Incorporating in Canada is simple with the help of Ontario Business Central. Whether you are creating a named or numbered Federal Corporation, we make it easy to get your business up and running quickly. It only takes a few simple steps to complete your incorporation using our online form.
What Are The Benefits of Incorporation?
Name Protection
Name protection exclusively for that exact business name.
Exists in the jurisdiction where you are registered.
Federal corporations protection is Canada wide.
Protects your brand as much as possible without completing a trademark.
Potential legal ability to pressure action against conflicting business names.
Liability Protection
Own entity, separate from those who are shareholders or owners.
Peace of mind if the business has risk of liability.
Allows you to keep your personal wealth removed from the business as much as possible.
Provides separation from the risks and responsibilities for those who are shareholders or owners of the business.
Tax Advantages
Corporations have their own tax account and responsibilities.
Lower tax rate than individual and provides the ability to split income, and defer taxation.
Corporations are able to invest in real estate, stocks, bonds and other investment opportunities separate from the individuals who own the business.
Provides an open door to venture capital opportunities.
Is Federal Better Than Provincial?
The primary difference between Provincial and Federal Incorporation is the name protection.
Provincial incorporation only protects your name in the province that you are registered in.
Federal incorporation protects your name Canada wide!
This is the best in name protection outside of filing for a trade mark.
What is Required to Federally Incorporate?
Registered office address for the corporation
Directors full names and addresses
Share structure - Options available for one or two classes of shares Custom share structure also available
Select the legal ending for the corporation name
Who Can be a Director of a Federal or Canada Incorporation?
People who are the age of majority (18+)
No bankruptcy proceeding
No criminal history
Minimum of 25% of directors are required to be Canadian
Steps of the Incorporation Process
Ordering Page
Choose between a numbered or named corporation
Select Optional Preliminary Search to Check the Availability of Your Name
Choose .ca or .com Domain if Required
Select Your Time frame. Same-Day Rush Available
Select your Share Structure
Optional add-ons such as draft copies, trade names, corporate supplies and Tax Accounts
Include an extra-provincial registration for the province you are located in
Provide Incorporation Details
Provide the incorporation name or if a numbered company, simply select the legal ending
Head office address for the corporation
Minimum and Maximum number of directors, for example Min 1 and Max 10
The directors information including name, address & citizenship
Name of individual completing the incorporation form. Can be you or someone you are completing the incorporation for
Payment Information
Review Order Details
Provide the credit card holders details. The credit card is not required to be from the same individual filling out the form
Provide shipping address for any deliverables
Submit the credit card details
Click that you are not a robot and wait for the all green completion of your online incorporation details
That's It! We Make Incorporating as Easy as 1 2 3!
What Happens Next?
Now Our Work Begins!
You will receive a confirmation email with the details you have provided for your incorporation
For named corporations, we check your business name for availability and email you any names that may be of concern
We then send prepared incorporation documents for your review, approval and signature
Once confirmed, we complete your incorporation with the federal examiners
Once the incorporation has been accepted, we email the completed documents to you directly
Incorporating a Business in Canada
In this video, we discuss the misconception that only big businesses need to incorporate. Many new business owners incorporate to obtain the vast benefits associated with incorporation versus registration.
Incorporating a Business in Canada >>>
What our clients say about us
Lynne Taylor
3 months ago
I've been using the services of Ontario Business Central for all my corporate filing needs for many years. Their client service representatives are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Their service has always been accurate and reliable, which is why I continue to use them.
Kelly White
1 month ago
Five stars for very professional and efficient service! I would recommend them in a second. So very impressed!
Sherri Robertson
3 months ago
Excellent fast service! Thank you Alyssa for helping us with a complex situation! Great friendly service, very knowledgeable.
Incorporation Learning Centre
Pros & Cons of Incorporation +
Advantages of Incorporating:
Ability to Raise Capital: A corporation may be able to obtain its own investments or credit.
Adding Operating Name/s: If you wish to use your business name without the legal ending for such things as signage or if you want to operate more than one business, you can add additional business names under your existing corporation.
Director Flexibility: Since the corporation has its own identity, it is not affected if directors, officers, or shareholders of the corporation change as long as the minimum director/s remains. This is also beneficial for estate planning as the corporation continues to exist after the shareholders die.
Grants/Venture Capital: A corporation may have the opportunity to gain financial assistance.
Hold Investments: A corporation may hold its own assets including stocks, bonds, and real estate investments.
Incorporation Never Expires: Once you have completed the incorporation, there is no requirement to re-register or renew the incorporation. The incorporation is continual throughout time, as long as you wish for it to be active.
Limited Personal Liability: A corporation has its own identity separate from the people who are involved in the business.
Name Protection for Business Name: The name that you choose for your corporation becomes protected upon completion of the Articles of Incorporation within the jurisdiction of incorporation. If someone, after you have incorporated, decides to use the same name, the name will be refused. If someone registers or incorporates a similar name, you may be able to proceed with a name change to the infringing business name.
Overall Flexibility: With a corporation, you can change whatever is required over time including the name of the corporation, directors, officers, shareholders, share structure of the corporation, and minimum and maximum number of directors.
