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
If, instead of online, you prefer to submit and incorporation application by email attachment, fax mail or in person, see Creating a Business Corporation.

Applying to incorporate a business online will take about 30 minutes
It will cost $200
During the process, you will be instructed of the need to print and sign Form 1 – Articles of Incorporation and Form 2 – Initial Registered Office Address and First Board of Directors. The forms must be signed before proceeding to the payment step. These signed forms are to be kept with the corporation’s records.
You can save an application and return to submit it later
A submitted application will be processed within one business day

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.

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., the share structure, 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/Territorial 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.

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.