So, you're ready to make your Canadian business official. That's a huge step. Deciding to incorporate is one of the biggest moves you'll make as a founder, and the easiest way to get it done right is by using a guided online platform. At Start Right Now, we handle the government filings, the name searches, and all the legal paperwork for you. It lets you skip the administrative headache and get straight to building your business.
Turning your idea into a legal entity is a major milestone. Why do it? Incorporation gives you powerful advantages, like limited liability protection that shields your personal assets from business debts. It also opens up potential tax benefits and shows clients, investors, and partners that you’re serious and built for the long haul.
But let's be real—the process itself can feel like a maze. Navigating government portals and legal jargon to get every single detail right can be overwhelming. This is where many entrepreneurs get bogged down, burning precious time on paperwork they should be spending on their brand.
The good news? You don't have to go it alone. Start Right Now is built specifically to manage the entire process for you. Instead of trying to figure out which forms to fill out and how, our dedicated platform simplifies everything from start to finish.
At Start Right Now, our entire mission is to make incorporation fast, affordable, and totally stress-free. We handle the complexities so you can launch your business with a solid legal foundation, minus the anxiety.
Think of it as having an expert partner who takes care of all the critical steps, making sure your business is compliant and properly set up from day one. That’s the peace of mind we offer. We believe your energy is much better spent on innovating, marketing, and taking care of your customers.
You’re in good company. The entrepreneurial spirit in Canada is thriving, pointing to a real culture of innovation. In 2022 alone, Canada saw 60,852 new businesses registered, a clear sign that people are actively turning their visions into reality. You can explore more about these economic trends and what they signal for the business landscape.
This guide is here to walk you through the key decisions you need to make, not to bury you in procedural details. We’ll break down the important choices and show you how Start Right Now is the most reliable way to get it done perfectly. Let’s get your business built the right way.
So, you’re ready to incorporate your business in Canada. One of the first, and most important, decisions you'll face is whether to incorporate federally or provincially. This isn't just a bureaucratic checkbox; it's a strategic move that will define your company's name protection, where you can operate, and your ongoing compliance duties.
Getting this right from the start can save you a world of headaches later on. The best path for you really boils down to your vision for the business and the practical reality of how you'll operate.
Think of federal incorporation as giving your business a national footprint right out of the gate. Managed by the federal government through Corporations Canada, this option protects your business name across the entire country. From British Columbia to Newfoundland, no other federally incorporated company can pop up with the same name, or one that's confusingly similar.
This coast-to-coast protection is a huge advantage for businesses with national ambitions. It’s ideal for:
The one catch with going federal is that you also have to register your corporation "extra-provincially" in every province or territory where you have a physical office, warehouse, or significant business activity. While this is a standard compliance step, Start Right Now automates this part, making sure you're legally set up wherever you operate without you having to navigate the different provincial systems.
On the flip side, provincial incorporation is often the more direct and practical route if your business is focused on a local or regional market. When you incorporate provincially, your business name is only protected within the borders of that specific province. For a huge number of businesses, that’s all they need.
Think about these real-world examples:
In these situations, paying for nationwide name protection is overkill. Provincial incorporation is typically a bit simpler and slightly cheaper to maintain, which makes it a perfect fit for businesses with deep community roots. If you're still on the fence and want to dive deeper into the federal option, our guide on incorporating federally in Canada is a great resource.
Align your legal structure with your actual business strategy. Don't pay for nationwide protection if your customer base is local. But don't limit your brand with provincial boundaries if you're building a national empire from day one.
To lay it all out clearly, let's compare the key differences side-by-side. This table should help you quickly see which path aligns better with your goals.
Ultimately, choosing between federal and provincial incorporation is about having foresight. Ask yourself: where do I realistically see this business in one year? Five years? Ten years? Your choice today should be a foundation for your growth tomorrow.
Here’s the good news. While this is a critical strategic decision, you don't have to get bogged down by the procedural side of things.
Using a platform like Start Right Now means you can put all your energy into making the right choice for your business's future, not worrying about the complex paperwork. Whether you land on federal or provincial, we automate the entire filing process. We take your decision and turn it into perfect paperwork, run the necessary name searches, and make sure everything is filed correctly with the right government agency. You get to be the visionary, and we’ll handle the red tape.
Your business name is more than just a label—it’s the cornerstone of your brand and your legal identity in the marketplace. When you decide to incorporate a business in Canada, making sure that name is legally available isn't just a good idea; it's a non-negotiable step in most places.
This is where the NUANS (Newly Updated Automated Name Search) report comes in. Think of it as a deep-dive background check for your proposed business name.
