Incorporation Costs in Canada: A Complete Guide for 2025

Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation: Structure and Fee Comparison

When you incorporate federally, the filing is through Corporations Canada. Federal incorporation provides you with company name protection across the country, but it comes with a set of fees and extra requirements. If your company will operate outside its home province, you also need to register as an extra-provincial corporation, which means more expense and paperwork.

If you only plan to do business in one province or territory, provincial incorporation usually makes more sense. It is often simpler, sometimes cheaper, and the name protection is limited to that region. No matter which route you choose, you have government charges, ongoing compliance fees, and, if you need them, costs for legal and accounting support.

Federal Incorporation Fees (July 2025)

• Online application: $200
• Paper application: $250
• NUANS name search: $60 (not needed for numbered companies)
• Annual return: $12 to $30
• Director address update: $0 (no fee)
• Amending articles or other corporate changes: $200 and up per filing

Federal companies also pay any fees tied to extra-provincial registration if they do business outside the original province of registration.

Provincial and Territorial Incorporation Fees

Each province and territory has its own rules, filing fees, and name approval systems. Here’s a breakdown of government filing fees, name search/report costs, and required annual compliance for each area as of July 2025.

Alberta

• Incorporation fee: $450
• NUANS name report: $30–$50
• Professional service (basic package): $300–$1,200
• Annual return fee: $50–$85

British Columbia

• Incorporation fee: $350 ($351.50 online, includes $1.50 name approval process)
• Name approval: $30 (for reserved/non-instant)
• No NUANS report needed; BC uses its own name system
• Standard service package: $400–$1,000
• Annual report filing: $43

Manitoba

• Incorporation fee: $300
• Name search: $49
• Annual return: $50–$101

New Brunswick

• Incorporation fee: $260
• Name search: $30
• Annual return: $60–$100

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Incorporation fee: $300
• Name search report: $300 (official source)
• Annual return: $75–$150

Nova Scotia

• Incorporation fee: $274.60
• NUANS search: $70
• Annual renewal: $120

Ontario

• Incorporation fee: $300 (online or mail)
• NUANS search: $60
• Typical total filing: $360
• Annual return: $12–$20

Prince Edward Island

• Incorporation fee (includes name search): $255
• Annual return: $110

Quebec

• Incorporation fee: $367
• Name approval: $25 (Quebec system)
• Annual filing: $89–$136

Saskatchewan

• Incorporation fee: $265
• Name search: $60
• Total standard package: $325
• Annual return: $80

Yukon

• Incorporation fee: $345
• Name search: $50
• Annual return: $25–$100

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

• Incorporation fee: $300–$350
• NUANS report: required
• Annual filing: $50–$85

Each provincial government may adjust these figures, sometimes at short notice, so it’s smart to confirm right before you submit your application.

Name Searches: NUANS and Other Fees

Most provinces require a NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) report. This lets you see if your proposed business name is available or could be confused with another. Fees for a NUANS search range from $13 to $60, depending on the provider or reseller.

Quebec and British Columbia have different systems. Quebec handles all business naming and filings in French. British Columbia runs its own name approval process, with an instant online reservation at $1.50 or a reserved name at $30.

Professional Service Fees

While you can handle most filings on your own, many founders hire lawyers, notaries, accountants, or online business platforms. This is especially helpful for more complicated companies or for those who want an extra guarantee that paperwork is done right. Fees here can stretch from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on complexity.

Legal and related service fees, 2025:

• Lawyers: $600–$2,000 for routine incorporations, with higher fees for complex work
• Notaries: $500–$1,200 for basic incorporations
• Online Incorporation Services: $350–$900 for basic provincial packages
• Accountants/Consultants: $400–$1,500 for early-stage setup and tax advice

Firms charge more if you want to issue special share classes, set up extra shareholders, or need custom board and structure documents. Standardized one-owner companies with no special requests cost less.

Annual and Ongoing Compliance Fees

Incorporation is a one-time act, but staying compliant takes yearly action and comes with fixed government charges. If you skip these, you risk late fines and even dissolution of your company.

Common annual fees:

• Federal annual return: $12–$30
• Provincial annual returns: $12 (Ontario) to $150 (Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Registered office/minute book maintenance: $100–$400 per year for outsourced service; can be handled yourself for a small cost
• Annual resolution preparation: $100–$500 for professional support; free if you do this yourself

Missing an annual filing can trigger penalties. Late charges usually start at $25 and can reach $200 or more, not counting the risk of losing your company through administrative dissolution.

