amount of amusement taxes (municipal, provincial, territorial, etc.) collected by you on admissions.
4. Total number of seats in theatre
Include: the total number of seats in all auditoriums of the theatre or hall.
Usual number of performances per screen per week
Include: each showing of a film for which an admission fee is charged, a double billing is counted as one performance.
5. Language of screening
These refer to the language in which a film is shown. For dubbed films, this is the language in which the film was dubbed and not the original language of the film.
Sales by type of client
This section is designed to measure which sector of the economy purchases your services.
Please provide a percentage breakdown of your sales by type of client.
Please ensure that the sum of percentages reported in this section equals 100%.
1. Clients in Canada
a. Individuals and households
Please report the percentage of sales to individuals and households who do not represent the business or government sector.
b. Businesses
Percentage of sales sold to the business sector should be reported here.
Include:
- sales to Crown corporations.
c. Governments, not-for-profit organizations and public institutions (e.g., hospitals, schools)
Percentage of sales to federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments should be reported here.
Include:
- sales to hospitals, schools, universities and public utilities.
2. Clients outside Canada
Please report the share of total sales to customers or clients located outside Canada including foreign businesses, foreign individuals, foreign institutions and/or governments.
Include:
- sales to foreign subsidiaries and affiliates.
International transactions
This section is intended to measure the value of international transactions on goods, services, and royalties and licences fees. It covers imported services and goods purchased outside Canada as well as the value of exported services and goods to clients/customers outside Canada. Please report also royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees paid to and/or received from outside Canada. Services cover a variety of industrial, professional, trade and business services.
General information
Survey purpose
Data-sharing agreements
To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.
Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.
For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.
The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.
Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data.
For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.
Record linkages
To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.
Please note that Statistics Canada does not share any individual survey information with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Please visit our website at www.statcan.gc.ca/survey-enquete/index-eng.htm or call us at 1-800-972-9692 for more information about these data-sharing agreements.