• Before you register your business
• Choosing a business structure
• Sole proprietorship
• Partnership
• Corporation
• How to register your business in Canada
• Advantages of registering your business
• Registering Your Business in Each Province
• What to do after registering your business
• Self-employed registration FAQ

As a self-employed business owner in Canada, you'll likely have to register in the province or territory where you plan to operate. The self-employed registration process typically involves registering your company name with the proper provincial, territorial, or federal government authorities.

Before you register your business

Before you register your business in Canada, there are a few things you'll need to consider, including:

• Where to locate your main office
• Which provinces or territories to operate in
• What to name your business
• What type of business structure to use

Choosing a business structure

There are three types of business structures you can choose from in Canada, including sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. It's common for self-employed small business owners to start by creating a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the easiest structure to create and is often chosen by new business owners. As a sole proprietor, you and your business are considered one and the same by the law and tax authorities. You're also solely responsible for making decisions about your business.

In a sole proprietorship, if you decide to use your legal name as your business name, you don't need to register it.

If you want to use a business name other than your legal name, you'll need to register your trade name with your province or territory. You can do this by visiting a registry, or you can register online. 

Partnership

A partnership is similar to a sole proprietorship, as there is no legal separation between you and your business. The only difference is that there are two or more business owners.

The business owners in a partnership combine their financial resources to pay for operational expenses. The partners typically have a contractual agreement that breaks down the percentage of ownership and distribution of revenue.

As a partnership, you'll have to register your business trade name with your province or territory. 

Corporation

If you register as a corporation, your business is a separate legal entity from you. You can also earn a salary, just like all paid employees. Since Canadian law views you and your company individually, your personal assets remain untouched if you owe business debts or taxes.

Registering a corporation is more complicated and more expensive than a sole proprietorship or partnership. For instance, registering as a sole proprietor online with the ministry in Ontario costs $60, compared to $300 to incorporate.

You'll need to consider this as well as other factors before deciding whether you want to register as a sole proprietorship or corporation. If you decide on a corporation, consider seeking assistance from an accountant or a lawyer to help you through the process.

How to register your business in Canada

Here's a step-by-step breakdown for how to register as a self-employed business in Canada, from beginning to end:

1. Choose a location. Where will your main office be located?
2. Decide where to operate. Which provinces or territories do you plan to operate in?
3. Select a business name. A good business name makes it clear to your customers what product or service you offer.
4. Determine your business structure. There are three business structures to choose from: sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation.
5. Register your business. Depending where you operate, you'll need to register with the necessary provinces or territories.
6. Get a business number. If you decide to incorporate, you'll need a business number (BN). You'll also need a BN to register for a CRA program account for GST/HST or payroll deductions. If you register your business in certain provinces like Alberta or British Columbia, you'll automatically get a business number.
7. Apply for permits and licenses. Finally, depending on the type of business you have, you may need to apply for permits and licenses. 

Advantages of registering your business

When you register as a sole proprietorship or partnership, you can enjoy these advantages:

• It's simple and inexpensive: Compared to registering as a corporation, registering as a sole proprietor or partnership is much simpler and less expensive.
• It enhances your brand image and reputation: Registering your business can make your company more attractive to potential investors, business partners, clients, and customers.
• It ensures compliance with Canadian law: The most important reason to register your business is to ensure your compliance with Canadian law, which helps create a less stressful work experience.

If you register a corporation, you can take advantage of these benefits:

• It offers protection for your personal assets: Registering as a separate legal entity can help protect your personal assets if your business is held accountable for something that goes wrong.
• You can enjoy tax benefits: There are a range of tax benefits you can use as a registered business owner. You can also take advantage of common tax-deductible business expenses.

Registering Your Business in Each Province

Once you register your business name, you can begin registering your business. This process simply requires you to let the government know about your business plans. Each province has its own specific rules and requirements for registering businesses.

• Ontario (ON)

If you plan to conduct business in Ontario, you must register your business with the Central Production and Verification Services Branch (CPVSB). You must register if you’re a sole proprietor operating under a business name that’s not your legal name or part of a partnership that operates under a name other than the legal names of the partners. Also, limited liability partnerships, existing general partnerships, corporations, and extra-provincial limited liability partnerships must register their business names. Business registration is valid for five years, and you can renew 60 days before it expires.

• Alberta (AB)

If conducting business in Alberta, visit the Alberta.ca website to register your business name. If registering a trade name or sole-proprietorship, fill out the Declaration of Trade Name form. If registering a partnership, fill out the Declaration of Partnership form. There are also Limited Partnership and Limited Liability Partnership forms available in case those apply to your business. If your business is a corporation, the Government of Alberta requires you to contact a service provider that’s authorized by the government to provide Corporate Registry services. You can find a list of Corporate Registry agents on the Alberta.ca website.