Potential Tax Advantages: There may be tax advantages to incorporation. A corporation in most cases has lower tax levels than any individual tax bracket.
Separate Identity: The shareholders of the corporation are not liable for default, obligation, or liability that the corporation has incurred unless the shareholders give personal guarantees.
Disadvantages of Incorporating:
Costs: The initial costs for a corporation are higher than other options available for businesses, which is approximately $600.00.
Paperwork: Having a corporation means more paperwork in most cases. Not only are you required to maintain personal records for yourself as a shareholder, you are also required to maintain the records for the corporation.
Tax Filing: Since a corporation has its own identity, it also has to file its own tax returns. The individual shareholder must file his/her personal tax return along with a secondary tax return for the corporation.
*plus government/disbursement fees
Are Incorporation & Corporation the Same?+
Both words are commonly used when speaking of starting a business as an Incorporated business. Incorporation is the process of setting up the business and corporation is a word describing the business once the business has been established. There are a number of words used to describe the incorporation and to provide a few more, you may see or read these encompassing words such as Articles of Incorporation, incorporated company, limited liability corporation or company, and corporation in Canada.
What is the Turnaround Time?+
A Federal incorporation can be as quick as 2 hours for a numbered corporation or 3 hours with a named corporation for rush service up to a 24 hour turnaround time Monday to Friday, EST.
How to Choose a Corporate Name+
When you are opting for a Federal or Canada Incorporation, the corporate name choice is very important. The Federal business name is reviewed against any other businesses and trademarks around Canada. Choosing a very unique name is a must. The business name requires a primary keyword that is not commonly used. Often incorporators will opt for a made up name such as 'Eltik,'' where the name is not a dictionary word. It is also imperative to provide the type of business you are provided such as analytics, lawn care, business services or something that allows the Federal government to understand your designated industry.
What is an Annual Return?+
The Annual Return is required by each incorporated company that has been started with the Federal government. The Annual Return provides any updates to the corporate record for the corporation including the registered office address or current directors and addresses. Whether the corporation has any changes or not, the filing is still mandatory each year on the anniversary of the incorporation. If the corporation does not provide the Annual Return filing, after a 2 year period, the corporation will be cancelled by the Federal government. The government fee to complete the Annual Return is minimal and currently is $20.00.
Nuans Pre Search & Report Information+
A Federal NUANS report is mandatory with completing the Articles of Incorporation or Incorporation documents with the Federal government. The report itself provides comparable business names and trademarks to the prospective corporate name of your choice. To avoid a rejection of the corporate name from the Federal examiners, it is important to complete a pre-search or prescreen of the prospective corporate name to avert the possibility of a same or similar named existing business.
Minute Book & Seal Requirements+
As you go through the incorporation process, you will be asked if you wish to obtain a minute book and seal. The minute book is a corporate legal book that assists you to keep track of the changes to your corporation as time goes on. In many jurisdictions it is a requirement and is highly endorsed by those within the legal community. The seal is a steel product used to emboss your corporate name and jurisdiction of incorporation for many business opportunities.
Applying for HST, Payroll & WSIB+
When the incorporation is complete, Revenue Canada will subsequently initialize the corporate tax identification number or BN number for your newly incorporated business. It may be that your business is a start up where tax accounts are not yet required or it may be from the beginning of your business the tax account is vital. If the business will earn $30,000 or more yearly, if you will hire employees or operate a business in Ontario that involves the WSIB account, it may be easier to set up these accounts as you incorporate. Once the operation of your business reaches the $30,000.00 yearly in sales, or hires employees or becomes equated to the required WSIB, you must establish the tax according tax accounts.
How to Operate Secondary Business Name+
You may find an opportunity where registering another business name outside of your corporate name becomes advantageous to you and your business. This may include a branch of your current business that may focus on a different aspect of your business capabilities or it may be to specialize in each area where you wish to market different business names as ideas to determine which is the most fruitful for your success. No matter the circumstance, with completing an incorporated business, the opportunity is always there to at any point add a subsequent business name or names to your corporate presence under your corporate umbrella. Specifically with a Federal or Canada incorporated company, the subsequent or trade name will be registered under your Provincial record for your Federal incorporation.
What is Required After Incorporation?+
With a Federal incorporation, it is mandatory that you select the Province where the corporation’s office address will exist. This can be completed as part of the electronic incorporation process within the Federal incorporation or can be completed manually with the chosen Province. This is called an Extra Provincial licence and is available electronically in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
After incorporation, you may also want to consider the following:
Create corporate bank account
Obtain corporate cheques, lines of credit
Secure domains and web presence
Facilitate wholesale pricing and distribution
Establish any required tax accounts. Corporate account is automatic
Legal documentation between partners of business
Distribute shares to shareholders of corporation
Find professionals to assist you with your business such as lawyers or accountants
Become a member of association within your industry
Acquire business insurance
Along with this information, a free bizguide is provided to you when you incorporate with Ontario Business Central. The Bizguide provides further assistance to new business owners including taxable income, organization, staffing, support services and infinitely more.