Business Setup & Incorporation Services · Calgary, Alberta
Thinking about starting a business in Canada but not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Whether you’ve just landed in Calgary or you’re planning from Delhi, Dubai or London, the questions are usually the same: Can I own a company here? Federal or provincial? What will it cost? Which documents do I need?
This guide answers those questions in plain English. When you’re ready, our team can handle your business setup in Canada from start to finish.
Yes. You don’t need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to own a Canadian company. Most foreign founders incorporate a corporation in a province such as Alberta, Ontario or British Columbia, because these provinces don’t require any director to live in Canada.
In short, here’s what business setup in Canada looks like:
One thing to know upfront: owning a company doesn’t give you the right to live or work in Canada. That’s a separate immigration process.
Most of the people who contact us fit into one of three groups. See which one sounds like you:
You’re a permanent resident, work permit holder or recent immigrant, and you’re ready to work for yourself. We help you pick the right structure and get registered quickly.
You want to register a company in Canada as a non-resident, often before you move. We help you choose a province with no residency rule and set everything up remotely.
You already run a business abroad and want a Canadian subsidiary, branch or franchise. We coordinate incorporation, registrations and your first steps in the market.
Think of us as your business setup consultants in Canada. We handle the paperwork, deadlines and back-and-forth with registries, so you can focus on customers. Our business incorporation services for immigrants and overseas founders cover:
Name search, NUANS report, articles of incorporation and a registered office address in the right province.
A clear recommendation based on where your directors live and where you’ll trade, then we file it for you.
Business Number (BN), GST/HST, payroll and import/export program accounts, set up as you need them.
We prepare your corporate documents and help you get ready for your bank meeting.
Municipal licences, minute book, ISC register and annual returns. See our documentation & licensing support.
Here’s the step-by-step process we follow with clients. Most people can finish steps 1 to 4 in a few days. Banking and licences usually take a little longer.
You can run a business as a sole proprietor, a partnership or a corporation. Most non-residents choose a corporation. It’s a separate legal entity, so your personal assets are protected (limited liability), and banks, landlords and clients take it more seriously.
Federal incorporation under the CBCA protects your name across Canada, but at least 25% of directors must be resident Canadians. Alberta, Ontario, BC and Quebec have no director residency rule, which is why they’re popular with overseas founders. The table below compares both options.
If you want a named company, you’ll need a NUANS name search report to show the name is available. Prefer to move faster? A numbered company (for example, 1234567 Alberta Ltd.) skips this step, and you can add a trade name later.
You’ll provide director and shareholder details, a registered office address in the province and your share structure. Once the registry approves the filing, you receive a certificate of incorporation.
Get your Business Number (BN), then add the program accounts you need: GST/HST, payroll and import/export. GST/HST registration becomes mandatory once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, but many businesses register earlier so they can claim input tax credits.
This means bylaws, share certificates, a minute book and a register of individuals with significant control (ISC). Federal corporations must also file their ISC information with Corporations Canada.
Open a business bank account, then apply for any municipal business licence (for example, from the City of Calgary) and industry permits. Operating in more than one province? You’ll also need extra-provincial registration in each one.
File your annual return with the registry, your T2 corporate tax return with the CRA and your GST/HST returns. Missing annual returns can eventually get your corporation struck off the register, so it’s worth putting reminders in your calendar.
Both options give you a legal corporation. The right choice mostly comes down to two questions: Where do your directors live? And where will you do business?
| Factor | Federal (CBCA) | Provincial (e.g. Alberta) |
|---|---|---|
| Name protection | Across Canada | Within the province |
| Director residency | At least 25% must be resident Canadians | None in Alberta, Ontario, BC or Quebec |
| Where you can operate | Anywhere, but you also register in each province where you do business | Home province; register extra-provincially to expand |
| Government filing fee (online) | $200 | $275 in Alberta |
| Annual return | $12 per year | $90 per year in Alberta |
| Best for | National brands with a Canadian-resident director | Non-resident founders and local businesses |
Our take: If every director lives outside Canada, provincial incorporation is usually the simplest choice. A federal corporation that operates in Alberta still has to register in Alberta, so you’d pay two sets of fees anyway.
Good news: government fees are fairly low. Here’s what you can expect to pay in 2026:
| Item | Typical government fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Federal incorporation (online) | $200 |
| NUANS name search report | About $14 to $60, depending on how you order it |
| Alberta incorporation | $275, plus a name search |
| Ontario incorporation | $300 |
| British Columbia incorporation | $350, plus a $30 name reservation |
| Extra-provincial registration | Free in Ontario; fees apply in most other provinces |
| CRA Business Number and GST/HST registration | Free |
| Municipal business licence | Varies by city and type of business |
Fees are government filing fees as of October 2026 and can change. Always check the official registry before filing. We quote our own fees upfront, after your free audit.
