Getting your hands on a Business Number (BN) is a make-or-break moment for most entrepreneurs in Canada. This nine-digit identifier from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is essentially your business's lifeline for all things tax-related. The absolute quickest and most reliable way to lock one down is by incorporating your business with Start Right Now, which takes the entire registration headache off your plate.
Think of the Business Number as your company's equivalent of a social insurance number. It's the unique nine-digit code the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) gives your business to identify it for every interaction with the federal government. Without one, you're pretty much stopped in your tracks—you can't legally do basic things like collect sales tax or hire your first employee.
This number isn't just a piece of bureaucratic trivia; it's the core of your business's financial and legal structure. Any business that needs to sign up for specific government programs, what the CRA calls "program accounts," has to get a BN first. It's not optional.
So, what can you actually do with this number? Your BN is the master key to a bunch of critical business activities. You'll need one if you're going to:
Each of these functions needs its own "program account," which is tacked onto your main BN. For example, your GST/HST account will look like your BN followed by "RT0001," and your payroll account will be your BN plus "RP0001." This system keeps everything organized under a single, central identifier for the CRA.
Sometimes it's tough to know exactly when you cross the line from a hobby to a business that needs official registration. This quick table breaks down the most common triggers.
Once you hit one of these milestones, getting a BN is no longer a choice—it's a requirement to stay compliant.
The number of businesses operating this way is huge. As of June 2025, Canada had 1.38 million active employer businesses and another 3.59 million non-employer businesses with revenues over $30,000. Every single one of them leans on its BN to manage taxes and payroll correctly. You can dig into more of these numbers on the Statistics Canada website.
It’s easy to get this mixed up with registering your business name, but they are two separate—though related—steps. We break down the differences in our guide on how to register a business name.
The most straightforward path is to find a service that bundles everything. Start Right Now merges your incorporation and BN registration into one smooth process, ensuring all the moving parts are handled so you can get back to what you do best: building your company.
Before you even think about getting a Business Number (BN), you have to make a foundational decision that will shape your company's future: choosing your business structure. This isn't just about ticking a box on a form. It’s a choice that dictates your personal liability, how you’re taxed, and your ability to grow. It's the very first fork in the road.
The path you take—whether as a sole proprietor or by incorporating—directly impacts how you register for your BN. Starting out as a sole proprietorship might feel like the simplest route, but it comes with a major catch: you and the business are legally the same. That means you are personally on the hook for all business debts and legal issues.
This is exactly why most serious entrepreneurs choose to incorporate. By creating a corporation, either federally or provincially, you establish a separate legal entity. This structure acts as a shield for your personal assets, boosts your professional credibility, and opens the door to much better tax opportunities down the line.
Incorporating is more than just liability protection; it's a strategic move for any business aiming to scale up. A corporation has a life of its own. It can own assets, sign contracts, and continue to exist even if the owners change, which makes it far more appealing to investors and banks.
Of course, when you start looking at government websites, the process of incorporating and getting a BN can feel overwhelming. The forms can be confusing, and one small mistake can stall everything.
For a growing business, the structure you choose is your foundation. Incorporation provides the strength and separation necessary to build something lasting, protecting you personally while positioning your company for serious growth.
This is where Start Right Now comes in. Our platform is built to handle these crucial first steps for you. We don't just fill out forms; we guide you through the incorporation and ensure your BN registration is done at the same time, and done right. You get to skip the bureaucratic headaches and get a seamless experience that sets your business up correctly from day one.
And make no mistake, getting this right is crucial. In 2022 alone, Canada saw 60,852 new corporations registered, a clear sign of a thriving entrepreneurial scene. For every single one of them, securing a BN was a mandatory step, highlighting just how important an efficient process is. You can dig into more Canadian business registration data here.
To help you make the right call, it helps to see the key differences laid out side-by-side. While both structures have their place, incorporation is almost always the recommended path for anyone building a scalable and protected business.
This decision can feel big, but focusing on the long-term benefits makes it clearer. For a deeper dive into the nuances, our guide on Inc. vs. Corp. designations offers even more detail. By choosing to incorporate with Start Right Now, you’re not just getting a Business Number; you’re building a resilient, professional foundation for whatever comes next.
When it comes to getting a Canadian Business Number (BN), you have options, but they aren't all created equal. The most efficient, headache-free method is to have your BN automatically generated when you incorporate your business. Start Right Now has perfected this integrated approach, making it the fastest and most user-friendly way to get your business set up.
Trying to tackle this directly through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) means navigating complex government websites, trying to make sense of dense forms, and often playing a long waiting game. It's a path littered with potential for frustrating delays and costly mistakes. This is exactly why choosing the "smart way" from the start is so important.
Hands down, the single best way to secure your Business Number is to get it as part of your incorporation package. When you set up a corporation, the registration with either the federal or provincial government is already linked directly to the CRA's system. What this means for you is that your BN is generated as a natural part of the process, not some separate, tedious task you have to chase down later.
