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Invisor

Canada Incorporation

Company Incorporation Service in Canada -
Done Right, From Day One

Starting a corporation is one of the best decisions you'll make as a business owner - but the paperwork, the rules, and the choices between federal and provincial registration can slow you down before you even get going.

At Invisor CPA, our company incorporation service in Canada takes the guesswork out of the process entirely. We walk you through every step, handle the filings, and make sure your business is structured correctly from the start so you're protected, tax-ready, and set up to grow.

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CPA accountant helping client with business incorporation in Canada

Protected

Start with a proper structure and limited liability in place.

Tax-Ready

CRA registrations and tax planning handled from the outset.

Guided

Federal and provincial options explained for your situation.

Why Incorporate Your Business in Canada?

A lot of business owners start out as sole proprietors. It's easy, it's fast, and it costs nothing to set up. But here's the problem: if your business runs into a lawsuit, accumulates debt, or faces a CRA audit, you're personally on the hook. Your savings, your car, your home - all of it is exposed.

Incorporating changes that. Once your business is a registered corporation, it becomes its own legal entity, separate from you. That separation gives you something no sole proprietorship ever can: limited liability protection.

Beyond that, corporations in Canada are taxed at a lower rate than individuals. The federal small business tax rate sits at 9%, compared to personal rates that can climb well past 45% depending on your province and income level. That gap adds up quickly. Incorporating also opens the door to income splitting with family members, tax deferrals, and reinvestment strategies that simply are not available when you operate as a person, not a business.

  • Limited liability protection between you and business risks
  • Access to lower corporate tax rates and deferral opportunities
  • Stronger credibility with banks, investors, and partners
  • A cleaner structure for hiring, payroll, and future growth
  • A better base for succession planning and reinvestment

Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation - Which One Is Right for You?

This is the question most business owners struggle with, and it is an important one.

Federal Incorporation

Incorporating federally under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) gives your business name protection across every province and territory in the country. You can operate anywhere in Canada under a single registration, and your corporation is recognized internationally as a Canadian company. The federal filing fee starts at $200 online, and annual returns cost as little as $12 - making it more affordable to maintain than many people expect.

The catch? You'll still need an extra-provincial registration in whichever province you physically operate in, and certain regulated professions (such as CPAs, lawyers, and physicians) typically must incorporate provincially under their governing body's rules.

Provincial Incorporation

Provincial incorporation is generally faster and works well if your business operates in a single province with no near-term plans to expand. For example, incorporating in Ontario costs $300 and is often processed same-day. Your corporate name is protected within that province, your compliance obligations stay local, and there is no residency requirement for directors in provinces like British Columbia.

The limitation is reach. If you later expand into another province, you'll need to register there too - which adds both cost and administrative work down the road.

So Which Should You Choose?

There is no universal answer. It depends on where you operate, whether you're in a regulated profession, and how ambitious your growth plans are. That's exactly why working with a CPA who understands both paths is worth it.

We help you choose the right structure - not the most expensive one, not the most complicated one - the right one for your specific situation.

CPA accountant helping client with business incorporation in Canada

Built Around Your Structure

Our incorporation service is tailored to your business type, province, and goals instead of forcing you into a generic package.

What's Included in Invisor CPA's Incorporation Service

Our incorporation service is not a one-size-fits-all package. We tailor it to your business type, your province, and your goals. Here's what we take care of:

Name search and reservation - We conduct a NUANS search (federal) or provincial name search to make sure your chosen business name is available and properly protected.

Articles of Incorporation - We prepare and file your Articles with the correct jurisdiction, including any required share structure and business restrictions.

Corporate minute book setup - Every incorporated company in Canada must maintain a minute book. We set yours up correctly so you are audit-ready from day one.

CRA Business Number registration - We register your corporation for a Business Number (BN) and set up the appropriate CRA accounts, including HST/GST, corporate income tax, and payroll if applicable.

Post-incorporation tax planning - Once you're incorporated, there are smart moves you can make right away. We make sure you know what they are.

Professional Corporations - For Regulated Professionals

If you're a physician, dentist, pharmacist, lawyer, or CPA, you may be eligible to incorporate a Professional Corporation (PC), and the tax advantages can be significant.

Professional corporations allow you to defer income, split dividends with family members within CRA guidelines, and retain earnings at the lower corporate tax rate.

The process is more involved than a standard incorporation. Your governing body, whether that's CPA Ontario, the Law Society, or your provincial College, has naming rules, ownership restrictions, and ongoing compliance requirements. Directors and shareholders typically must be licensed members of the profession.

