Start your Canadian business the right way
Setting up a company in Canada is straightforward, but the choice between federal and provincial incorporation, the directors and the tax registrations need to be right from the start. Working with our Canadian partners, we handle the whole process: incorporation, registered office, director requirements, CRA business number and tax accounts, and your corporate records, so you are ready to trade from day one.
Expert Canadian Company Setup, Tax Registration and Banking Guidance
End-to-end support from incorporation to your first invoice: articles, by-laws, registration, tax and banking, handled by one team.
01
Online incorporation with Corporations Canada under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or with the registry of your chosen province, such as Ontario or British Columbia. A federal corporation can use its name across Canada; a provincial corporation can be simpler if you trade mainly in one province. Online incorporations are usually completed within a few business days once the documents are ready.
02
Formation of numbered corporations, unlimited liability companies (ULCs) in the provinces that allow them, not-for-profit corporations, and registration of Canadian branches of foreign companies, plus extra-provincial registration when you trade in more than one province.
03
Every Canadian corporation must have a registered office address in its home province. Through our partners we can arrange a professional address with mail handling for founders who live abroad or prefer not to use their home address.
04
Articles of incorporation and by-laws tailored to your business and shareholders, covering share classes, transfer restrictions, director powers and decision-making, plus a NUANS name search where you choose a named rather than a numbered company.
05
Initial share issue, appointment of directors and officers, checking any director residency requirement (federal corporations need at least 25% resident Canadian directors, while Ontario and British Columbia have none), minute book and statutory registers, and the register of individuals with significant control.
06
Registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for a business number and corporate income tax account, plus a payroll account before you pay staff, so you can deduct CPP, EI and income tax correctly.
07
Managed GST/HST registration once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, or earlier on a voluntary basis, which many businesses choose so they can claim input tax credits. Provincial sales tax registration is handled where it applies.
08
Advice on Canadian banks and payment providers, and help preparing the identity and business documents they need to open your account.
Legal structure: Individual trading alone; not a separate legal entity
Owners: One individual
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Compliance: Provincial business name registration if trading under another name; CRA registrations as needed
Tax: Personal income tax on profits
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Freelancers and micro-businesses
Legal structure: Partners in business together; not a separate legal entity
Owners: Two or more partners
Liability: Unlimited, joint and several
Compliance: Provincial registration; partnership information return where required
Tax: Transparent: each partner taxed on their share
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Small professional and family businesses
Legal structure: Partnership registered under provincial law
Owners: At least one general partner and one limited partner
Liability: Limited partners liable only up to their contribution if not involved in management
Compliance: Provincial registration and filings
Tax: Generally tax transparent
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Investment, fund and property structures
Legal structure: Separate legal entity incorporated with Corporations Canada
Owners: One or more shareholders
Liability: Limited to share capital
Compliance: At least 25% resident Canadian directors; annual return; extra-provincial registration where you trade; significant-control register
Tax: Federal and provincial corporate income tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Businesses trading across Canada or wanting national name protection
Legal structure: Separate legal entity incorporated in one province
Owners: One or more shareholders
Liability: Limited to share capital
Compliance: Provincial annual filings; residency rules vary (none in Ontario or British Columbia)
Tax: Federal and provincial corporate income tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Businesses trading mainly in one province
Legal structure: Separate legal entity without share capital
Owners: Members
Liability: Limited
Compliance: Federal or provincial not-for-profit legislation; CRA registration if charitable
Tax: Generally exempt if it meets the rules
Capital: None
Best for: Charities, associations and social enterprises
Legal structure: Separate legal entity available in Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia
Owners: One or more shareholders
Liability: Shareholders can be liable for the company’s debts in some situations
Compliance: Provincial filings as for a corporation
Tax: Canadian corporate tax; can be treated as transparent for US tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: US-owned groups with specific tax planning needs
Legal structure: Extra-provincial registration of a foreign company
Owners: The foreign parent company
Liability: The parent is fully liable
Compliance: Registration in each province where it trades; Canadian tax filings
Tax: Canadian tax on Canadian profits, plus branch tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Foreign companies testing the Canadian market
Why Form a Company in Canada?
Canada is one of the world’s most stable places to do business, with fast online incorporation, a skilled and diverse workforce, strong trade links with the United States and Europe, and generous tax credits for research and development.
A Canadian company builds trust with customers, suppliers and investors, and gives you a recognised base in North America.
Business bank accounts with Canada’s major banks and payment providers, in Canadian and US dollars.
Free trade with the United States and Mexico under CUSMA, with the EU under CETA, and with Asia-Pacific markets under the CPTPP, plus a wide network of double tax treaties.
A common law legal system (civil law in Quebec), stable federal and provincial tax regimes, SR&ED tax credits for research and development, and strong protection for intellectual property and contracts.
Who Is This For?
Our service is for entrepreneurs and businesses who want a compliant, scalable Canadian company set up quickly and correctly.
- Canadian residents starting their first business, or moving from sole proprietor to a corporation
- Overseas entrepreneurs and companies establishing a Canadian or North American presence
- Sole proprietors who want to separate personal and business liability
- Startups that need an investor-ready structure
- Existing businesses restructuring or creating a Canadian holding company
4-Step Process
Step-01
Discovery
Step-02
Analysis
Step-03
Strategy
A clear formation plan with documents, timeline and costs, including registered office, banking and any licences your activities need.
Step-04
Execution & Support
Trusted by Businesses Across Three Continents
- 18+ Years Experience
- 100+ Satisfied Clients
- 10+ Expert Team
- 4 International offices
- Glasgow
- London
- Dublin
- Budapest
Frequently asked question
Online incorporations with Corporations Canada or a provincial registry are usually completed within a few business days once the name search and documents are ready. Registering for a business number and tax accounts with the CRA follows straight after.
A federal corporation protects your name across Canada and can trade in any province after registering there. A provincial corporation is often simpler and cheaper if you will trade mainly in one province. We compare the options for your plans, including director residency rules.
Yes. Every Canadian corporation must have a registered office address in its home province. We can arrange one through our partners if you do not have your own premises.
Yes. A Canadian corporation can have a single shareholder who is also the sole director. For a federal corporation that director must be a resident Canadian, while Ontario and British Columbia have no residency requirement.
The main obligations are: an annual return to Corporations Canada or your provincial registry; a corporate income tax return (T2) to the CRA within six months of your year end, with tax payments due earlier; GST/HST returns if registered, and payroll remittances if you have employees; keeping your minute book, share register and register of individuals with significant control up to date.
Yes. Shareholders can live anywhere. Director residency depends on where you incorporate: federal corporations need at least 25% resident Canadian directors, while provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia have no residency requirement. Some foreign investments must also be notified under the Investment Canada Act. We guide you through each of these.
Get in touch
We would love to hear more about your Canadian project
Monday - Friday : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