• British Columbia (BC)

The first step for registering a business in British Columbia is to use the BC Registry Service to register your business name. You can also register your business name in person at any Service BC or OneStop location. After approval of your business name, which can take up to three days, contact BC Registry Services again to register your business. You may also complete this step online or in person. Approval of business registration takes approximately two months. At that time, you receive a business number (BN) that you use as your company’s identifier.

• Quebec (QC)

If you own or operate a sole proprietorship or partnership in Quebec, Canada, that doesn’t include the first or last names of any of the owners, you must register your business within the first 60 days of operation. To register, complete a Declaration of Registration form. As of 2019, electronic filing isn't an option, so you must take the form to a Registraire Des Entreprises Services Quebec (REQ) location in either Quebec City or Montreal. Quebec requires you to re-register a sole proprietorship or partnership each year.

To register a corporation in Quebec, you must fill out the Articles of Constitution form and the Notice Establishing the Address of Head Office/List of Directors form.

Submit these documents to one of the REQ locations in the province. Upon approval, the REQ gives you a corporation number and a certificate of incorporation. You must pay an annual registration fee to maintain your corporation number.

• Manitoba (MB)

In Manitoba, your first step is to register the name of your business through the Companies Office Name Reservation website, which is part of the province of Manitoba’s official government site. Manitoba uses an online service called BizPal to simplify the process of figuring out which business licenses or permits your company needs. Corporation owners must file an Articles of Incorporation document, which you can complete online. Non-profit entities must also file an Article of Incorporation. Unincorporated businesses, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships must renew their registration every three years.

• New Brunswick (NB)

In New Brunswick, you must first register your business name by filling out the New Brunswick Certificate of Business Name or Certificate of Renewal of Business Name form. Submit this form to the Corporate Affairs Branch. Once you secure your business name, apply for a Business Number (BN) through the Corporate Affairs Branch.

If you’re applying for a sole proprietorship or partnership, New Brunswick’s official government website offers kits and guides that simplify the application process. To incorporate your business, file an Article of Incorporation with Service New Brunswick. You can file all of your documents online.

• Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

If your company is a sole proprietorship or a partnership that operates in Newfoundland and Labrador, you don’t have to register your business. The province requires registration if you decide to incorporate your business within the province. The first step to incorporation is to request an official Name Reservation through the Registry of Companies. Next, file an Articles of Incorporation, Notice of Directors, Notice of Registered Office in NL, and Certificate of Good Standing. You can find all of these forms on the Registry of Companies website.

• Nova Scotia (NS)

If you’re a sole proprietor who uses your legal name as your business name, you don’t have to register your business in Nova Scotia. For all other structures, the law requires business registration. Your first step is to register your business name with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies. You can complete this step using the Nova Scotia Government Online Service for Businesses. Next, determine if you must apply for a Business Number (BN). Not all companies require BN registration, only those that require a payroll, corporate income tax, import/export, or GST/HST account.

Next, obtain the licenses and permits necessary to legally operate your company through the Nova Scotia Government Online Service for Businesses. If you plan to incorporate, the government requires getting legal assistance. Nova Scotia corporations must have recognized agents who act as a legal contact for the company. These agents provide the Certificate of Incorporation as well as all the other forms you need to register your corporation. Upon approval, the government assigns your corporation a BN.

• Prince Edward Island (PE)

Unless you’re a sole proprietor who plans to use your legal name as your business name, your business in Prince Edward Island requires registration. The first step is to register your business name with the Government of Prince Edward Island. You must register a sole proprietorship or a business partnership within three months of operation.

To incorporate your business in PEI, an officer of your company, such as the CEO, President, or Vice President, must fill out a Declaration for Registration of a Business Name – Corporation form. Upon approval, the province lists your business in its Royal Gazette, which is PEI’s official listing of government documents. PEI requires business registration renewal every three years.

• Saskatchewan (SK)

Sole proprietorships and partnerships in Saskatchewan that operate under a business name require business name registration. If you plan to incorporate your business, you don’t have to register your business name in this province, but you must file an Articles of Incorporation, obtain a business licence and obtain a BN. Contact the Corporate Registry at Information Services Corporation (ISC) in SK to start the registration process. Once the ISC reserves your business name, you must register your business with the Corporate Registry, Ministry of Finance, and Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board. The Corporate Registry of SK has an online portal where you can file all of your documents electronically.