Jurisdictions in one place
Compare federal incorporation with options in all ten provinces and three territories.
- Canadian business. Confident beginnings.
FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL & TERRITORIAL INCORPORATION
Incorporate in any of Canada's 14 jurisdictions. We prepare your NUANS report, articles of incorporation and director details, then file directly with the registry.
Incorporate in all 14 Canadian jurisdictions
Explore federal incorporation and every province and territory. Select your jurisdiction in the application and review its naming, office and director requirements.
Choose a federal, provincial or territorial corporation.
For incorporation in Ontario
Start your Ontario corporation.
Register an Ontario corporation with the required articles, office and director details. Plan for its initial return and ongoing registry duties.
For federal incorporation
Start your Federal corporation.
Incorporate under the Canada Business Corporations Act. Prepare your articles, office, director and required control information.
For incorporation in Alberta
Start your Alberta corporation.
Form an Alberta corporation with the required incorporation information. Confirm the registered office, agent for service and naming requirements.
For incorporation in British Columbia
Start your BC corporation.
Incorporate a British Columbia company. Prepare the required company name, office details and incorporation documents.
For incorporation in Quebec
Start your Quebec corporation.
Create a Quebec corporation and prepare the required filing details. Review French-language naming and enterprise registration requirements.
For incorporation in New Brunswick
Start your New Brunswick corporation.
Register a New Brunswick corporation. Prepare the required articles, registered office and director information.
For incorporation in Saskatchewan
Start your Saskatchewan corporation.
Form a Saskatchewan corporation. Confirm the proposed name and prepare the required incorporation and office details.
For incorporation in Manitoba
Start your Manitoba corporation.
Incorporate a Manitoba company. Prepare the name, articles, registered office and required director details.
For incorporation in Nova Scotia
Start your Nova Scotia corporation.
Register a Nova Scotia company. Confirm its naming requirements and prepare the required incorporation and registered office documents.
For incorporation in Newfoundland and Labrador
Start your Newfoundland corporation.
Incorporate in Newfoundland and Labrador. Prepare the articles, registered office and required director information.
For incorporation in Prince Edward Island
Start your PEI corporation.
Form a Prince Edward Island corporation. Confirm the proposed name and prepare the required incorporation details.
For incorporation in Yukon
Start your Yukon corporation.
Register a Yukon corporation. Prepare the required articles, registered office and director information.
For incorporation in Nunavut
Start your Nunavut corporation.
Incorporate a Nunavut company. Confirm the required name, registered office and incorporation documents.
For incorporation in the Northwest Territories
Start your NWT corporation.
Form a Northwest Territories corporation. Prepare the required articles, office details and director information.
Not sure where to incorporate? Tell us where your business will operate, who will own it and your plans for growth.
Discuss your incorporation ↗COMPANY REGISTRATION IN CANADA
Registering a company in Canada means incorporating it: creating a legal entity separate from its owners, either federally or in a province or territory.
Federal, provincial and territorial corporations have different registry requirements. Incorporation is one step: extra-provincial registrations, CRA accounts, licences and ongoing corporate records may also be required.
WHY CHOOSE NUANS PRE-SEARCH
Company registration requirements differ across Canada. NUANS Pre-Search brings incorporation options together so you can choose the relevant application and prepare the information your filing needs.
Questions? Speak with our teamCompare federal incorporation with options in all ten provinces and three territories.
Gather your company name, office, director and proposed share structure details before applying.
Contact our team about the application requirements or an incorporation request in progress.
HOW YOUR COMPANY REGISTRATION WORKS
Choose your jurisdiction, prepare the incorporation details and organize the next steps after the registry issues your documents.
Select federal, provincial or territorial incorporation based on your operating plans and the governing rules.
View incorporation options ↗Provide the proposed name, registered office and required director information. Confirm the articles, share provisions and any required name approval.
Naming and director requirements vary by jurisdictionReview the issued documents and complete the organizational records. Confirm tax accounts, additional registrations and licences before operating.
Incorporation begins your ongoing corporate responsibilities
WHAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER A COMPANY
Gather these essentials before applying. The selected jurisdiction may require additional declarations, consents, local contacts or ownership information.
Company name
Your proposed legal name and alternatives, or a numbered name where available.
Jurisdiction & office
The incorporation jurisdiction and a registered office address that meets its requirements.
Directors & ownership
Required director and incorporator details, plus shareholder and control information for the applicable records.
