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Registering your business

As a prospective entrepreneur or new business owner, you are certainly aware of the importance of spreading the word about your new company. In addition to informing potential customers about your business, you must let the government know about your plans.

You may need to register with several different levels of government for many different reasons. This document provides an overview of the key registration requirements that may apply to your business.

Before registering

Before registering your business, you must think about what form of business you want to start and what you want to call your business.

• Business structures
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/87/183/906/
  Find out which type of business structure is right for your business.
• Naming your business
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/1280/
  Choose the right name for your business. Your business name should be unique and easy to remember, and should describe the products and services you provide.

Business Number ↑ top of page

• Business Number (BN)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/1208/
  Applies to: All of Canada
  Your Business Number is your single account number for dealing with the federal government regarding taxes, payroll, import/export and other activities.
• NEQ - Quebec Enterprise Number
  
  http://www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca/en/a_propos/neq/default.aspx
  The Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ) is the number assigned to your business to simplify and expedite your dealings with the various Government of Quebec departments and agencies.

Provincial and territorial business registration ↑ top of page

Most provincial and territorial governments require that you register your business with them.

• Access Nova Scotia
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3215/
  Applies to: Nova Scotia
  Find out how to register your business, obtain required permits and licences, and get information on provincial government business programs and services.
• BC Business Registry
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2962/
  Applies to: British Columbia
  This website will guide you through the steps of registering your sole proprietorship or general partnership business in BC.
• Business corporations - Extra-territorial companies (Nunavut)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3060/
  Applies to: Nunavut
  Find out how to register your corporation in Nunavut as an extra-territorial business.
• Business Registration in the Yukon - (Yukon)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/5438/
  Applies to: Yukon
  In order to register your business in the Yukon, you will have to contact Corporate Affairs.
• Companies Office - Business name registration and provincial incorporation (Manitoba)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2768/
  Applies to: Manitoba
  How do you register your business, and what do you need to know about provincial incorporation?
• Cooperatives Act (Quebec) (only available in French)
  
  http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_67_2/C67_2.html
  Learn about the Cooperatives Act and regulations that govern non-financial cooperatives.
• Co-operative Development in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.enterprisesaskatchewan.ca/aboutcoops
  Find out what a co-operative is and how to register a co-operative in Saskatchewan.
• Corporate Registry (Alberta)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2920/
  Applies to: Alberta
  To conduct business in Alberta, register your cooperative, corporation, extra-provincial company, non-profit company, society, trade name and/or partnership.
• Corporate Registry - Business Corporations - Extra-Territorial Registration (Northwest Territories)
  
  http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/CorporateRegistry/CR_BCA_ETReg.shtml
  Are you currently operating a corporation outside the Northwest Territories and interested in expanding your company into the Northwest Territories? Find out the requirements to register your business in the territory.
• Corporate services - Business name registration (Prince Edward Island)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3389/
  Applies to: Prince Edward Island
  Register your business name in Prince Edward Island to prevent other organizations from using the same business name.
• Creating a Non-Profit Corporation or Organization
  
  http://www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca/en/demarrer/constituer-pmsbl.aspx
  Learn the major steps for establishing a non-profit corporation or organization in Quebec.
• Enterprise Registrar
  
  http://www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca/en/a_propos/registre/default.aspx
  If you have a business operating in Quebec, you must register with the enterprise register and declare your organization's legal form.
• Register my company to do business on P.E.I.
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3385/
  Applies to: Prince Edward Island
  Are you looking to do business in P.E.I., but are incorporated elsewhere? If so, you must register as an extra-provincial corporation.
• Extra-Provincial Corporation from Outside of Canada (Ontario)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2616/
  Applies to: Ontario
  If your corporation is not Canadian and you would like to do business in Ontario, you will need an Extra-Provincial Licence.
• Extra-Provincial Domestic Corporations Operating in Ontario
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2614/
  Applies to: Ontario
  If your business is incorporated federally or in another Canadian province/territory, you need to let the Ontario government know when you start doing business in Ontario.
• Establishment of a limited partnership (New Brunswick)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2060/
  Applies to: New Brunswick
  Find out about the rules, procedures and fees to form a limited partnership in New Brunswick.
• Business name registration information (Ontario)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2067/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Register your business name online, in person or by mail.
• Legal Registries - Nunavut
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2665/
  Applies to: Nunavut
  Learn how to register your business in Nunavut, whether you live in Nunavut or live in another part of Canada and want to do business in Nunavut.
• Limited Partnerships (Ontario)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/6443/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Find out if a limited partnership is right for your business.
• NEQ - Quebec Enterprise Number
  
