Cost to Incorporate in Ontario in 2026: Fees and the Real Total

Prepared by Toronto Tax & Accounting Solutions Inc. and reviewed by Behroz Rizvi, owner. This article provides general information and may not apply to every situation. Government fees can change, so confirm them on ontario.ca before you file.

Wondering about the cost to incorporate in Ontario? The Ontario government charges $300 to file articles of incorporation online. That is the largest single fee, but it is not the whole picture. A named corporation may also need a name search report, and once you are incorporated there are yearly costs for the corporate tax return and bookkeeping. This guide shows the real total for 2026, what you can do yourself, and what our incorporation service adds.

How much does it cost to incorporate in Ontario? The short answer

• Government filing fee: $300 to incorporate an Ontario business corporation online through the Ontario Business Registry. The corporation is created immediately once the filing is accepted.
• Our incorporation service: starts from $249 plus HST. Government filing fees are advised separately, so you always see them before you pay.
• Rough first-day total: about $581 for a numbered corporation if you use our $249 starting service ($249 plus 13% HST is $281.37, plus the $300 government fee). A named corporation may add a name search report, which we quote for your situation.
• Yearly costs after that: the Ontario annual return is $0 to file, but you will need a corporate (T2) tax return and, in most cases, bookkeeping.

Want the incorporation price for your exact situation? See our Ontario incorporation service or call (437) 410-7999 for a free consultation.

Ontario incorporation fees at a glance (2026)

Item	Cost	Notes
Articles of incorporation (Ontario, online)	$300	Government fee, paid when you file through the Ontario Business Registry.
Name search report (named corporation)	Varies	Needed when you choose a company name. A numbered corporation does not need one.
Corporate profile report	$8	Optional copy of the corporation’s record from the registry.
Annual return (Ontario)	$0	Must be filed every year, but the filing itself has no fee.
Business name registration, if you operate under a different name	$60	Applies when the corporation trades under a name other than its legal name.
Our incorporation service	From $249 plus HST	Free consultation first. Government filing fees advised separately.

Fees are from the Ontario government’s published list of costs and processing times. Always confirm the current amounts before filing.

Named vs numbered corporation: does it change the cost?

A numbered corporation gets a number as its legal name, for example “1234567 Ontario Inc.”, and does not need a name search report. A named corporation uses a name you choose, which must be checked for availability and similarity to existing names. That check is the extra cost. You can still trade under a different name in either case.

Most owners who want a professional brand choose a named corporation. If you only need a company quickly to hold a contract or a rental, a numbered corporation can be cheaper.

Doing it yourself vs using an accountant

You are not required to use a lawyer or an accountant to incorporate in Ontario. You can file the articles yourself online. The government fee is the same either way. What you pay an accountant for is getting the setup right:

• Choosing between a named and numbered corporation, and the right share structure.
• Matching the incorporation to your tax plan, including how you will pay yourself.
• Registering for HST and a CRA business number correctly, and setting up payroll if you will pay yourself a salary.
• Keeping the corporate records the law expects you to hold.
• Making sure the first corporate tax return and bookkeeping start on the right foot.

If you already know exactly what you need, doing it yourself is the cheapest route. If you are moving an existing sole proprietorship into a corporation, getting advice first usually saves more than the fee. See our guide to sole proprietorship vs corporation in Ontario to decide whether incorporating makes sense at all.

The ongoing cost of owning a corporation

The incorporation fee is a one-time cost. What surprises many owners is the yearly cost of running a corporation:

• Corporate tax return (T2): every corporation must file one every year, even with no activity. Our corporate tax return service starts from $499 plus HST with financial statements, and nil returns start from $250 plus HST.
• Bookkeeping: a corporation needs clean books to file correctly. Our bookkeeping plans start from $99 a month before HST.
• HST filing: once you pass the $30,000 small supplier threshold you must register and file. Try our HST calculator.
• Personal tax return: the owner still files a personal return each year.
• Payroll, if you pay yourself a salary: see our payroll services.

To see what a corporation could save you, use our small business tax calculator for Ontario. Incorporating mainly defers tax on profit you leave in the company, so it pays off only when the savings are larger than these yearly costs.

How to incorporate in Ontario: the basic steps

• Decide on a named or numbered corporation, and if named, get the name search report.
• Prepare the articles of incorporation: name, registered office address, directors, share structure.
• File the articles online through the Ontario Business Registry and pay the $300 fee.
• Receive your certificate and set up the corporate records.
• Register for a CRA business number, HST if required, and payroll if needed.
• Open a business bank account and start bookkeeping from day one.

We handle these steps together with the tax setup. Book a free consultation before you file.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Ontario?

The Ontario government fee is $300 to file articles of incorporation online. Add a name search report if you want a named corporation. Our incorporation service starts from $249 plus HST, with government fees advised separately.

Can I incorporate in Ontario myself?

Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a lawyer or an accountant. You pay the same government fee either way. Advice is most useful when you are converting an existing business or want the tax setup done correctly from the start.

How long does it take to incorporate in Ontario?

Filing online through the Ontario Business Registry is immediate once the filing is accepted. Preparing the details first, such as the name, directors and shares, is what takes time.

Is it cheaper to have a numbered company?

A numbered corporation avoids the name search report, so it can be cheaper to set up. The government fee is the same. You can still operate under a brand name.

What does it cost to keep a corporation running each year?

The Ontario annual return has no filing fee, but you must file a T2 corporate tax return every year and keep proper books. Plan for those costs before you incorporate.

Next steps

If you are thinking about incorporating, book a free consultation and we will give you the full cost for your situation. We are a Scarborough tax and accounting office serving Toronto and the GTA. Call (437) 410-7999 or visit us at Office 19, 695 Markham Road, Scarborough.

Sources

• Ontario.ca: Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name, corporation or not-for-profit
• Ontario.ca: Incorporate an Ontario business corporation

Last reviewed: October 19, 2026. Government fees are those listed by the Ontario government on this date and may change. This article is general information, not advice for a specific business.