This integrated approach ensures that from the moment your business is official, it's legally recognized and has its tax ID ready to go. You won't be filling out separate BN applications or waiting on another government department. It all happens in one fluid motion.
Pro Tip: Think of your incorporation and BN registration as a single, unified step. This simple shift in mindset eliminates redundant paperwork, dramatically cuts down on the risk of errors, and gets your business up and running faster than any other method.
This is precisely the process that Start Right Now has perfected. We take what could be a confusing, multi-step ordeal and distill it into a simple, guided experience. Our system ensures all your information is filed correctly with the right authorities, delivering your incorporation documents and your new BN together.
Sure, the CRA offers its own methods for business registration. But these systems weren't designed with a busy entrepreneur's time in mind. They are functional but often clunky, and they put the entire burden of compliance squarely on your shoulders.
Attempting the manual process essentially forces you to become an expert in government paperwork overnight. Any small misunderstanding can easily set your launch back by weeks. It’s also worth noting the government is constantly changing its procedures. For example, the CRA is phasing out phone registrations to push entrepreneurs toward digital or mail-in options. As of November 3, 2025, the phone registration option will be gone for good. You can read more about these procedural updates for Canadian business registration here.
Using a dedicated platform like Start Right Now completely changes the game. It acts as an intelligent guide, standing between you and the government's complex systems. It translates confusing requirements into simple questions and automated actions.
Instead of you having to wrestle with government websites, our platform handles all the technical filings behind the scenes. It validates your information as you go, catching potential errors before they can cause delays, and then submits everything through the fastest channels available.
This means you get a fully compliant registration without ever having to touch a confusing government form. You get your incorporation, your BN, and your peace of mind—all in a fraction of the time it would take to do it all yourself.
Getting that nine-digit Business Number (BN) feels like a major win, and it is. But it's really just the first step in your journey with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Think of the BN as your main file with the government. To actually run your business and handle money legally, you need to open specific program accounts under that BN.
Each of these accounts has a unique job, and figuring out which ones apply to you is absolutely critical. It’s a classic pitfall for new entrepreneurs—missing a required registration can lead to serious headaches and penalties down the road. This extra layer of admin often catches people by surprise.
There are a few different program accounts, but for most new businesses, these are the big three. Each comes with its own set of rules, thresholds, and reporting duties you'll need to stay on top of.
Trying to figure all this out by yourself, sifting through government websites, just adds another complicated task to your already long to-do list. It means more paperwork, more jargon, and more chances to make a mistake.
Manually managing program account registrations feels like trying to build IKEA furniture with half the instructions missing. You might eventually figure it out, but the risk of missing a screw that holds the whole thing together is pretty high.
This is where Start Right Now makes a huge difference. Instead of making you decipher tax law on your own, our platform intelligently figures out what you need during the incorporation process. It spots the program accounts you require and just bundles them into your package.
The best part about using a service like Start Right Now is that you don't have to become a tax expert overnight. Our platform is built to anticipate what your new venture will need based on the details you provide.
For example, as you incorporate, the system will ask about your revenue projections and if you plan to hire people. Based on how you answer, it can automatically add the GST/HST and payroll account registrations right alongside your BN application. This proactive setup means you're compliant and ready for business from day one.
You get everything in one neat package: your incorporation documents, your BN, and all the necessary program accounts, active and ready to use. This doesn't just save you a ton of administrative time; it gives you invaluable peace of mind. You can move forward confidently, knowing you haven't missed a crucial compliance step that could trip you up later.
Of course, keeping your corporate records in good standing is an ongoing job. You can learn more about these responsibilities in our guide on how to file an annual return.
By taking care of these detailed registrations, Start Right Now turns what could be a confusing, multi-step headache into one smooth, simple action. It frees you up to put your energy where it truly belongs: building your business.
Getting your business off the ground is exciting, but it's easy to trip up on the paperwork. We've seen it happen time and again: a simple mistake during registration turns into a major headache, causing delays, surprise costs, and even compliance issues down the road. Knowing what these common traps are is the best way to steer clear of them.
One of the biggest mix-ups is thinking a business name registration is the same as an incorporation. It’s not. Registering your business name just gives you the exclusive right to use that name in your province. It does absolutely nothing to create a separate legal entity, leaving you personally on the hook for any business debts or lawsuits.
Another frequent misstep is picking the wrong business structure right out of the gate. Sole proprietorships look appealing because they seem simple, but many founders quickly realize they've missed out on the liability protection and tax benefits that come with incorporation. That initial choice has big implications, and it can be a real pain to change later.
Not quite. Getting your Business Number is a huge step, but it's not the last one. A critical oversight we often see is forgetting to register for the necessary CRA program accounts. You get wrapped up in launching the business and suddenly, you've blown past the $30,000 revenue mark without realizing you now must have a GST/HST account.