  http://www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca/en/a_propos/neq/default.aspx
  The Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ) is the number assigned to your business to simplify and expedite your dealings with the various Government of Quebec departments and agencies.
• Partnerships and Business Names - (Nunavut)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3063/
  Applies to: Nunavut
  Find out if you need to register your business name in Nunavut.
• Registering a Co-operative in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.isc.ca/CorporateRegistry/FormingaCooperative/Pages/default.aspx
  Find out how to register a co-operative in Saskatchewan, including information on fees and required forms.
• Registration of a Charitable Organization
  
  http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/en/entreprise/impot/organismes/default.aspx
  Find all the information you need to register a charity in Quebec.
• Registering A Sole Proprietorship or Partnership in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.isc.ca/CorporateRegistry/FormingSoleProprietorshiporPartnership/Pages/default.aspx
  Find out how to register your business name as a sole proprietorship or partnership in Saskatchewan, including the fees, the forms required and the turn-around time.
• Registering Your Business in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2716/
  Applies to: Saskatchewan
  Find out how to register your corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, extra-provincial corporation, co-operative or not for profit corporation in Saskatchewan.
• Establishment of an extra-provincial limited partnership (New Brunswick)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2234/
  Applies to: All of Canada
  Find out about the rules, procedures and fees to file a declaration for an extra-provincial limited partnership.
• Registration of an Extra-Provincial Corporation (New Brunswick)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2058/
  Applies to: New Brunswick
  Find out about the rules, procedures and fees for registering an extra-provincial corporation in New Brunswick.
• Registration of Private Occupational Training Organizations (New Brunswick)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2825/
  Applies to: New Brunswick
  Find out how to register a private occupational training organization in New Brunswick.
• Registry of Companies (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2997/
  Applies to: Newfoundland and Labrador
  In Newfoundland and Labrador, you must register with the Registry of Companies if you decide to incorporate provincially.
• Registry of Joint Stock Companies - (Nova Scotia)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2072/
  Applies to: Nova Scotia
  Register your business or research existing corporations and partnerships.
• Revenu Québec – Businesses Portal
  
  http://www.revenu.gouv.qc.ca/en/entreprise/
  Is your company based in Quebec? This business portal provides information on income tax, consumption taxes, and more, to help you properly meet your fiscal obligations.
• Setting-Up a Cooperative (only available in French)
  
  http://www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca/bibliotheques/lois/lois-sectorielles/cooperatives/
  Do you want to create or start a cooperative? If so, this site provides useful information about starting a cooperative.
• Societies (Nunavut)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3061/
  Applies to: Nunavut
  Find out why you should incorporate your non-profit organization in Nunavut.

Incorporation ↑ top of page

If you decide to incorporate your business, you can incorporate federally or provincially.

Federal incorporation allows you to do business under the same name in all provinces and territories (you may still need to register your business in individual provinces though). If you do plan to do business in more than one province now or in the future, you should strongly consider incorporating federally. Before doing so, you need to complete a NUANS name search.

• NUANS Name Search
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/1275/
  Applies to: All of Canada
  Compare your proposed business name with the names of existing businesses to see if it is unique.

Federal incorporation

• Federal Business Incorporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/1276/
  Applies to: All of Canada
  Access convenient online or paper methods of incorporating your business federally.
• Guide to Federal Incorporation
  
  http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs04839.html
  Step by step guidelines to help you incorporate your business and set up an appropriate structure.
• Create/Maintain a Cooperative
  
  http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs03926.html
  Find out what a cooperative is and how to create and maintain your cooperative.
• Keeping your corporation in good standing: Reporting obligations
  
  http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs03934.html
  Find out how to keep your federally incorporated company in good standing.
• Steps to Follow to Revive a Corporation
  
  http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/cs01085.html
  Find out how you can revive a dissolved federal corporation and restore it to its pre-dissolution legal status.

