Register a Business in Ontario and Realize the Benefits

Many business development companies are now providing services to setup a sole-proprietorship or partnership businesses in Ontario, Canada. Incorporating in Canada would require one to conform with the current laws and submit several important documentations.

You can register a business in Ontario, Canada and avail a number of features like a registered company name, a registered website with dot CA domain, obtain a Canadian e-mail address and Canadian company address, and have full control over the business. You will also enjoy having a registered and legal Canadian entity under your name. Many companies offer guidance through the legal procedures from beginning to end.

Why should you consult such service providers if you can do them on your own? Because these consultants will not only process your papers and registration but will also help you understand why and how they are done. If there is anything you want to clarify, you can simply call them and they will explain everything. Besides, most of the procedures such as applying for payroll or WSIB accounts, registering a trade mark for your company, checking the availability of registered name, and applying for HST number, among others, can be difficult for a non-resident. With service providers, you can also make sure that the process will be accomplished faster.

Among the other things that service providers can help you with include keeping track of you tax responsibilities, registering under the CBCA (Canada Business Corporation Act), setting up a business account, applying for business number, educating you about different forms of business organizations, and having your trademark registered.

If you are a non-resident who wants to do business in Ontario, Canada, there are so much to learn. Even if you have an entrepreneurial background, the process of business registration and incorporating in Canada may be different that a native business consultant's help would be very vital.

If you want to have an idea about how to set up a business in Canada, register a business name, and incorporate your business, visit www.ontariobusinessregistration.com to get all the information you need plus tips and advices. Also read this site for more info on registering in Ontario.

Fundamentals of Business Registration & Incorporation In Ontario

Ontario has become one of the fastest growing regions in Canada with 40% contribution to the country's entire economy. More than half of the country’s import and export business also takes place in Ontario making it the most competent provinces in terms of global trade. 


Ontario has such a diverse economy. Businesses here vary from manufacturing to finance to telecommunications. This industrialization has attracted a large number of entrepreneurs from across the globe. But no matter how warmly Ontario welcomes its visitors and investors, everyone has rules to follow especially when it comes to business.  

Starting a business in Ontario requires registration a business name first and deciding which type of entity you wish to register under. Why do you need the business type? It is because the registration process varies according to the type of business you have. If you are a small business operating under sole proprietorship, partnerships, or corporation, you can start operating even without registration. 

Sole proprietorship and partnerships are registered at a provincial level, while the corporation needs to be registered either under the provincial government or as a federal project. Federal corporation ensures intense name protection and allows your business to operate in various provinces in the Canada.

This part can be as challenging as deciding a business name.

Selecting a name for your business is quite challenging. On one hand you have to conform with the law and on the other hand you have to keep it unique and marketable, yet memorable. You must ensure that it does not duplicate an existing business name or at least it does not offer the same product as the other existing name. A business may start operating even if the name has not yet been registered provide it will be registered within 90 days. Otherwise, you would be violating the Business Names Act, which could result in paying a fine of $2,000 (for small businesses) and $25,000 (for corporations). The Act also provides protection to the individual or corporation whose rights have been violated. Worse, the affected party may request the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch (CPPSB) to cancel the offender’s license. 


It is highly recommended to generate a business name report through ServiceOntario, Cyberbahn Inc., OnCorp Direct Inc., or NUANS websites to make sure your business name is 100% legal and market-friendly at the same time.

Gathering all the information you need is paramount. For a starter, you can check out websites that focus on the topic of business registration and incorporation in Canada such as www.ontariobusinessregistration.com. Here you will find practical and legal advice, detailed processes, and tips.  

The Basics of Business Registration In Ontario Canada

With diverse cultural backgrounds, varied landscapes, thousands of lakes, and fantastic tourist spots, Ontario has a lot to offer. These panoramic beauties will not only please your eyes but will also open profitable opportunities. If you are thinking of starting a business in Canada, then Ontario can provide you with lots of resources and prospects. 


