Incorporation
Register a Corporation in Ontario
Federal or Ontario incorporation, articles drafted, minute book organized, and CRA accounts registered. One fixed CAD price, everything included.
What you get on day one
Every incorporation engagement covers all four items. Nothing is quoted separately, nothing is left for you to figure out.
-
Federal or Ontario incorporation
We file with Corporations Canada for a federal charter or with the Ontario Business Registry for a provincial corporation. We explain the trade-offs before you choose.
-
Articles of incorporation
Articles drafted and filed: share structure, restrictions, directors, and registered office. We set up a clean share structure for tax efficiency from day one.
-
Corporate minute book
Initial organizational resolutions, director and officer appointments, share issuance, and the first year of minutes. Delivered digitally in a structured PDF.
-
CRA business accounts
Business number, corporate income tax, HST, and payroll accounts registered with CRA after incorporation. You start operating with everything already in place.
All-in pricing
Government fees included. No per-hour billing, no module pricing.
Ontario corp
Provincial incorporation for Ontario businesses. Government filing fees included.
- Ontario Business Registry filing
- Articles of incorporation
- Digital minute book
- CRA account registrations
Federal corp
Most commonFederal charter for businesses operating across provinces. Government filing fees included.
- Corporations Canada filing
- Articles of incorporation
- Digital minute book
- CRA account registrations
Corp + first T2
Incorporation plus your first year's corporate tax return, all in.
- Federal or Ontario incorporation
- Full minute book
- CRA account registrations
- First-year T2 return included
Prices in CAD plus HST. Government incorporation fees included. NUANS name search included. Shareholder agreements quoted separately.
How incorporation works
Most Ontario incorporations complete within 24 hours. Federal incorporations take one to three business days.
- 01
Name and structure
We discuss your business activities, number of owners, share classes needed, and whether federal or provincial registration fits better. NUANS name search included.
- 02
Articles drafted
Articles of incorporation prepared with a tax-efficient share structure. You review and confirm before we file anything.
- 03
Filed and confirmed
Articles submitted to the appropriate registry. Federal turnaround is typically one to three business days. Ontario is usually same day through the Business Registry.
- 04
Books and CRA setup
Certificate of incorporation received, minute book organized, and CRA accounts registered. You receive the complete incorporation package digitally.
What actually happens when you incorporate
For a federal incorporation, we start with a NUANS name search to confirm your proposed corporate name is not already taken in Canada. Ontario incorporations go through the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) directly - faster and usually sufficient if you plan to stay in Ontario. Either way, we draft the Articles of Incorporation, set up the share structure, and prepare the first directors resolution and minute book. The minute book is the set of legal documents - resolutions, share registers, officer appointments - that CRA and lenders ask for when they want to verify your corporation's history.
Once the certificate arrives, we register your Business Number (BN) with CRA and open the accounts you need - HST, payroll, or corporate income tax. Ontario corporations must file an Initial Return with the Ontario Business Registry within 60 days of incorporation; we file it as part of the engagement. The share structure decision at this stage matters more than most people expect. Getting the right share classes in place from day one - voting classes, preferred shares for income splitting, or a structure that allows a future holding company - avoids a costly reorganization later when the stakes are higher.
Once incorporated, the salary vs dividends decision matters. Use our free 2026 Salary vs Dividend Calculator to see the after-tax difference before your first payroll.
Incorporation questions
What sole proprietors and new business owners ask us most about incorporating.
-
Do you need an accountant to incorporate in Canada?
You do not legally need an accountant to incorporate - you can file directly through the Ontario Business Registry or Corporations Canada yourself. However, an accountant structures your share classes for tax efficiency from day one, a decision that is expensive to undo later. Most business owners save significantly more in future taxes than they spend on professional incorporation. -
Federal vs. Ontario corporation - which should I choose?
A federal corporation gives you name protection across all provinces and makes expansion easier if you ever operate outside Ontario. An Ontario corporation is slightly cheaper to incorporate and maintain, and is sufficient if you plan to operate only in Ontario. We walk through the practical differences for your situation before you decide. -
What is a NUANS name search?
NUANS is the federal name registry search that confirms your proposed corporate name is not already in use. It is mandatory for federal incorporations and recommended for Ontario ones. We run the NUANS search as part of your engagement. -
Why does share structure matter?
A properly designed share structure lets you split income between family members, create a holding company layer, and issue future equity to partners or employees. Setting it up correctly at incorporation costs nothing extra and avoids expensive reorganizations later. -
Do I need a corporate lawyer?
Not for straightforward incorporations. We prepare and file all required documents. If you have complex ownership arrangements, partnership agreements, or shareholder agreements, we refer you to a corporate lawyer and coordinate the accounting side. -
When does my corporation need to file its first T2?
The first T2 is due six months after your corporation's first fiscal year-end. You choose the year-end at incorporation - we advise on the best date for your cash flow and tax planning. -
What are the ongoing annual maintenance requirements?
Federal corporations file an annual return with Corporations Canada each year. Ontario corporations file with the Ontario Business Registry. Both also require CRA corporate tax returns and, if registered, HST and payroll filings. We can handle all of this as part of an ongoing engagement.
Get a free quote
Tell us your proposed business name, number of shareholders, and whether you need federal or provincial. Price confirmed same day.
Prefer email? Write to support@prismaaccounting.com.