Canada is an important trading partners of the Unites States of America (USA) because of its similar language, educational system, economic and political policies. Any US companies who want to start a new company in another nation, always keep Canada at the top of the list. So, for a company registration process in Canada, one need to register him/herself as an “extra-provincial candidate”. This is the same process USA corporate law follows to undertake foreign investment process.
The corporate registration process is in Canada is primarily done by email or via online registration processes. This registration submission has to be done along with other supporting documents from the home jurisdiction. The supporting document must provide sufficient evidence of currently running company that the applicant owns in his/her native land.
Unlike other Asian nation where Limited Liability company is pretty popular, Canada doesn’t include LLC company in their corporate list. In other words, Canada does not have any Limited Liability Company (LLC) law but there are other company types. So, if you are an investor, who want to setup an LLC company in Canada, forget the idea and try some other company types which is valid in this nation. Canada’s general form of business are as follows:
Instead of LLC business which is not a valid in Canada, you are welcome to try the Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) business structure instead. In this type of business structure, partners have a limited liability on the basis of each partner’s contribution rate.
When starting an LLP in Canada, the contribution has to be made by the partners only when the business is at a functional phase. This type of company in Canada is commonly preferred and founded by professionals such as lawyers, accountants and doctors etc.
Following are the typical steps of company registration in Canada. These steps may alter slightly in various provinces due to regional corporate policies. However, major steps remain all the same.
Here detail cost evaluation has been systematically arranged in various cost tables that local and foreign investors in Canada must see before proceeding for investment in this country.
This is an online based name search option for companies in Canada. Here you can see various reports regarding the name you have chosen for your business for certain charges.
| NUANS name search | Cost |
| NUANS Name Search Report (Basic) | $25.00 |
| NUANS Name Search Report (Complete) | $39.00 |
| NUANS Name Search with Name Decision | $59.00 |
| Canada-wide Exact Match Name Pre-search | $19.00 |
For name registration process of a company in Canada there is a separate government fee which you have to submit.
| Business name registration | Cost |
| Filing of Sole Proprietorship Registration | $49.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of Partnership Registration | $49.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of Business Name for Existing Corporation | $49.00 + disbursements |
Here incorporation service costs for native Canadian investors are provided in detail.
| Incorporation services | Cost |
| Federal Incorporation Basic Package | $85 + disbursements |
| Federal Incorporation Enhanced Package | $223 + disbursements |
| Federal Incorporation Complete Package | $303 + disbursements |
| BC Incorporation Basic Package | $85 + disbursements |
| BC Incorporation Enhanced Package | $223 + disbursements |
| BC Incorporation Complete Package | $303 + disbursements |
| Ontario Incorporation Basic Package | $85 + disbursements |
| Ontario Incorporation Enhanced Package | $223 + disbursements |
| Ontario Incorporation Complete Package | $303 + disbursements |
| New Brunswick Incorporation Basic Package | $85 + disbursements |
| New Brunswick Incorporation Enhanced Package | $223 + disbursements |
| New Brunswick Incorporation Complete Package | $303 + disbursements |
| Notarization of Set of Corporate Registration Documents | $150.00 |
The table below gives a detail cost evaluation of incorporation services for overseas investors who wants to start a trade in Canada.
| Incorporation services | Cost |
| Ontario Extra-Provincial Corporation Basic Package | US$1,680.00 |
| Ontario Extra-Provincial Corporation Complete Package | US$1,880.00 |
| Annual renewal fee for Extra-Provincial Corporation | US$990.00 |
| Incorporation of Canadian Corporation in British Columbia | US$1,990.00 |
| Incorporation of Canadian Corporation in New Brains wick | US$1,990.00 |
| Annual renewal fee for Corporation | US$990.00 |
| Registration of Limited Partnership in Canada | US$1,990.00 |
| Annual renewal fee for Limited Partnership | US$990.00 |
| Canadian Virtual Office services for one year | US$500.00 |
| Personal Bank Account in Canada | US$1,500.00 |
| Corporate Bank Account in Canada | US$1,500.00 |
| Merchant Account in Canada | US$500.00 |
| Legalization of Documents by Embassy (embassy fees are extra) | US$550.00 |
| Notarization of Set of Corporate Registration Documents | US$200.00 |
A USA LLC is once invested in Canada it is automatically considered as Corporation. Cost chart for the whole arrangement is given in the table below:
| Arrangement for corporation | Cost |
| Standard By-Law | $30.00 |
| Complete Set of Organizational Resolutions | $129.00 |
| Filing of single change of corporate information (Directors, Officers, Office Address, etc.) | $99.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of single change, which requires Articles of Amendment (Company's Name, etc.) | $249.00 + disbursements |
In case of dissolution of corporation in Canada, you have to count certain amount of cash. The price is all the same in major provinces in Canada.
| Dissolution of corporation (excluding gov't fees) | Cost |
| Filing of Federal Corporation Dissolution | $249.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of BC Corporation Dissolution | $249.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of Ontario Corporation Dissolution | $249.00 + disbursements |
| Filing of New Brunswick Corporation Dissolution | $249.00 + disbursements |
The cost table below gives a rough price list of office supplies which is mandatory once a company is set in Canada.
| Office supplies | Cost |
| Attaché Case Kit | $159.00 |
| Share Certificates (Qty 10) | $30.00 |
| Corporate Embosser | $90.00 |
| Corporate Convenient Seal | $80.00 |
| Self-Inking Stamp | $80.00 |
In order to proceed for Company registration process in Canada or take any advices in relevant aspect, you have to be in connection with the authorized person. All provinces of Canada have their own company registry service offices which are equipped to assist and serve investors in their respected province. Below are some company registry service provider addresses in major provinces of Canada:
Alberta
3B Commerce Place, 10155 102 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4L4, Canada
+1 780-427-4088
BC (British Colombia)
British Colombia registry services
PO BOX 9431, STN PROV GOVT, VICTORIA BC V8W 9V3
+1 877-526-1526
1 250 387-7848 (Victoria Office)
Manitoba
1010, 405 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3L6, Canada
+1 204-945-2500
Ontario
Service Ontario Business Registration Branch
375 University Ave 2nd floor, Toronto, ON M5G 2J5, Canada
+1 800-361-3223
Nova Scotia
Registry of Joint Stock Companies
1505 Barrington St, Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6, Canada
+1 902-424-7770
These are some of the addresses to register LLC in Canada
How many shareholders are required to open a company in Canada?
Only 1. However, for supervisory board there should be a minimum 3 shareholders
How much a foreigner can invest for a company registration fee in Canada?
Registration fee comes around $200 to $1,680.
How to open a bank account for a foreign company in Canada?
A bank account can be opened automatically as soon as a foreign company is registered.
What other documents are required to start business in Canada as a foreigner?
A foreigner needs to come up with following documents:
Related Articles:
Certain company registration steps in Canada
Advantage of starting a business in Canada
