Information about Online Incorporation for Business Corporations

Before you start:

• Read Guide to Federal Incorporation to understand the legal process and what it means to be incorporated
• Read Choosing a Name to understand how to name a corporation

Incorporating Online:

• Applying to incorporate a business online will take about 30 minutes
• It will cost $200
• You will need to print and sign Form 1 – Articles of Incorporation and Form 2 – Initial Registered Office Address and First Board of Directors. These signed documents should be kept with the corporation’s records.
• You can save an application and return to submit it later
• A submitted application will be processed by the end of the following business day

You will need:

• A credit card – VISA, Mastercard or American Express
• A computer that is installed with PDF reader software
• Access to a printer
• A NUANS Name Search Report, if you want a name that is not a numbered name - consult NUANS®.

Checklist:

• Corporate name - Be ready to either submit a name for approval (e.g., Turner Manufacturing Ltd.) or have a numbered name assigned to the corporation (e.g., 123456 Canada Ltd.)
• Registered office address - Know the full registered office address of the corporation
• Incorporators - Know the full names and addresses of the incorporator(s) (i.e., the creators of the corporation)
• Directors - Know the full names and addresses of the directors (i.e., those who will supervise the management of the corporation)
• Corporate structure - Decide how you want the corporation to be organized (i.e., types of shares, restrictions on share transfers, restrictions on business, etc.). Consult sections 2.3.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.6 and 2.3.7 of the Guide to Federal Incorporation.
• Provincial Registration - Decide where the corporation should be registered and whether you want to take advantage of our joint online registration with Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Saskatchewan. Consult Joint Online Registration System.

If you need help:

• With the online application, contact Corporations Canada
• You may wish to consult a lawyer or business professional if you have specific questions. They can also guide you through other laws that may apply to the corporation, such as: tax, licensing and trademark laws.