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Federal Incorporation (provincial registration not included)

Prepared and filed by our team, with clear, itemized pricing and personal support from start to finish.

Prepared & reviewed by our teamTransparent, itemized pricingTrusted since 2003

Federal Incorporation (provincial registration not included) Incorpdirect

Incorporate under the Canada Business Corporations Act with your head office in any province. Your company name is protected across Canada and the whole package is prepared by our corporate legal team. Note that every federal corporation must also register in the province of its head office, this package does not include that registration.

$89 IncorpDirect service fee + federal government fee $200 (non-taxable) Same-day numbered company when you order before 3 p.m., no rush fees · Named company 1–2 business days
$69.00
 $200.00
Express Service 1 hour (Numbered)
NUANS® name search
Upload custom share structures More information
Generic share structures within. Check is box if you are uploading your own custom share structures
5 or more directors and/or shareholders
Minute Book - Traditional (View)
Minute Book - Digital More information
Does not include share certificates as they cannot be emailed
Corporate seal
Additional share certificates ((View))
Small Business Credit Guide (View)
Federal Business Number
Annual declaration registration More information
This service will register your corporation with the federal government to receive annual return notices to your email.
 Included
Shipping More information
includes fuel surcharge
Total $89.00

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Guidelines for Federal Incorporations
  1. Named or numbered company
  2. Designate Head Office
  3. Selection of Classes of Shares
  4. Select Company Structure
  5. Business Activites
  6. Directors & Officers
  7. Select Jurisdiction

Decide if you wish to incorporate a named or numbered company

  • If you wish to incorporate a named company, then a NUANS® name search will have to be performed in order to approve the name you have chosen.
  • You may choose to have an English name, a French name, separate French and English names or a combined name of both French and English.
  • The legal ending for the company name must be ‘Limited’, ‘Corporation’, ‘Incorporated’, ‘Ltd’, ‘Inc’, ‘Corp’, ‘Société par actions de régime fédéral’, ‘Limitée’, ‘Ltée’, ‘Incorporée’ or SARF.
  • When selecting your company name, please bear in mind that the more distinctive the name, the more likely it is to be accepted.
  • If your chosen name contains common or popular words, or is the same or confusingly similar to another federally incorporated company, then it may be rejected.
  • If you are contemplating conducting business in Quebec, then a separate search of the Quebec Corporations database will clarify the availability of that name in Quebec.
  • If you choose to incorporate a numbered company, then the number will be automatically selected for you by the government.
  • The process of incorporation for numbered companies is quicker than that for named companies.
  • It is possible for you to incorporate a numbered corporation very quickly and then later apply for a NUANS® report and change the status of your company from a numbered to named corporation.

Designate a Registered Office in Canada

  • The company must designate a residential or commercial address as the Registered Office.
  • This address cannot be a PO Box number.
  • If your mailing address is different to your Registered Office address, then please complete the mailing address section of the company information page.

Selection of classes of shares and maximum number of shares that can be issued

  • Shareholders control the company since they own shares in the company.
  • You can issue as many or as few shares and classes of shares as you wish. You may name these classes, for example ‘common’ and ‘preferred’ shares or you may alphabetize them, for example ‘Class A’ and ‘Class B’.
  • Most companies issue an unlimited number of common shares at the point of incorporation.
  • Most new companies do not introduce a more complex share structure at the point of incorporation but you should seek competent professional advice on any matters of which you are unsure.

Do you want your company to qualify for private company status?

  • If you wish to operate as a private company, then you will have to upload at least 2 schedules that:
    • Limits share transfers
    • Restricts the number of shareholders to 50 and prohibits the sale of shares to the public
  • You can upload your own schedules or use our generic schedules.
  • The advantage of obtaining private company status is that you will not have to comply with the CBCA regulations relating to registration and prospectus filing and provincial and territorial laws on securities.
  • The vast majority of new incorporations start out as private companies.
  • This status can always be altered at a later date by filing the relevant articles of amendment.

Decide if you want to restrict your business activities

  • If you want to restrict your business activities, please state what they are.
  • Most companies do not restrict their activities and hence state ‘none’.

Choose your company Directors

  • There must be at least 1 director selected and he/she must be over 18 years of age.
  • It is advisable that you give a range for the number of Directors rather than specify a fixed number.
  • Directors must be individuals, as opposed to a company.
  • You must have the details of each Director’s residential address and their Canadian residency status.
  • Please note that ordinarily 25% of the directors must be Canadian residents.
  • If there are less than 4 directors, then ordinarily at least 1 must be Canadian resident.