A NUANS report is an official document that combs through a massive government database of existing corporate names, business registrations, and trademarks across Canada. Its entire purpose is to flag any names that are identical or could be seen as confusingly similar to the one you've picked.
Submitting a name that's too close to another registered business is one of the most common reasons incorporation applications get rejected. This can send you right back to the drawing board, causing frustrating delays and extra costs. The government’s main concern here is to prevent public confusion and protect the brands that are already established.
The name search process can be a real headache if you're not familiar with it. There are specific government databases and criteria to check, and a small mistake or misinterpretation at this stage can set your entire launch back by weeks.
This is one of those critical moments where a trusted service is essential.
Key Takeaway: A successful NUANS search is your green light to build your brand with confidence. It confirms your name is unique and registrable, saving you from costly rejections and potential legal fights down the road.
This is a step Start Right Now handles from top to bottom. Our platform has the NUANS search built right into the incorporation process. We run the checks for you, making sure your name ticks all the boxes for uniqueness and proper formatting. If a potential conflict pops up, we help you find a great alternative to keep your application moving forward. For a closer look, check out our detailed guide on the NUANS name search.
Given how many businesses are already out there, securing a unique name is more important than ever. The Canadian business landscape is packed.
Just to give you an idea, as of June 2025, there were 1.38 million employer businesses and 3.59 million non-employer businesses active in Canada. Those numbers from Statistics Canada really drive home how many names are already taken, making a thorough, professional search absolutely essential.
Ultimately, getting your business name right isn't just about ticking a box for the government. It's about laying a rock-solid foundation for your brand's future. A unique, protected name gives you the security to pour money into marketing, build a loyal customer base, and grow your business without looking over your shoulder for a naming conflict to derail your hard work.
Letting Start Right Now manage your name search turns a potentially tricky hurdle into a smooth, seamless part of your launch. We take care of the red tape so you can get back to the exciting stuff—building a brand you can be proud of.
With your name secured, it's time to pull together the foundational details of your new company. Think of this as creating the legal blueprint for your business. You’ll be making some key decisions about who's in charge, where your company officially "lives," and how ownership will be divided.
Don’t worry, this isn't about filling out confusing government forms yourself. The goal here is to gather the straightforward information that a service like Start Right Now uses to generate all the proper legal documents for you. We handle the technical side; you just provide the business decisions.
Every Canadian corporation needs at least one director. These are the people legally responsible for managing the company. They call the shots, make the big decisions, and ensure the business stays on the right side of the law.
For your incorporation filing, you'll need to name the initial directors. It's a simple list, but you'll need the following for each person:
For most startups, the founder is the sole director, shareholder, and officer. That's perfectly fine. You can always add more directors as your company grows and your needs change.
Your corporation needs an official, physical address on the books. This is your registered office, and it's more than just a spot to get mail. It's the legal address where the government will send official notices and legal documents. It absolutely must be a physical street address in the province you’re incorporating in (or any province if you're going federal). A P.O. box won’t cut it.
Keep in mind, this address is public information. For privacy reasons, some entrepreneurs opt for a virtual business address service instead of using their home address. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s a reliable address you check regularly.
A Quick Tip: Think of the registered office as the company's legal home base. It’s where the government will find you. Keeping it up-to-date isn't just good practice; it's a legal requirement.
Using a platform like Start Right Now simplifies this. You just plug in the address, and we ensure it's formatted correctly and filed properly with the government registry. One less thing to worry about.
Okay, this is the part that sounds intimidating, but it's usually straightforward. "Share structure" is just the fancy term for how you define ownership in your company. You're basically deciding what kinds of shares your corporation is allowed to create and give out.
For the vast majority of new businesses, a simple setup is all you need. This usually means creating just one class of shares, almost always called Common Shares. These are the standard shares that come with voting rights and a right to a cut of the profits (dividends).
But what if you have bigger plans? If you know you'll be looking for investors or giving employees equity down the road, you might want a bit more flexibility from the get-go. This could mean creating different classes of shares, for example:
You don't need a law degree to nail this. Start Right Now offers standard, lawyer-approved share structures that work perfectly for over 95% of new Canadian ventures. This lets you establish a solid ownership foundation that's ready for growth, without getting bogged down in legal complexities.
Once you have these pieces—your directors, your address, and your ownership plan—you’ve got everything you need to officially incorporate your business in Canada and move forward with confidence.
Popping the champagne after incorporating your business is a well-deserved celebration. You've created a legal entity! But hold on—the work isn't quite done. Think of it like this: you've built the foundation, but now it's time to actually frame the house so you can move in.