Articles & shares
Proposed share classes, rights, restrictions and other provisions needed for your corporation.
CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE
See what customers across Canada say about working with us, then talk to our team about your plans.
Read what business owners, founders and organizations say about working with NP, then speak with our team about the right service for you.
CANADIAN COMPANY INCORPORATION GUIDE
Understand the legal structure, name choices and ongoing duties before registering your company.
Incorporation forms a separate legal entity with its own rights and obligations. Registering a sole proprietorship or partnership business name does not provide the same corporate structure.
Shareholders generally benefit from limited liability, but personal guarantees and statutory liabilities can still apply. Choose the structure that fits your ownership and business needs.
Explore business name registration ↗Federal incorporation places your company under the Canada Business Corporations Act. Provincial or territorial incorporation places it under the selected jurisdiction’s legislation.
Consider your operating locations, naming needs and governance requirements. Either route may require registration in other provinces or territories where the company conducts business.
Explore extra-provincial registration ↗A named corporation uses an approved legal name; a numbered corporation uses a registry-assigned name where that option is available. Name search and approval procedures vary by jurisdiction.
An operating name can be registered separately where required. Corporate name approval is not trademark registration and does not remove the need to consider existing trademark rights.
Explore company name searches ↗Organize the corporation through the required resolutions, share issuances and corporate records. Identify beneficial ownership recordkeeping or reporting duties and maintain the registered office and director information.
Corporate registry returns and CRA tax returns are separate obligations. Confirm required tax accounts, licences and extra-provincial registrations, even if some registrations were completed during incorporation.
Explore corporate filing support ↗FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Practical answers about incorporation, eligibility, required information, name choices and ongoing obligations in Canada.
Tell our team where you plan to operate and which incorporation jurisdiction you are considering.
Contact our team ↗Yes. Federal corporations and corporations in every province and territory can be registered online, and we file directly with the registry.
Incorporation creates a legal entity separate from its shareholders that can own property, enter contracts and carry on business. It also creates ongoing obligations for corporate records, registry filings and taxes.
Choose based on your operating locations, naming needs and the governance rules suited to your business. Federal incorporation does not replace provincial or territorial registrations required where the corporation conducts business.
One person can often own and direct a private corporation, provided the chosen jurisdiction’s requirements are met. Confirm incorporator and director eligibility, including any residency rules, before applying.
Non-residents can own Canadian corporations, but director residency, registered office and other requirements depend on the incorporation jurisdiction and business activities. Incorporation does not itself grant immigration status or permission to work in Canada.
Prepare the jurisdiction, proposed or numbered name, registered office, required director and incorporator details, and the articles and share provisions. Ownership or control information and additional consents or declarations may also be required.
A named corporation uses an approved legal name, while a numbered corporation receives a registry-assigned name where available. Both are corporations with ongoing legal obligations, and either may need a separate operating-name registration.
No, shareholders generally have limited liability, but incorporation does not remove every form of personal exposure. Personal guarantees, a person’s own wrongdoing and statutory director liabilities can still create responsibility.
No, corporate name approval and trademark registration are separate processes. Check for conflicting names and trademarks before building your brand, and consider whether separate trademark protection is appropriate.
No, incorporation does not necessarily activate GST/HST, payroll and other required CRA program accounts. Some incorporation processes create a business number and corporation income tax account, so verify what was issued and register any additional accounts needed.
Keep the articles, applicable bylaws, resolutions, securities records and other records required by the corporation’s governing law. Most federal business corporations must also maintain an individuals with significant control register and file the required control information with Corporations Canada.
Missed registry or tax filings can lead to enforcement, penalties or administrative dissolution, depending on the obligation. Track registry annual returns separately from CRA corporate income tax returns and keep required corporate information current.
Yes, a corporation needs a registered office that meets its jurisdiction’s requirements for location and delivery of official documents. Some jurisdictions also require a records office or an agent for service, so confirm the applicable rules.
Yes, but it must meet the destination province’s or territory’s registration requirements wherever its activities trigger them. Extra-provincial registration is separate from the original incorporation and may create additional ongoing filings.
No, incorporation does not replace municipal, provincial, territorial or federal licences and permits required for your activities. Check the rules for your industry and operating locations before starting business.
A corporation registered with an assigned number instead of a name, such as 1234567 Canada Inc. It's faster to set up and can later add or change to a name.