The population increase in Ontario encouraged various industries to grow. While the Northern part of Ontario still relies on natural resources, the Southern section is already highly industrialized what with thousands of companies dealing with construction, mechanics, automotive, digital technology, plastics, aerospace, and telecommunications. Ontario’s contribution to the national GDP is around 40%. With the National Trade Agreement between United States of America, Canada and Mexico, Ontario has gained a frequent and free access to trade markets of Mexico and the US. 

Since the Canadian government also welcomes direct foreign investors, Ontario has become a good venue for investment to non-Canadian citizens or immigrants. Like any other country, doing a business in Ontario comes with various laws and procedures like business registration, tax account applications, and others. 


A huge number of small businesses in Ontario offer home-based to biotech services. There are also joint ventures, provincial corporations, and federal corporations. Small businesses include sole proprietorship and partnerships (general, limited, and limited liability). 


The Master Business License or MBL is issued to business entities such as sole proprietorship and partnerships but not to extra-provincial limited liability companies. Similarly, the process of liability in case of termination or solvency of the business also varies.  

When registering a business in Ontario, you need to obtain an MBL, which confirms that a business name has been submitted to the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch (CPPSB), under the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) for the registration on the public record domain. 


The license includes the registration number and expiry date along with the Business Identification Number. One can apply for a Master business license online from office or home, can send a printed form to the authority or can visit the office in person to submit the form. 


Registering a business in Ontario requires one to provide certain information like business address, the types of business activities, and the owner or owners' personal details such as complete name, individual addresses, and telephone numbers. Be sure to indicated a valid company address as a PO box will not be granted.

It would be a great help if you would visit Ontario first before proceeding with business registration process to have a feel of the province's market and the environment. You should also get more information about the entire process including incorporation. You will find a host of useful resources on the Internet, one of which would be www.ontariobusinessregistration.com. This website offers a handful of infos, tips, advices, and informative articles.

How Do You File for a Business Registration in Ontario, Canada

Many aspiring entrepreneurs choose to do business in Ontario, Canada because it is one of the most developed Provinces in Canada from a business infrastructure perspective. With nearly 15 million residents and growing, Ontario is one of the densely populated land masses in Canada.  In addition to that, its residents are some of the wealthiest in Canada with the highest per capita income ranges.

From a business perspective, Ontario is desirable because the business infrastructure is well established, therefore businesses of all sorts have open and easy access to companies of all sorts. For example, banks are abundant if your business needs funding resources. If you are in a labor intensive industry, there is no shortage of companies to provide workman’s compensation insurance.

So if you are contemplating doing business in Ontario, Canada you will have to register your business.  The process of registering a business in Ontario is not too complicated, but it does require its fair share of paperwork. But then again, what jurisdiction doesn’t?  The fees are not too steep either as you will learn more about below. Suffice it to say that registering a business in Ontario is a much easier process relative to similar countries.

For you to incorporate in Ontario you will need to file Form 1 of the Business Corporations Act (BCA).  This is the act that governs all legal entity formation in Ontario.  You can obtain these forms from any law office, or online if you wish to incorporate in Canada manually through the old pen and paper method.  There are online services available through endorsed third party providers that can make the job easier if you are comfortable doing business online.

These forms are rather extensive, and require you to provide all personal and business enterprise related information. You will have to provide the basics such as names and addresses but also the nature of your business and what you intend to do in and with it.  In addition you cannot provide a PO Box address. A business address must be a physical address.

Once you have your forms filled out you will have to submit them the public office of the Companies Branch, the entity responsible for facilitating business formation and incorporation.  This can also be done via mail or in person.  Online is typically cheaper at $60 per application as opposed to $80 in person.  However, as you will read below there is one very slight disadvantage to filing out the application online, one that personally does not bother me.

The Ontario business registration process also involves obtaining a Master Business License, the proof document demonstrating that you can legally conduct business in Canada.  You can get this right away when you file in person, or wait a few days if you file via mail.  This is the sole disadvantage of filing online which I referred to above.

Like I said, the Ontario business registration process is not too complicated, but make sure you fill out all the forms adequately to ensure a smooth experience establishing a business in Ontario, Canada. Click here for more info on this subject.