Like all provinces and territories, business registration in Quebec is required for most businesses. The only businesses that don't need to be registered in Quebec are joint ventures and sole proprietorships that operate under the business owner's first and last name. So for instance, if I was starting a business called 'Susan Ward's Dog Grooming Services', I wouldn't have to go through business registration in Quebec, but if I called my new business 'Susan's Dog Grooming', I would.
(Note that business registration in Quebec allows additions to the business owner's first and last name; other provinces do not. If you are registering a sole proprietorship in another province, be sure to check that province's business registration requirements.)
Also note that just because you don't have to register a sole proprietorship in Quebec or a joint venture, you can if you want to. Registered businesses are automatically included in the business register maintained by the Registraire des entreprises (REQ), making the existence of these businesses a matter of public record.
So let's assume that you are starting a business in Quebec that either has to be registered or that you want to register your business. What is the procedure? Because the process differs depending on the form of business you have chosen, I'll outline the business registration procedure for sole proprietorships and partnerships and corporations in Quebec separately.
To Register a Sole Proprietorship in Quebec or Register a Partnership in Quebec
In Quebec, if you are starting a sole proprietorship whose name does not include the owner's first and last names or a partnership, you must register your business within 60 days after beginning operations.
The basic business registration in Quebec procedure is simple; you file a Declaration of Registration form (along with the applicable fee) at an office of the Registraire des entreprises (REQ) in Montréal or Québec City.
There are two catches to be aware of, however. First, although English translations of the form are available, you must fill out and file the French version of the form to register your business. Second, while you can fill out the form online at the Registraire des entreprises Québec website, currently the Declaration of Registration cannot be filed electronically. You must fill them out, sign them, and take them to an REQ service counter in Montréal or Québec City, to one of the many courthouses in Québec or mail your business registration form to:
Registraire des entreprises
Direction des entreprises
P.O. Box 1364
Québec City, Québec
G1K 9B3
At time of writing, the fee for submitting a Declaration of Registration for a Natural Person (to register a sole proprietorship in Quebec) is $32.00; the fee for submitting a Declaration of Registration for a partnership is $43.00. In both cases, you may pay a higher priority fee to expedite the process if you wish ($48.00 to register a sole proprietorship in Quebec and $64.50 to register a partnership).
Once you have registered your business, you will also have to file an Annual Declaration (re-registering your business in Quebec each year). For a sole proprietorship, the regular fee for filing an Annual Declaration is $32.00; for a partnership, $48.00. (Note that no annual registration fees are due the year following registration with the Enterprise Registrar unless the registration follows a striking off.)
The next page of this article explains how to create and register a corporation in Quebec. Click to continue reading.
