Incorporate a Business in Canada
Incorporate your business online
Korporex prepares and files Articles of Incorporation for federal corporations under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) and Ontario corporations under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA). You complete the order form with the corporation's name, share structure, directors, shareholders, officers and registered office, and we prepare the Articles, file them with Corporations Canada or the Ontario Business Registry and send you the results. For the whole process step by step, read our guide on how to incorporate a business in Canada.
Who this service is for
- Solo founders, consultants and freelancers setting up a single-owner corporation or holding company.
- Co-founders, spouses and small partnerships incorporating together.
- Businesses with several founders, advisors or family members that need more than one class of shares.
- Owners who want a numbered corporation now, or a named corporation from day one.
What is included
Every package covers the Articles of Incorporation filing, the Certificate of Incorporation and company key, a standard digital minute book and the mandatory post-incorporation filings, with a 24-hour turnaround. The packages differ in what the Articles and minute book can carry:
- Basic: a numbered corporation with one class of shares and one shareholder, one director and one officer.
- Standard: a numbered or named corporation with up to three classes of shares and up to three shareholders, directors and officers, with one name search included.
- Premium: a numbered or named corporation with up to five classes of shares and up to five shareholders, directors and officers, with one name search included.
If you do not have an address to use as the registered office, a Korporex office in Toronto or Burlington can be added during the order.
What the registry requires
- Government filing fee: $200 for federal Articles of Incorporation filed online, and $300 for Ontario Articles of Incorporation.
- Name: a numbered corporation needs no name search. A named Ontario corporation requires an Ontario-biased NUANS report dated within 90 days of filing. Federally, the name search is built into Corporations Canada's online filing, so no separate NUANS report is needed to incorporate.
- Directors: under the CBCA, at least 25% of the directors must be resident Canadians, and at least one if there are fewer than four directors. Ontario has had no director residency requirement since July 5, 2021.
What you need before you start
- The full name, residential address and email address of each director, and the name and address of each shareholder and officer.
- For each shareholder, the class of shares, the number of shares and the price per share.
- The corporation's primary activity (NAICS code), a short description of the business, an official email address and a fiscal year end.
- For a named corporation, the exact name and legal ending. A free check on Canada's Business Registries is not an official NUANS search. Federally, Corporations Canada examines the name; Ontario does not review names for similarity, so checking the NUANS report for conflicts is your responsibility.
After filing
An Ontario corporation must file an Initial Return within 60 days of incorporation under the Corporations Information Act, and both federal and Ontario corporations file an annual return each year. If you want to search more names before you order, use our NUANS report service. Still choosing a jurisdiction? See federal vs provincial incorporation.
Incorporating online: common questions
What is the difference between a federal and an Ontario corporation?+
A federal corporation is created under the CBCA and its name is protected across Canada; it may need to register extra-provincially in the provinces where it carries on business. An Ontario corporation is created under the OBCA and is authorized to carry on business in Ontario. The government filing fee is $200 federally and $300 in Ontario.
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate?+
Not for a numbered corporation. A named Ontario corporation requires an Ontario-biased NUANS report dated within 90 days of filing. For a federal incorporation, Corporations Canada runs the name search inside its online filing, so no separate report is required. The Standard and Premium packages include one name search for the name in your order.
What is a numbered corporation?+
A numbered corporation has no chosen name. The government assigns a unique number, which is combined with the jurisdiction and the legal ending, for example 1234567 Ontario Inc. or 1234567 Canada Inc. No name search is required, and the corporation can later register a business name or change its name by amending its Articles.
Do the directors have to live in Canada?+
It depends on the jurisdiction. Under the CBCA, at least 25% of the directors of a federal corporation must be resident Canadians, and at least one director if the corporation has fewer than four. Ontario repealed its director residency requirement on July 5, 2021, so an Ontario corporation's directors can all live outside Canada.
What do I receive once the corporation is incorporated?+
You receive the filed Articles of Incorporation, the Certificate of Incorporation and the company key, together with a standard digital minute book. Each package also includes the mandatory post-incorporation filings, such as the Ontario Initial Return, which is due within 60 days of incorporation.
Korporex is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about the incorporation filing; for advice on your specific situation, including the choice of jurisdiction and share structure, consult a lawyer or accountant.
Learn before you file
Related guides
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How to Incorporate a Business in Canada (Federal)
A plain-language walkthrough of incorporating a business federally in Canada under the CBCA: what you need, the steps, the fees, and what to do afterward.
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Incorporating in Ontario: Everything You Need to Know
Ontario is home to the majority of Canadian small businesses. This guide walks through the Ontario Business Corporations Act, costs, timelines, and what you'll receive after filing.
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How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Ontario?
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