Limited liability
A corporation is a separate legal person: it signs the contracts, takes on the debts and owns the assets. As a general rule, your personal liability stops at what you invest.
The benefits
Why incorporate your business?
Deferred tax, funded growth
Income left inside the corporation is taxed well below the top personal brackets, largely thanks to the small business deduction. The difference gets reinvested in growth.
A structure that grows with you
A well-formed corporation opens the door, later on, to a holding company, an estate freeze or the capital gains exemption on a qualifying sale, subject to strict conditions.
Choosing the regime
Quebec (QBCA) or federal (CBCA)?
Both regimes create a full-fledged corporation. The difference comes down notably to director residency, name protection and duplicate paperwork. We weigh both options in every engagement. For the full walkthrough, see how to incorporate a business in Quebec.
Most SMEs
Quebec (QBCA)
- ✓No Canadian residency requirement for directors
- ✓One regime only: filing, register and declarations at the REQ
- ✓The QBCA's flexibility on share capital (unpaid shares allowed, simplified process for conversion, subdivision and reorganization of shares, uncertificated shares)
- ✓The natural choice for a business active mainly in Quebec
Specific cases
Federal (CBCA)
- ✓The registered office can be anywhere in Canada
- ✓An image that helps with Canada-wide operations
- ✓REQ registration still required to operate in Quebec
- ✓As a general rule, 25% of directors must be resident Canadians
The process
How our incorporation service works
01
The online form
You complete our incorporation form in 5 to 10 minutes: name or numbered designation, shareholders, directors. No legal vocabulary needed.
02
The firm's review
We check that the name is available and compliant, clear up any grey areas with you, then prepare your constituting documents from your information.
03
Filing within 24 business hours
Filing of the articles of incorporation within 24 business hours, once all information has been obtained.
04
Organization and minute book
By-laws, resolutions, registers, the initial declaration to the REQ in the days that follow, then your minute book delivered to your secure Client Space.
Curious about the details? Read how online incorporation works, step by step.
Included in every engagement
What is included: articles, custom share capital and minute book
- ✓Custom articles of incorporation
- ✓Multi-class share capital (discretionary dividends, freeze, rollovers)
- ✓By-laws and organizational resolutions
- ✓Corporate registers and share ownership notices
- ✓Electronic minute book, or paper if you prefer
- ✓Initial declaration to the Registraire des entreprises
- ✓Delivered to your secure Client Space
- ✓Flat fees, disclosed up front
What comes next
After incorporation: your obligations
The certificate of incorporation is the start of your corporation’s legal life, not the finish line. Our involvement does not end with the filing: for register updates, articles of amendment or a future holding company, contact us.
Registrar
Annual updating declaration
Each year, the corporation confirms or updates its information with the REQ, ultimate beneficiaries included.
Records
Minute book kept current
Annual resolutions and significant changes must make their way into the minute book.
Tax
Returns and GST/QST
The corporation files its own income tax returns; GST/QST registration becomes mandatory at the prescribed thresholds.
Partners
Shareholder agreement
With more than one shareholder, it should follow incorporation quickly: exits, death, deadlocks, purchase offers.
FAQ
How much does it cost to incorporate a business in Quebec?
Our fees are flat and disclosed up front. They vary with the regime you choose (Quebec or federal) and the options selected, such as a paper minute book; government fees are added to the package. The current details are on our services and pricing page.
How long does incorporation take?
Once your file is complete, we file your articles within 24 business hours. The REQ generally issues the certificate of incorporation within a few business days; federally, it often arrives the next business day. Most files therefore wrap up within days, subject to government processing times.
Do I need a lawyer to incorporate?
The law does not require it. That said, an incorporation that is not done properly (notably through the lack of legal organization) can cause lasting legal consequences. An incorporation lawyer analyzes your situation before filing, stands behind the work and is bound by professional secrecy, none of which an automated platform offers.
Is the process really 100% online?
Yes. The incorporation form is completed online, documents are signed electronically and your minute book is deposited in your secure Client Space. A phone call is always available if you would rather talk certain points through.
Provincial or federal incorporation: which should I pick?
In most cases, a business operating mainly in Quebec is well served by a Quebec corporation (QBCA): more flexibility, no residency requirement for directors and a single authority to deal with. The federal route (CBCA) makes sense mainly when Canada-wide name protection matters. We assess the question with you in every engagement.
What is a minute book and is it mandatory?
It is the official collection of your corporation’s documents: articles, by-laws, resolutions, shareholder and director registers. Both the QBCA and the CBCA require these books and registers to be kept. The electronic version is recognized, and we deposit it in your Client Space as soon as the organization is complete.