How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?

Incorporation costs vary across Canada

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How much it costs to incorporate in Canada depends on what kind of business incorporation you choose and where you are incorporating. You may choose to incorporate your business federally or in a particular province or territory depending on whether or not you plan to operate nationwide.

Federal Incorporation

The fee to file articles of incorporation federally is $200, as of 2019, if filed online through Corporations Canada's online Filing Centre and $250 if filed through other means. As part of the incorporation process, you also need at least one NUANS name search report to certify that your chosen corporate name is acceptable and unique. The cost for a federal search is $13.80, as of 2019.

Provincial Incorporation

For provincial incorporation, the cost of incorporation differs from province to province. In some provinces, corporate registry services are provided by private sector firms that have been designated as authorized service providers by the provincial government, in which case the fees may vary.

There are several online registry services that provide complete incorporation packages that include registration fees, filing, and name search. More expensive packages may include corporate seals, minute books, share certificates, etc.

To find out how much it costs to incorporate in provinces or territories, it is best to visit the business registry or corporate services departments in the provinces or territories where you wish to incorporate.

Costs, as of 2019, for provinces with higher numbers of incorporated businesses are:

  • Ontario: The cost to incorporate in Ontario is $360 if you incorporate in person or by mail. You also may incorporate online through a service provider under contract with the Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. The ministry charges $300 for filing articles of incorporation electronically and you will also have to pay whatever the service provider charges for its online services.
  • Alberta: You can register a business in Alberta through one of the authorized service providers. The basic registration fee charged by the provincial government is $450. Basic service provider fees are typically less than $100. Optional services, such as express filing or annual registered office address fees can increase the cost substantially.
  • British Columbia: If you choose to incorporate in British Columbia, the basic cost is $350. Your articles of incorporation will need to be accompanied by an up-to-date name approval, for which there is a $30 fee. The B.C. Registry Services site handles the process.
  • Quebec: In Quebec, the cost to incorporate is $326 for the declaration of registration, and the name reservation fee is an additional $22. The Quebec business registration site handles the process.
  • Nova Scotia: In Nova Scotia, incorporation of a company costs $336.40 plus a $118.35 registration fee.

Additional Incorporation Costs

Fees for undergoing the process of incorporation for the first time are not the only expenses businesses must consider. In some provinces, incorporation registration must be renewed every year. For instance, in Nova Scotia, the certificate of incorporation does not expire, but annual renewal is required for the certificate of registration. The fee for this is $108.62, as of 2019.

As an incorporated company, you also will incur related fees, such as the cost of filing an annual report, extra-provincial registration, the cost of a corporate seal, or preparing and filing corporate taxes.