Provincial or territorial incorporation

• Ontario Business Incorporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2831/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Incorporate your Ontario business online, in person, or by mail.
• Professional corporations
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/6421/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Find out how you can incorporate your practice in Ontario for specific regulated professions.
• Correcting Errors on Your Ontario Corporation Documents
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2838/
  Applies to: Ontario
  You can ask to have errors corrected in documents you have filed for your Ontario corporation.
• Making changes to your corporate information
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2618/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Find out how to make changes to the information about your Ontario corporation, including its name, address and number of directors.
• How to Merge Ontario Corporations
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2619/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Do you have two or more active Ontario business corporations that you would like to merge?
• Involuntary dissolution of Ontario business corporations
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2359/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Your corporation can be dissolved or cancelled if it has failed to comply with specific rules and regulations.
• Dissolving or Reviving your Corporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/4838/
  Applies to: Ontario
  You may be able to revive your Ontario corporation if it was involuntarily dissolved within the past 20 years.
• Incorporation (Not-for-Profit Corporations) - Ontario
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2617/
  Applies to: Ontario
  You can incorporate your not-for-profit organization provincially with the Government of Ontario.
• Making Changes to Your Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2615/
  Applies to: Ontario
  Find out how to make changes to the information about your Ontario not-for-profit corporation.
• Reviving Your Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2620/
  Applies to: Ontario
  You can restart your previously cancelled Ontario not-for-profit corporation by filing an Application for Revival.
• Corporate Registry (Alberta)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2920/
  Applies to: Alberta
  To conduct business in Alberta, register your cooperative, corporation, extra-provincial company, non-profit company, society, trade name and/or partnership.
• Corporate Registry – Co-operative Associations
  
  http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/CorporateRegistry/CR_Coop.shtml
  Are you looking to establish and incorporate a co-operative within the Northwest Territories? Find out the rules pertaining to starting your venture and what is needed to remain compliant with the law.
• Corporate Registry - Business Corporations
  
  http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/CorporateRegistry/CR_BCA.shtml
  Are you looking to incorporate your business? Find out how you can register to do business in the Northwest Territories.
• Registration of a Provincial Corporation
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2827/
  Applies to: New Brunswick
  Find out about the rules, procedures and fees for registering a provincial corporation in New Brunswick.
• Incorporation of non-profit companies (New Brunswick)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2374/
  Applies to: New Brunswick
  Find out about the rules, procedures and fees for incorporating a not-for-profit company in New Brunswick.
• Corporate Registry - Societies
  
  http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/CorporateRegistry/CR_Societies.shtml
  Are you interested in starting a society or non-profit organization? Find out the benefits of incorporation and what you are required to do at the territorial and federal levels.
• Business corporations - Territorial corporations - (Nunavut)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3050/
  Applies to: Nunavut
  Find out how to incorporate as a territorial business in Nunavut.
• Incorporating Your Business in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.isc.ca/CorporateRegistry/FormingaCorporation/Pages/default.aspx
  Find out how to incorporate your business in Saskatchewan, including the fees, the forms required and the turn-around time.
• Registering a Non-Profit Corporation in Saskatchewan
  
  http://www.isc.ca/CorporateRegistry/FormingaNonProfitCorporation/Pages/default.aspx
  Find out how to register your non-profit corporation in Saskatchewan, including the fees, the forms required and the turn-around time.
• Companies Office - Business name registration and provincial incorporation (Manitoba)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2768/
  Applies to: Manitoba
  How do you register your business, and what do you need to know about provincial incorporation?
• Registry of Companies (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2997/
  Applies to: Newfoundland and Labrador
  In Newfoundland and Labrador, you must register with the Registry of Companies if you decide to incorporate provincially.
• Business incorporation and registration (Nova Scotia)
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/3847/
  Applies to: Nova Scotia
  Incorporate your business provincially through the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
• Incorporate a business (Quebec)
  
  http://www.registreentreprises.gouv.qc.ca/en/demarrer/constituer-cie.aspx
  Learn the steps to incorporate your business in Quebec, especially the forms to be filled out and the application process.

Permits and licences ↑ top of page

You may also require specific permits and licences from the federal, provincial or municipal government, depending on your location, industry sector, and specific activities that you plan to conduct. Use our permits and licences search to find out which permits and licences might apply to your business.

• Permits and licences
  
  http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/126/155/
  Find out what permits and licences your business may need from the federal, provincial and municipal governments using our search tool.
• Inter-Municipal Business Licence - (Yukon)
  
  http://www.ayc-yk.ca/Default.aspx?pageId=676202
  If you are a Yukon resident business operating in more than one community, you can purchase an Inter-Municipal Business Licence at any municipal office.