These next few steps are what turn your newly registered company from a name on a document into a fully operational, compliant business ready to take on the world. This isn't just more paperwork; it's about activating your corporation.
Thankfully, you don't have to figure this out alone. This is exactly where a service like Start Right Now shines, walking you through these final, crucial setups to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
First things first: you need your federal Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is the big one. It's a nine-digit identifier that acts like a SIN but for your corporation.
You’ll need this BN for literally every interaction with the federal government, from filing taxes to managing payroll. Without it, you're at a standstill. Getting one involves registering your new corporation with the CRA, but you don't have to do it yourself.
This is a headache Start Right Now takes off your plate. We handle the BN registration as part of the incorporation process, so this critical number lands right in your inbox without you having to lift a finger.
With your BN in hand, you now have to open specific program accounts with the CRA. Think of the BN as your main account, and these program accounts are like sub-accounts for different activities.
Two of the most common ones you'll run into are:
Figuring out the ins and outs of the CRA's requirements can eat up a lot of time. Again, a platform like Start Right Now builds these registrations right into their service, helping you get the accounts you need active from day one.
I can't stress this enough: your corporate minute book is not just some dusty binder you can forget about. It's the official legal diary of your company, and maintaining one is a legal requirement for every corporation in Canada.
This is where you keep all your most important corporate documents organized:
Your minute book serves as the single source of truth for your corporation's legal history. Keeping it meticulously updated is non-negotiable—it's absolutely critical if you ever face an audit, seek financing, or decide to sell the business.
This used to mean a cumbersome physical binder, but Start Right Now gives you a digital minute book. All your formation documents are organized automatically, and you can easily add new resolutions as your company evolves. It keeps you compliant without the clutter.
Once your legal and tax structures are sorted, a few final operational steps remain. One of the most important is opening a dedicated business bank account. You absolutely must keep your company's finances separate from your personal money to protect your limited liability. For a deep dive, check out our guide on how to open a business bank account in Canada.
Nailing these post-incorporation tasks sets you up for long-term success. The business landscape is always shifting. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the number of businesses with employees was 226 per 10,000 people in Q1 2025, a figure that shows just how dynamic the market is. You can discover more about Canada's enterprise pulse to get a feel for the environment your new venture is stepping into.
Taking the leap to incorporate your business is a huge milestone, but it's natural to have a few questions before you dive in. Getting solid answers is the best way to feel confident about your next steps. Let's walk through some of the most common things founders ask.
Think of this as your go-to FAQ, clarifying the path forward while showing you where Start Right Now can step in and handle the nitty-gritty for you.
This is usually the first thing on everyone's mind. The honest answer? It really depends on how you go about it. High-level government timelines can range from a few days to several weeks, depending on their backlog. But you don't have to wait.
Modern online services like Start Right Now are built to be fast. We prepare all your documents and submit them digitally, cutting out a lot of the traditional waiting time.
A service like Start Right Now can often get a federal incorporation done in just a few hours once your business name gets the green light. That means you're legally up and running way faster.
Absolutely. Non-residents can definitely incorporate a business in Canada, but there's a key rule you need to know about who runs the company. It all comes down to director residency requirements.
For a federal corporation, the rule is straightforward: at least 25% of the directors must be resident Canadians. The rules for provincial incorporation, however, are all over the map. Some provinces have similar requirements, while others are more flexible and have none at all.
This is one of those areas where getting it wrong can cause major headaches, especially if you're an international founder. It's also where having a guiding hand really pays off. Start Right Now walks you through the specific rules for the jurisdiction you choose, making sure your company is set up correctly right from the start.
This is a big one, and it's something every entrepreneur needs to understand. People often use these terms interchangeably, but they mean very different things for you and your business.
Start Right Now is all about incorporation—helping you build that formal, protected business structure designed for growth and peace of mind.
For most new startups and small businesses, the answer is no, a lawyer isn't required. If you're setting up a really complex company with custom shareholder agreements, then legal advice is a good idea. But for the vast majority of new ventures, that's simply not the case.
Today's online platforms were created to be a reliable, compliant, and far more affordable alternative.
Start Right Now handles the creation of all the legal paperwork for you—from the Articles of Incorporation to your corporate bylaws and first resolutions. Our whole process is designed to meet government standards, giving you a solid legal foundation without the high cost and time sink of hiring a lawyer for a standard incorporation. It makes the entire process more accessible, so you can put your money and energy into what really matters: launching your business.
Ready to launch your Canadian company the smart, simple, and secure way? With Start Right Now, you can incorporate your business in just a few clicks, complete with a digital minute book and all the essential registrations you need to get started. Visit Start Right Now to begin today.
