START A COMPANY / AMERICAS
How to register a company in Canada
You incorporate federally (Corporations Canada, operating across Canada) or in one province (Ontario, BC, Alberta and so on). Both are online and quick. After that you register with the CRA for a Business Number and tax accounts, and with each province where you operate.
- REGISTRY
- Corporations Canada (federal) and provincial registries, e.g. Ontario Business Registry
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- CA$80 (≈ £43)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes, non-residents can own a Canadian company. Federal (CBCA) corporations must have at least 25% resident Canadian directors (at least 1 if fewer than 4). Ontario, Alberta and several other provinces have dropped this, so a foreign-only board is possible provincially.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
Corporation: Federal (CBCA) or provincial business corporation (Inc. / Ltd. / Corp.)
Most trading and tech companies; limited liability and a lower small-business tax rate.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 director and 1 shareholder (federal: resident-director rule applies)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 day to 1 week for incorporation; 1–4 weeks for bank account
Steps
Choose federal or provincial incorporation; federal gives name protection across Canada, provincial is often cheaper and can avoid the resident-director rule.
Order a NUANS name search report (needed for a named company) or choose a numbered company.
File Articles of Incorporation online via the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre or the provincial registry (Ontario Business Registry, BC Registries).
Receive the certificate of incorporation, normally within one business day when filing online.
Create the minute book and the register of individuals with significant control (required under the CBCA and most provincial acts).
Register with the CRA for a Business Number (BN) with corporate income tax, GST/HST and payroll accounts as needed (non-residents use the non-resident option).
Register extra-provincially in each other province you operate in, and open a Canadian bank account.
Documents
- Articles of Incorporation
- NUANS report
- Directors' consent and by-laws
- Register of individuals with significant control
- Passport/ID for directors
Official fees
Federal online filing about CAD 200 (unverified); Ontario about CAD 300 online and BC about CAD 350 (unverified); NUANS about CAD 15–25; annual return federal about CAD 12.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CA$225≈ £120 | DIY: federal online filing fee plus NUANS search, about (unverified) |
| With an accountant or agent | CA$900≈ £480 | About: filing fees plus an accountant or incorporation service and minute book |
| Full service | CA$3,000≈ £1,600 | About: corporate lawyer set-up, registered office, resident director/nominee and bank introduction |
Every year
- File the annual return (federal: within 60 days of the anniversary; provincial rules differ)
- File the T2 corporate tax return within 6 months of year end
- Update the register of individuals with significant control
- Hold annual shareholder meetings and keep financial statements
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: federal fee amounts and the CBCA 25% resident-director rule (official pages could not be retrieved; secondary sources agree it still applies). Quebec has its own rules and French-language name requirements.
SOLE TRADER
Sole proprietorship: Sole proprietorship (business name registration)
Individuals trading in their own name, with no separate legal entity.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 owner
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 day to 1 week
Steps
Check the business name is available if not using your own name.
Register the business name with the province (e.g. Ontario Business Registry, BC Registries, Quebec REQ).
Register for a Business Number with the CRA if you need GST/HST or payroll accounts.
Register for GST/HST once revenue passes CAD 30,000 over four quarters (or voluntarily).
Obtain municipal business licences or professional permits.
Open a business bank account.
Documents
- Government ID
- SIN (residents) or non-resident registration
- Business name registration
Official fees
Ontario about CAD 80 for a five-year business name registration (unverified); BC about CAD 40; fees vary by province.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CA$80≈ £43 | DIY: provincial business-name registration, about (unverified) |
| With an accountant or agent | CA$400≈ £210 | About: registration plus an accountant for tax set-up |
| Full service | CA$1,000≈ £530 | About: accountant and lawyer set-up with licences |
Every year
- File a personal T1 return with business income by 15 June (pay by 30 April)
- File and remit GST/HST if registered
- Renew business name registration
Good to know. Not practical for non-residents without a SIN or work authorisation.
PARTNERSHIP
General partnership: General partnership (registered firm name)
Two or more people sharing a business without incorporating.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 2 partners
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 day to 1 week
Steps
Agree a written partnership agreement.
Register the firm name with the province.
Get a Business Number from the CRA.
Register for GST/HST and payroll if needed.
Open a bank account in the firm name.
Documents
- Partnership agreement
- Partners' ID and SINs
- Firm name registration
Official fees
Provincial registration typically about CAD 60–100 (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | CA$80≈ £43 | DIY: provincial partnership registration, about (unverified) |
| With an accountant or agent | CA$600≈ £320 | About: registration plus lawyer-drafted agreement |
| Full service | CA$1,800≈ £960 | About: lawyer and accountant set-up |
Every year
- File the partnership information return (T5013) when required
- Partners file personal tax returns
- Renew registration
Good to know. Partners are jointly and severally liable.
After you register
- Business Number (BN): the CRA issues one number and you add program accounts (corporate income tax RC, GST/HST RT, payroll RP, import/export RM).
- Corporate tax: federal general rate 15%, small-business rate 9% on the first CAD 500,000, plus provincial tax. File T2 within six months of year end.
- GST/HST: must register once taxable revenue exceeds CAD 30,000 in four consecutive quarters; non-resident rules are different. Provinces add PST or QST.
- Payroll: register for a payroll account, withhold income tax, CPP/QPP and EI.
- Beneficial ownership: keep a register of individuals with significant control (25%+); federal corporations also file this with Corporations Canada and it is public.
- Provincial and municipal licences, plus extra-provincial registration where you operate.
- Open a Canadian bank account; non-residents typically need incorporation documents, ID and sometimes an in-person visit.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Americas
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.