Start a business in Canada.
Federal incorporation, the CRA Business Number, GST/HST, payroll and licences, then registration in every province where you operate. Here is how it works and what we do for you.
- Statute
- Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA)
- Name search
- Canada-biased NUANS report
- Sales tax
- 5% GST or 13% to 15% HST
- Workers’ compensation
- Provincial or territorial board where you have employees
- Business support
- Canada.ca Business Start-up guide · BizPaL (permits and licences) · Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) · Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
Two levels of registration, one organized file.
Starting a business in Canada follows the same six steps everywhere: plan it, name it, register it, obtain your permits and licences, open your accounts and get financing, then file on time. Registration happens at two levels. The federal level gives you a Canada-wide corporation through Corporations Canada and your CRA Business Number with its GST/HST, payroll, corporate tax and import-export accounts. The provincial or territorial level is where every business, federal or not, must register to operate.
SZ Business Solution does both. We incorporate federally or provincially, register extra-provincially wherever you will operate, obtain every CRA account, set up workers’ compensation and municipal licences, and then open your bank account and your books. If you are a newcomer or applying from abroad, we prepare the business plan your immigration consultant needs and work in step with them.
- A federal (CBCA) corporation can use its name across Canada and must register extra-provincially in each province or territory where it carries on business.
- At least 25% of the directors of a federal corporation must be resident Canadians (or one director if there are fewer than four); provincial rules differ.
- The CRA Business Number (BN) is the single identifier for GST/HST (RT), payroll (RP), corporate income tax (RC) and import-export (RM) accounts.
- GST/HST registration is mandatory once taxable sales exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters; voluntary registration is allowed earlier.
- Federal corporations file an annual return with Corporations Canada within 60 days of the anniversary date, in addition to the T2 corporate tax return.
How to start a business in Canada.
The sequence matters: a bank will not open the account before the registration exists, and CRA cannot issue accounts before the Business Number. We run the steps in order.
Plan the business
Confirm the idea, the market and the money. If you are applying through a federal or provincial immigration program, this is where the business plan is written.
Business plansChoose the structure and the name
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, federal or provincial. A Canada-biased NUANS report clears the name for a federal corporation.
Registration & incorporationIncorporate with Corporations Canada and register in your province
Articles of incorporation are filed online; the corporation then registers extra-provincially in each province or territory where it operates.
Get your CRA Business Number and tax accounts
Business Number with GST/HST (5% GST or 13% to 15% HST), payroll and corporate tax accounts. GST/HST is federal and registered with CRA; the rate you charge depends on where your customer is.
Register as an employer
Workers’ compensation is provincial: register with the board where your employees work, set up payroll deductions and remittances, and issue T4s each February.
Payroll & taxLicences, permits and bank account
Municipal business licence and industry permits (BizPaL lists them), then the business bank account with the registration documents in hand.
Bank accountsBrand, website and launch
Logo, signage, Google Business Profile, business email and website, so the business looks established from day one.
Branding & signsKeep it running and in good standing
Monthly bookkeeping, sales tax returns, payroll, the T2 or T1 at year-end, and the annual return with the registry.
ComplianceEvery business solution, anywhere in Canada.
Registration is the start. The same team opens your bank account, runs your books, builds your brand and keeps you in good standing.
Business Registration & Incorporation
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, federal or provincial, in all 13 provinces and territories.
Make it official. Anywhere in Canada. 02 · PlanBusiness Plans for Immigration, Banks & Investors
Canada and USA immigration business plans, bank and BDC loan plans, investor pitch decks and financial projections.
A plan that opens doors. 03 · BankBusiness Bank Accounts
Open your business account at any Canadian bank or credit union, with the paperwork prepared and the appointment booked.
Open for business. Literally. 04 · CountAccounting, Bookkeeping & Tax
Monthly bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST, T1 personal and T2 corporate returns, financial statements and CRA support.
Books that balance. Filings on time. 05 · BrandBranding, Marketing, Social Media & Signs
Logo and identity, business cards and print, storefront and vehicle signs, social media, Google Business Profile and ads.
Look established from day one. 06 · BuildIT & Digital Solutions
Domain and business email, website and online store, booking and POS, accounting and CRM software, cloud and security basics.
Your business, online by launch day. 07 · RunVirtual Assistance & Office Support
Inbox and calendar, appointments, customer follow-ups, data entry, document preparation and the back office, monthly.
A back office without the overhead. 08 · KeepCompliance, Corporate Changes & Closing
Annual returns, director and address changes, name changes, extra-provincial registrations, licences, dissolutions and wind-downs.
Stay in good standing. Change with confidence.Starting a business in Canada: questions we hear most
Short answers. For anything specific to your situation, book a consultation and we will walk through it.
Should I incorporate federally or provincially?
Federal incorporation protects your name across Canada and is often preferred by companies that will operate in several provinces or raise investment; provincial incorporation is simpler if you will operate in one province. Both still require provincial registration where you operate. We recommend one based on your plans and file it.
What is a CRA Business Number?
A nine-digit identifier CRA assigns to your business, to which program accounts are added: RT for GST/HST, RP for payroll, RC for corporate income tax and RM for import-export. We obtain the BN and the accounts you need.
Can a non-resident or newcomer start a business in Canada?
Yes, in many cases. Provincial corporations in Ontario, BC, Alberta and several other provinces have no director residency requirement; a federal corporation needs 25% resident Canadian directors. Whether you can work in the business depends on your immigration status, which a licensed consultant or lawyer advises on. We handle the registration, banking and accounting.
What licences and permits will I need?
It depends on the industry and the municipality. BizPaL lists federal, provincial and municipal requirements by business type and location; we compile the list for your business and prepare the applications.
How long does the whole set-up take?
A name search and incorporation can be completed within one to two business days in most jurisdictions; CRA accounts, workers’ compensation and bank accounts follow in the first one to two weeks. We give you a written timeline with the scope.
Start a business in another province or territory.
Expanding from Canada to a second province? That is an extra-provincial registration; we file it and keep both in good standing.
Starting in Canada? Tell us what you are opening.
One short call, then a written scope with our fee and the government fees listed separately. Registration, bank account, books and brand can all be one scope.