Business Incorporation Toronto - Ontario and Federal Registration

Ready to incorporate your business in Toronto? Torontax provides clear, organized and affordable business incorporation services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners across the Greater Toronto Area. We handle federal and Ontario provincial incorporation, articles of incorporation preparation, and complete post-incorporation tax setup including business number registration with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Incorporation starts from $249 plus HST. Government filing fees are advised separately, and we confirm our fee in writing before we start. See the full cost to incorporate in Ontario, including government fees and yearly costs.

Our Business Incorporation Services in Toronto

• Federal incorporation through Corporations Canada
• Ontario provincial incorporation through the Ontario Business Registry
• Articles of incorporation drafting and filing
• Business number registration with the CRA
• GST/HST account registration and account setup
• Payroll account registration
• Corporate registry filings: Ontario and federal annual returns, filings recording properly authorized director changes, and dissolution or revival filings
• Initial corporate tax planning and fiscal year-end selection

Benefits of Incorporating Your Toronto Business

Incorporation offers several significant advantages for Toronto business owners. The combined federal and Ontario small business tax rate is 11.2 percent on the first 500,000 dollars of qualifying active business income for days after June 30, 2026 (12.2 percent before July 1, 2026, with tax years that straddle that date prorated by days), compared to personal tax rates that can exceed 53 percent. Incorporation also provides limited liability protection, easier access to business financing, enhanced credibility with clients and partners, and opportunities for income splitting and tax deferral strategies.

Federal vs Ontario Incorporation

We help Toronto entrepreneurs choose between federal and provincial incorporation based on their specific business needs. Federal incorporation provides name protection across Canada and the ability to operate in any province, while Ontario incorporation is simpler, costs less initially, and is sufficient for businesses operating only within Ontario. We explain the trade-offs clearly during your free consultation. Government filing fees are advised separately at the time of service.

After incorporation, we provide ongoing corporate tax filing, bookkeeping, payroll, and GST/HST services. See all our services.

Start Your Incorporation Today

Call (437) 410-7999 for a free incorporation consultation. We serve entrepreneurs across Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Mississauga, and the GTA.

The Business Incorporation Process in Toronto Explained

We confirm the expected incorporation timeline after reviewing your information and the applicable government processing requirements. The process begins with selecting your corporate name and conducting a NUANS name search to ensure availability. We then prepare your articles of incorporation, which define your share structure, business activities, and any share transfer restrictions. After filing with the appropriate registry, we obtain your certificate of incorporation. We assist with Ontario and federal incorporation, applicable CRA registrations and the corporate registry filings listed on this page. We do not prepare corporate bylaws or resolutions, or documentation for opening a corporate bank account.

Post-incorporation setup is equally important and often overlooked by entrepreneurs who try to incorporate on their own. After receiving your certificate, you need to register for a business number with the CRA, set up your HST, payroll, and import/export accounts as needed, register with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board if you have employees, obtain any required municipal business licenses, and set up your corporate bank account. We handle the CRA registrations and corporate setup; WSIB registration, municipal licences and your bank account are arranged by you, and we will point out which apply.

We also help Toronto entrepreneurs understand the ongoing compliance requirements of running a corporation, including annual return filings, corporate tax deadlines, proper documentation of shareholder meetings and resolutions, and maintaining your minute book. Many business owners are surprised to learn that incorporation comes with continuing obligations beyond the initial setup. We provide clear guidance on what is required, including annual returns and filings recording properly authorized director changes, and offer ongoing support through our corporate tax and bookkeeping services to help your corporation meet its filing deadlines.

We take a holistic approach that considers not just the incorporation itself but your personal and corporate tax position. This perspective helps you decide when and how to incorporate in line with your personal and business objectives.

Trusted Business Incorporation Backed by 200+ Five-Star Google Reviews

We prepare articles of incorporation, CRA registrations and corporate setup for entrepreneurs across the Greater Toronto Area. Whether your incorporation is simple or needs more planning, you get clear, personal guidance.

Related services

• Corporate tax (T2) filing — year-end returns and tax planning for incorporated businesses
• Bookkeeping and accounting — monthly reconciliations and organized financial records for tax filing
• Payroll services — payroll setup, source deductions, remittances and T4s
• GST/HST registration and filing — returns, input tax credits and CRA correspondence

Choosing the Right Business Structure in Ontario

Before incorporating, it is important to understand whether incorporation is the right choice for your situation. The main business structures available in Ontario are sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. Each has different implications for liability, taxation, and administrative requirements. A sole proprietorship is the simplest structure with minimal setup costs, but the owner is personally liable for all business debts and obligations. Income is reported on your personal tax return at your marginal tax rate.

A corporation is a separate legal entity that provides limited liability protection, meaning your personal assets are generally protected from business creditors. Qualifying Canadian-controlled private corporations pay a combined federal and Ontario small business rate of 11.2% on the first $500,000 of active business income for days after June 30, 2026 (12.2% before July 1, 2026, prorated by days for tax years that straddle that date), while income above that limit is taxed at the general combined rate of 26.5% (see our guide to Ontario corporate tax rates), compared to personal marginal rates that can exceed 53% at higher income levels. This rate difference creates opportunities to defer tax by leaving profits in the corporation and paying yourself a combination of salary and dividends optimized for your total tax situation. We analyze your specific income, expenses, and personal circumstances to recommend a structure suited to your overall tax situation.

After Incorporation: Setting Up Your Business for Success

Incorporating your business is just the first step. After incorporation, several setup tasks get your corporation running and meeting its filing obligations. These include obtaining a Business Number (BN) from the CRA, registering for an HST account once your total taxable revenues exceed $30,000, setting up a payroll account if you will have employees or pay yourself a salary, opening a corporate bank account separate from personal banking (which you arrange directly), and establishing a fiscal year-end date that works best for your tax planning.

We also set up your initial bookkeeping system so your financial records are organized from day one. Many new corporations make the mistake of mixing personal and business finances in the early months, which creates problems at year-end when the corporate tax return needs to be prepared. Our onboarding process sets up separate business records from the start. We will also point out whether you may need WSIB coverage, municipal licences or business insurance, which you arrange directly. Call (437) 410-7999 to discuss incorporating your Ontario business.

After you incorporate, see our small business accounting packages.

Wondering what a corporation pays in tax? Use our Ontario corporate tax calculator.

Not sure whether to incorporate yet? Read our guide to sole proprietorship vs corporation in Ontario, or book a free consultation and we will compare both for you.

Register a corporation in Ontario: common questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Ontario?

Our incorporation service starts from $249 plus HST. Government filing fees are advised separately, and we confirm our fee in writing before we start.

Should I incorporate in Ontario or federally?

It depends on where you operate and whether you need your corporate name protected across Canada. See the comparison above, and we will explain which suits your business during your free consultation.

Do I need an accountant to register a corporation in Ontario?

You can file the papers yourself, but the choices you make at the start, such as your year-end, shareholders and how you will pay yourself, affect your tax and bookkeeping later. We handle the registration and set up your CRA accounts so your records are right from day one.

What happens after I incorporate?

You will need a CRA business number and, depending on your business, GST/HST and payroll accounts, bookkeeping, and a corporate T2 return every year. Our corporate tax, bookkeeping and payroll services cover all of it.

I am already a sole proprietor. Can I incorporate my existing business?

Yes. Moving existing assets and contracts into a corporation needs planning, so speak with us first. Read sole proprietorship vs corporation in Ontario to compare both, or book a free consultation.