We've helped professionals across Canada set up compliant Professional Corporations and avoid costly mistakes that happen when people try to navigate this process alone. If you're in a regulated profession and you've been thinking about incorporating, the conversation you have with us before you file could save you significant time and money.

Common PC Considerations

  • Naming rules set by the relevant regulatory body
  • Ownership and share restrictions for licensed members
  • Additional approvals before or after filing
  • Ongoing compliance requirements beyond standard corporations
  • Tax planning opportunities that should be set up correctly from the start

Why Business Owners Across Canada Trust Invisor CPA

More importantly, we do not disappear after the filing. A lot of incorporation services hand you documents and walk away. We stay involved. We handle your first corporate tax return, your HST filing, your ongoing bookkeeping if you need it, or we point you in the right direction if you do not. Either way, you are not figuring this out alone.

If your current accountant incorporated your business but never revisited your structure, it might be worth a second look. Tax laws change. Your business changes. The structure that made sense two years ago may not be the most efficient one today.

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We serve 1,000+ clients across Canada and are proud members of the Canadian Income Tax EFILE Association.

Our team combines CPA expertise with technology-driven processes, so your incorporation doesn't sit in a pile waiting to be processed.

We do not disappear after the filing - we can support your first corporate tax return, HST filing, bookkeeping, and ongoing compliance.

If your current structure has not been reviewed in years, we can help assess whether it still makes sense for your business today.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Company Incorporation in Canada

These are the questions we hear most often from business owners comparing federal and provincial incorporation, timing, pricing, and next steps after filing.

Need an answer specific to your situation? Schedule a consultation and we will review your incorporation path, CRA setup needs, and tax implications directly.

Ask About Your Situation
01How much does it cost to incorporate a company in Canada?

The government filing fee for federal incorporation starts at $200 online. Provincial fees vary - Ontario charges $300, while other provinces like British Columbia charge $350. On top of government fees, professional fees for a CPA or lawyer to prepare and file your Articles of Incorporation and set up your minute book typically range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on complexity. At Invisor CPA, we offer transparent, flat-rate pricing with no surprises.

02How long does incorporation take in Canada?

Federal incorporations processed online through Corporations Canada typically take 1-5 business days. Many provincial incorporations, including Ontario, can be completed same-day. The full setup, including CRA registrations and minute book preparation, generally takes 1-2 weeks in total.

03Should I incorporate federally or provincially?

If you plan to operate only in one province and have no immediate plans to expand, provincial incorporation is usually simpler and often faster. If you want nationwide name protection, plan to operate across multiple provinces, or want the credibility of a federal registration, federal incorporation is worth the extra steps. We help you make this call during your consultation because it is one of the most common questions we hear.

04Do I need a lawyer to incorporate in Canada?

You do not legally need a lawyer. However, mistakes in your Articles of Incorporation - incorrect share structures, missing business restrictions for professional corporations, or wrong director information - can be costly to fix after the fact. A CPA who specializes in incorporation helps ensure your structure is not just legally filed but tax-optimized from the start.

05What is a minute book and do I really need one?

Yes. Every Canadian corporation is legally required to maintain a corporate minute book. It holds your Articles of Incorporation, share register, director and officer information, and records of corporate resolutions. If you are ever audited, approached for financing, or plan to sell the business, an incomplete minute book creates serious problems. We set yours up correctly and keep it organized.

06Can a non-Canadian resident incorporate a company in Canada?

Yes, with some conditions. Federal corporations require that at least 25% of directors be Canadian residents. Some provinces, like British Columbia and Nova Scotia, have no residency requirements at all, which can be an advantage for non-residents looking to incorporate in Canada. We can walk you through the most practical option for your situation.

07What's the difference between a regular corporation and a professional corporation?

A regular corporation can carry on most types of business. A professional corporation is restricted to providing the specific professional services of the licensed individual who owns it - a dentist's professional corporation can offer dental services, but not general retail, for example. Professional corporations are governed by both provincial corporate law and the rules of the relevant regulatory body. They carry tax advantages, but they also carry stricter rules around share ownership and naming.

08What happens after I incorporate?

Right after incorporation, you will need to register with the CRA for a Business Number, set up your HST/GST account if your revenue will exceed $30,000, open a separate corporate bank account, file your first annual return with Corporations Canada or your province, and maintain your corporate minute book going forward. We handle all of this as part of our service, so you do not need to coordinate between multiple professionals to get it done.

Ready to Incorporate? Let's Talk.

Starting your corporation correctly takes maybe an hour of your time when you work with the right team. Getting it wrong costs a lot more - in tax dollars, in legal fees, and in time spent fixing structural problems down the road.

Book a Free ConsultationOr call us at +1 (226) 227-3482