Not sure where to start? Send us a few details about your idea and where you live, and we will put together a free Business Setup Audit Report for you. It is yours to keep, with no obligation to hire us. It covers:
Gather these before you file. Having them ready is the easiest way to avoid delays:
Yes, absolutely. There’s no citizenship requirement to own shares in a Canadian corporation. You can even incorporate in Alberta, Ontario or BC with every director living abroad. But business ownership and immigration are two separate things, and this is where people often get confused:
To be clear about our role: we set up and support your business. For immigration advice, we’re happy to work alongside your licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
A lot of our clients open a business in Canada from India. The Canadian steps are the same as for any non-resident, but there are a few extra things to plan for:
Indian residents investing abroad must follow the Reserve Bank of India’s Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) rules, usually through an authorised dealer bank. Sort this out before you send money to your Canadian company.
If all your directors live in India, go with Alberta, Ontario or BC. A federal corporation would need at least one in four directors to be a resident Canadian.
A corporation controlled by non-residents usually isn’t a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC), so it typically won’t get the small business tax rate. The India–Canada tax treaty also affects how profits and dividends are taxed. A cross-border accountant can help you plan for both.
Many Canadian banks ask directors to verify their identity in person, so plan a short trip or ask us about your options.
Keeping company money separate from personal money makes your accounting, taxes and credibility so much easier. When you open a business bank account, banks usually ask for:
Every bank has its own rules, and many need at least one director to visit a branch. We’ll help you prepare your documents and pick a bank before you book your flight.
Honestly, the best business is the one that fits your skills, your budget and real local demand. Here are some small business ideas for newcomers that we often help set up:
Still deciding? Our business consulting team can help you test the idea before you put money into it.
Setting up a company isn’t hard, but a few small mistakes can cost time and money later. These are the ones we see most often:
We work with the Alberta corporate registry and local licensing, so we know the details that trip people up.
Talk to us by phone, WhatsApp or video call, whether you’re in Calgary, India or anywhere else.
Incorporation, branding, website and marketing in one place, with clear pricing and no surprises.
Yes. Non-residents can incorporate in provinces with no director residency rule, such as Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec. Federal incorporation needs at least 25% of directors to be resident Canadians.
Online incorporation is often approved within one to two business days once your documents are ready. CRA registrations, bank accounts and licences take longer, so plan for a few weeks to be fully up and running.
Government fees are about $200 for federal online incorporation, $275 in Alberta, $300 in Ontario and $350 in BC, plus a name search. Professional help, licences, insurance and office costs are extra.
Go federal if you want name protection across Canada and have a resident Canadian director. Go provincial, for example in Alberta, if your directors live abroad or you’ll mainly operate in one province.
A sole proprietorship is cheaper and simpler, but you’re personally liable for business debts. A corporation costs more to run but protects your personal assets and looks more established to banks and clients. Most non-residents choose a corporation.
Yes. You can own and direct an Alberta, Ontario or BC corporation from India, as long as you follow RBI Overseas Direct Investment rules. To work in the business in Canada, you’ll need a work permit or permanent residence.
You’ll need ID for directors and shareholders, director addresses, a registered office address in the province, a company name or NUANS report, your share structure and details of individuals with significant control.
Yes, once your company is incorporated. Banks usually ask for your incorporation documents, Business Number, ID for signing officers and ownership details. Many require at least one director to visit a branch.
Not on its own. Owning a business doesn’t give you status in Canada. Permanent residence requires a separate application through an eligible immigration program, so speak with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
Yes. Every corporation needs a registered office address in the province where it’s incorporated. Your directors can still live outside Canada if that province allows it.
You must register once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. You can register earlier, which lets you claim back the GST/HST you pay on business expenses.
It’s a corporation named with a number assigned by the registry, such as 1234567 Alberta Ltd. It’s quicker because you skip the name search, and you can still trade under a business name.
It’s a short, personalised report with our recommended structure and province, estimated costs, a document checklist, a timeline and any red flags to discuss with your accountant. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Tell us a little about your idea, and we’ll send your free Business Setup Audit Report with the right structure, real costs and a clear next step. No pressure, no jargon.
This guide was written by the business setup team at Crewlink Canada, a business consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta that helps entrepreneurs with incorporation, franchise setup, consulting and marketing. We check fees and rules against official government sources and update this page when they change. Learn more about our team.
Official sources: Corporations Canada · Alberta Corporate Registry · CRA business registration · IRCC
This page is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules and fees can change, so confirm with the official source or a licensed professional before you act.
Crewlink Canada is a Canada-based business support company helping entrepreneurs and businesses launch, grow and succeed.
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