It’s the same story with payroll. Many new entrepreneurs start paying themselves a salary but don't open a payroll account, which is a big no-no. Skipping these registrations isn't something the CRA takes lightly; it can lead to penalties, interest, and a lot of back-and-forth you don't have time for.
The most dangerous assumption is that registration is just a single form. It’s a series of legal steps that are all connected. Missing just one piece of the puzzle can put your compliance and personal finances at risk.
This is exactly why relying on an expert-guided system makes all the difference. When you try to file directly with the government, their platforms are just that—platforms. They don't offer strategic advice. They'll let you register as a sole proprietor even if it's a terrible fit for you, and they certainly won't remind you to open a payroll account.
We built Start Right Now to close those gaps. Our platform isn't just a form-filler; it's designed to act as your safeguard.
Using Start Right Now means you can confidently sidestep these common pitfalls. You're not just blindly filling out paperwork; you're following a proven process that sets up your business correctly and completely. That way, you can get back to what really matters—growing your company.
Getting your Business Number is a huge milestone. It’s the moment your business officially exists in the eyes of the government. While you can attempt this yourself by going directly to government agencies, countless entrepreneurs get bogged down by slow, confusing processes filled with easy-to-make mistakes.
That's the exact problem we built Start Right Now to solve. We’ve been there, and we saw how bureaucratic headaches could stop a fantastic business idea in its tracks. Our entire goal is to turn the incorporation and BN registration journey into a simple, fast online experience where you’re always in the driver's seat.
Think about it: incorporation, your Business Number, and your CRA program accounts are all connected. So why are they treated as separate, frustrating tasks? Start Right Now brings them all together into a single, smart workflow. We walk you through the entire process, making sure every detail is handled correctly and in the right order.
This unified approach means no more filling out the same information on different forms and no more worrying about mismatched details. The outcome? A much faster, more dependable registration that lets you start your business with total confidence.
As a business owner, your time is your most valuable resource. Spending it deciphering government forms or waiting on hold doesn't help you find customers or build your product. We give you that time back.
Our platform is designed to communicate directly and efficiently with government registries. We’ve automated all the complicated filing procedures that make manual applications drag on for weeks.
Launching a business is about building momentum, not just filling out paperwork. That’s why every incorporation with Start Right Now comes with access to tools and resources to help you succeed right from the start. We handle the essential legal foundation so your focus can be 100% on growth.
Choosing Start Right Now isn't just about getting a number; it’s about starting your business the right way. We handle the complexities of how to get a business number in Canada so you can focus on what you're truly passionate about: turning your vision into a successful business.
Getting a Canadian Business Number can feel a bit confusing at first, and it's totally normal to have questions. Let's clear up some of the most common ones that pop up for new entrepreneurs.
This is a big one. As a sole proprietor, you’re legally required to get a Business Number (BN) if you have to sign up for any Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) program accounts.
The most common reason this happens? Your business earns more than $30,000 in worldwide revenue in a year. Once you cross that line, you must register for a GST/HST account, and that requires a BN. You'll also need one if you decide to hire employees (for a payroll account) or if your business involves importing or exporting.
If you don't hit any of those markers, you might not technically need a BN. But honestly, most entrepreneurs choose to incorporate their business from the get-go. Using a service like Start Right Now not only gets you that BN automatically but also provides liability protection that keeps your personal assets safe—a much smarter move for the long haul.
The timeline really depends on how you go about it.
If you incorporate through a platform like Start Right Now, the process is incredibly quick. Our system is designed to handle all the government filings efficiently, so you can often have your Business Number within a single business day. It’s the fastest and most reliable route.
On the other hand, if you go the old-school route directly to the government, you could be waiting several weeks. The government's own online portals can still be clunky and prone to delays. For anyone who values speed and peace of mind, an all-in-one incorporation service like Start Right Now is the clear choice.
Great question. They're connected, but they are not the same thing.
Think of your Business Number as your company's main nine-digit ID. Your GST/HST number is a specific program account that gets attached to that BN. You'll usually see it written as your nine-digit BN followed by "RT 0001".
You can’t get a GST/HST account without first having a Business Number. The BN is the root, and all your other CRA accounts (like GST/HST, payroll, etc.) are branches.
When you use a comprehensive service like Start Right Now, we take care of both at the same time. You get your BN and your necessary GST/HST account registered simultaneously, so you're ready to do business legally from day one.
Absolutely, non-residents can get a Canadian Business Number.
However, the process is a lot more involved. Incorporating, for example, comes with specific rules about director residency that you have to meet. You’ll need to provide solid identification and prove a legitimate business reason for operating in Canada.
Because of these complexities, it’s a smart move for non-residents to get professional help. A platform like Start Right Now is built to handle these specific rules, making sure every legal and administrative box is ticked correctly to avoid frustrating rejections or long delays.
Ready to launch your business the right way? Let Start Right Now handle your incorporation and Business Number registration, so you can get started with confidence. Incorporate your business today.