Register your company in the province of head office

  • You must register your business in the province of your head office and any province where you will have an office.
  • IncorpDirect will be able to assist you with your initial registration in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. If you live elsewhere you will need to do this after your Federal incorporation has been completed and should choose Federal incorporation (no jurisdiction)

Why entrepreneurs choose IncorpDirect

  • Real people on every file. A specialist personally handles your order, phone or live chat, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern.
  • Prepared by our legal team. Documents drafted and reviewed by specialists, not auto-generated.
  • Transparent pricing. Every fee listed before you pay; government fees always shown separately.
  • Fast because it’s our specialty. 24,000+ incorporations since 2003, same-day service on most orders.
24,000+incorporations since 2003
Thousandsof satisfied customers
Need help? 1-877-292-0130 weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern

4.7on Google36reviews

Head office in Quebec, Ontario or BC? Choose the package with registration included

Federal – Quebec Head Office

Federal incorporation plus the mandatory Quebec registration and your NEQ, filed in the same order.

See pricing & start

Federal – Ontario Head Office

Federal incorporation plus the mandatory Ontario extra-provincial registration, filed in the same order.

See pricing & start

Federal – BC Head Office

Federal incorporation plus the mandatory BC extra-provincial registration, filed in the same order.

See pricing & start

Head office anywhere else in Canada? This is the right package. We incorporate you federally, and guide you on your province’s registration.

What’s included

  • NUANS® name search & pre-check (or numbered company)
  • Federal articles of incorporation, standard or customized shares
  • Certificate of incorporation from Corporations Canada
  • By-laws, organizational minutes & digital minute book
  • Bank-ready document package
  • Step-by-step guidance for registering in your head-office province
  • Specialist support by phone or live chat

Why incorporate federally instead of provincially?

Canada-wide name protection, a provincial name is only protected in that province. The right to operate across Canada, registering in each province as needed. Often stronger name credibility for national brands. One federal requirement to know about: at least 25% of directors must be Canadian residents, unlike a provincial incorporation. If no director is a Canadian resident, a provincial incorporation may suit you better. We’ll tell you before you order, not after.

Federal vs. provincial incorporation, full comparison

How it works

  1. Questionnaire (10 minutes), name or numbered, directors (25% Canadian-resident minimum), shareholders, head office address.
  2. We run NUANS®, prepare your articles and file with Corporations Canada.
  3. Receive your certificate, articles, by-laws, minutes and digital minute book by email, with guidance on registering in your head-office province.

Good to know

  • 25% of directors must be Canadian residents (federal requirement).
  • Federal name approval is stricter than provincial, our pre-check saves you a rejected filing.
  • Numbered companies are normally incorporated the same business day when ordered before 3 p.m., with no rush fees. Named companies take 1–2 business days depending on Corporations Canada volumes.
  • A customized share structure adds time to the numbered-company timeline.
  • Provincial registration deadlines vary by province, don’t skip it; banks and the CRA will expect it.
  • We handle extra-provincial registrations separately if you would like us to file yours.

Federal incorporation FAQ

Federal vs. provincial incorporation, what’s the difference?

A provincial incorporation, in Ontario or Quebec, for example, creates a company under that province’s law, and its name is protected in that province only. A federal incorporation is created under the Canada Business Corporations Act, protects your name across Canada, and gives you the right to operate nationally. The trade-offs: federal incorporation requires that at least 25% of directors be Canadian residents, and it always carries a second registration in your head-office province.

Do I still have to register provincially?

Yes, registration in your head-office province is mandatory for every federal corporation, and this package does not include it. We tell you exactly how to do it, and if your head office is in Quebec, Ontario or British Columbia you can simply order the package above that has the registration built in.

How much does it cost?

$89 for the IncorpDirect service fee, plus the $200 federal government fee for an online filing. Both are itemized before you pay. Your provincial registration is a separate government filing with its own fee, which is not part of this package.

Can non-residents incorporate federally?

Federal incorporation requires that at least 25% of the directors be Canadian residents. If your board does not meet that threshold, incorporate provincially instead, neither Ontario nor Quebec imposes a residency requirement on directors. We check this with you before you order, not after.

IncorpDirect is a private incorporation service, not a government agency, and not affiliated with Corporations Canada or any provincial registry. Government fees are separate and shown before payment. You may also file directly with the government.