Side-by-Side Fee Comparison (2025)

*British Columbia’s instant online name approval is $1.50. Reserved name process is $30.

2025 Fee and Rule Updates

• British Columbia: Online incorporation fee is now $351.50, starting Q1 2025. The name approval tool was updated to allow instant reservation at $1.50.
• Quebec: New minimum fee for small corporation annual returns is $89 from April 2025. All filings require new forms and must be in French.
• Nova Scotia: NUANS search fee moved to $70 as of January 2025. Online filing for all ownership types is now allowed.
• Newfoundland & Labrador: Name search fee remains at $300 due to reliance on a government-controlled provider pool.
• Federal: No change to federal filing fees so far in 2025. Online filing costs less than using paper.

No area has introduced any new incorporation taxes or general surcharges as of July 2025. A few provinces adjusted their administrative fees only slightly.

Managing Costs: Where You Can Save

Many founders pay extra for professional help out of caution or for complex setups. For those with a single owner and a simple share structure, filing directly online with government registries saves hundreds or even thousands. Here are specific savings options:

• Handle your own applications: Simple incorporations, especially using government online platforms, save professional fees. Expect to pay only the filing and name search costs.
• Compare online incorporation services: Some online providers offer complete packages below the typical lawyer rates. These packages are enough for basic needs.
• Choose single-jurisdiction incorporation: Filing only in your home province avoids paying for extra-provincial registration. Cross-province plans increase complexity and fees.
• Use a basic share structure: Complicated share classes make professional help more expensive. Stick to a single class unless you have advanced needs or investors.

Key Regional Compliance Differences

Certain regions in Canada have rules and filing practices that differ from the rest:

Quebec

Quebec filings must be in French. All name checks use a local system, not NUANS, and compliance with language laws is very strict.

British Columbia

Name approval is tied to an instant online option at $1.50 or a reserved name at $30. All parts of registration can be handled online. No NUANS report is needed.

Ontario

Offers the lowest DIY annual compliance fees. The process works best when fully completed online by the owner.

Example: Incorporation Cost Calculation for Ontario, 2025

Suppose you want to register an owner-managed company in Ontario in 2025, no accountant or lawyer, no fancy share structure. Your fees look like this:

• NUANS search: $60
• Online incorporation: $300
• Annual return: $12–$20
• Minute book maintenance: Free (self-managed) or up to $200 (if you hire someone)

If you manage everything, your first-year cash cost is $372. If you hire a lawyer or use a professional package, the cost rises to about $972–$2,372.

Regulatory Facts from Direct Sources

These are real current prices from registry sites and business service providers:

• “The fee for incorporation in British Columbia is $350 CAD, and an additional $30 will be charged for name approval.”
• “To incorporate in Newfoundland costs $300 CAD and an additional $300 for a name search report.”
• “Incorporating a business in Ontario will cost you $300 CAD online or by mail. If you want to register your business name, there is an extra fee of $60.”
• “As of May 2025: Federal: $200 (online) or $250 (paper) plus $60 for a NUANS name search.”

Business Owner Tips

• Plan your budget to include all baseline government fees. For most, these will total at least $300–$400.
• Don’t skip a proper name search. Even in areas that do not require NUANS, confirm your name to avoid trademark disputes.
• Keep up with annual filing. Missing compliance steps results in penalties and brings the risk of losing corporate status.
• Avoid extra costs if you don’t need complex setups. Single-owner, basic structure incorporations cost less and are easier to manage.
• Digital filing is the best way to control costs. BC, Quebec, and Ontario offer fast online registries, which streamlines the process and reduces add-on fees.

Final Thoughts on Incorporation Costs in Canada, 2025

For most owners, incorporating a business in Canada in 2025 means paying at least $300–$400 if you do it yourself in a straightforward province. More involved incorporations with legal or tax structuring may run $1,000–$3,000 or more. Every company has to pay annual return fees from $12 in Ontario up to $150 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Government fees have been stable in most areas, with minor upticks in places like BC and Quebec.

Professional cost management means skipping the lawyer unless needed, keeping share structures plain, and working in a single province where possible. Most day-to-day filings can now be done online. This approach leaves more money in your business and avoids extra headaches.

For the most recent fees and any government adjustments, visit the registry of your province or territory right before you file. No matter where you file, make sure to budget for the basic costs listed and allow for small government fee changes that can happen at the last minute.

You do not need a complex setup unless you have outside investors or advance corporate plans. For most founders, the simple route is both faster and cheaper. And if you do need that extra guidance for special structures, pay up front for the legal or tax help. It is cheaper than undoing mistakes later on.