Buy · Invest · Expand · 2026 Guide
Starting from scratch isn’t the only way into the Canadian market. You might buy a profitable business from a retiring owner, invest in a franchise, or open a Canadian branch of the company you already run in India or elsewhere.
Each route has its own rules for ownership, investment and immigration. This guide explains them in plain English, so you can pick the one that fits your money, your experience and your plans.
Yes. Canada is open to foreign buyers and investors. You can own 100% of most Canadian businesses without being a citizen or resident. Most foreign investors only need to file a short notification under the Investment Canada Act within 30 days of buying or starting a business. Only very large deals face a full government review.
The catch is immigration. Owning or investing in a business doesn’t give you the right to live or work in Canada by itself. If you want to move here, you’ll need a route such as:
Here’s a quick way to think about the three options:
Best if you want cash flow from day one. You take over customers, staff and systems, but you pay for goodwill and need careful due diligence.
Best if you want to qualify for a provincial entrepreneur stream or partner with others. Remember, Canada rewards active owners, not passive investors.
Best if you already run a successful business abroad. A Canadian branch or subsidiary, plus an intra-company transfer, can bring you or your managers here.
Buying a business in Canada as a foreigner follows the same basic steps as for a Canadian buyer, with a few extra checks. Here’s the usual path:
This is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. In a share purchase, you buy the company itself, including its history and any hidden liabilities. In an asset purchase, you buy only the equipment, inventory, customer lists and goodwill you choose, usually through a new company. Sellers often prefer share sales for tax reasons, while buyers often prefer asset deals for lower risk. Your accountant and lawyer can help you weigh the trade-off.
Yes, and for many people it’s a smart route, because an established business already has a track record. But the purchase has to fit a specific program. Here’s how it usually works:
Several Provincial Nominee Programs accept business purchases, often called business succession. For example:
Streams like these generally require the business to have been running for some time under the same owner, and you’ll need to show you’re actively managing it.
You can also buy a business that you will own at least 51% of and apply for a C11 work permit. You’ll need to show the purchase brings a significant benefit to Canada, for example by saving or creating jobs.
Our take: sign nothing final until you’ve confirmed the business qualifies for your chosen program. A purchase agreement that’s conditional on your immigration approval can save you a lot of heartache.
Good businesses rarely sell themselves on a single website. Here are the places we’d look first:
Many Canadian small business owners are approaching retirement without a successor, so there are real opportunities for buyers who come prepared.
A franchise can be a great fit for newcomers, because you get a proven system, training and a known brand. But here’s the honest answer: buying a franchise doesn’t automatically get you a work permit. You still need an eligible route:
Several provinces, including Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and PEI, have franchise laws. In these provinces, the franchisor must give you a disclosure document at least 14 days before you sign or pay anything. Read it carefully with a franchise lawyer. Our franchise setup and expansion team can also help you compare brands.
Due diligence is where you find out whether the business is really worth the asking price. Don’t rush it. Here’s what to check:
| Area | What to review |
|---|---|
| Financial | At least 3 years of financial statements and tax returns, monthly sales, debts, and the CRA account status |
| Legal | Corporate records, a lien search under the provincial Personal Property Security Act (PPSA), contracts and any lawsuits |
| Premises | Lease terms, renewal options and whether the landlord will approve the transfer |
| Licences | Business licences and permits, and whether they can be transferred to you |
| People | Employee contracts, wages and vacation owed. In most provinces, staff service usually carries over to the new owner |
| Tax | GST/HST on the sale (a section 167 election may apply to asset deals), plus any tax holdbacks |
| Immigration fit | Whether the business, price and ownership share meet your chosen program’s rules |
We always recommend a Canadian accountant and business lawyer for due diligence. We can coordinate them for you and handle the business review.
Found a business you like, or still deciding between buying, investing and expanding? Send us the details, and we’ll prepare a free Audit Report with no obligation. It includes:
There’s no single number, because each program sets its own minimums. Here’s a quick comparison of the minimum investment for business immigration in Canada:
| Program | Min. net worth | Min. investment |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream | $300,000 | $100,000 |
| BC Entrepreneur Immigration: Regional | $300,000 | $100,000 |
| BC Entrepreneur Immigration: Base | $600,000 | $200,000 |
| Manitoba Business Investor Stream | $500,000 | $250,000 in Winnipeg; $150,000 outside |
| C11 entrepreneur work permit | No fixed minimum | Must be significant enough to support the business plan |
| Intra-company transfer (new office) | No fixed minimum | Enough capital to set up premises and hire staff |
Approximate 2026 figures from official program guides. Programs change often, so confirm the current rules before you apply.
Canada doesn’t have a federal “investor visa” anymore. Its old federal investor programs closed years ago. Today, if you want to invest in a business in Canada for PR, you’ll usually need to:
For the full picture on immigration options, read our guide to entrepreneur and business immigration in Canada.
The best opportunity is one you understand and can run well. That said, these sectors keep showing steady demand across Canada:
Plumbing, HVAC, renovation, cleaning and landscaping. Demand is strong, and many owners are retiring.
Quick-service restaurants, cafés and specialty grocery, especially in growing suburbs and newcomer communities.
Freight, courier and warehousing businesses supporting e-commerce and cross-border trade.
Home care, clinics, pharmacies and wellness services for Canada’s ageing population.
IT support, software and digital marketing for small and medium businesses.
Agri-food processing, farm services and local retail in smaller communities, which often have lower entry costs.
Canada and India have deep business ties and a large Indian-Canadian community, especially around Brampton, Surrey and Calgary. That creates real opportunities for Indian investors and companies. A few things to plan for:
Indian residents can send money abroad under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), currently up to US$250,000 per person per financial year. Investing in a business abroad also has to follow the RBI’s Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) rules. Indian companies investing in a Canadian subsidiary have their own ODI limits, linked to their net worth. Plan this with your bank and chartered accountant first.
The India–Canada tax treaty helps you avoid being taxed twice on the same income. It affects how dividends, interest and business profits are taxed. Get advice from a cross-border accountant before you choose your structure.
If you already run a successful business, expanding to Canada can be faster than starting over. Your first big decision is the structure:
| Factor | Canadian subsidiary | Canadian branch |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A new Canadian corporation owned by your company | An extension of your foreign company, registered in a province |
| Liability | Limited to the subsidiary | Your parent company is directly liable |
| Tax | Pays Canadian corporate tax on its profits | Pays Canadian tax on branch profits, plus a branch tax (often reduced by tax treaties) |
| Registration | Incorporate federally or provincially | Extra-provincial registration in each province |
| Best for | Most expansions, especially with local hiring | Testing the market or short-term projects |
To open a branch, your foreign company registers as an extra-provincial corporation in each province where it does business. It usually needs a local address and an agent for service in that province, and it must register with the CRA for a Business Number. Many companies start with a branch and then switch to a subsidiary once the Canadian operation grows.
Indian companies expanding to Canada usually choose a wholly owned subsidiary. You’ll need board approval in India, ODI filings through your authorised dealer bank, and a Canadian incorporation. Our business setup in Canada team handles the Canadian side.
An intra-company transfer (ICT) lets your company move key people, including you as the owner, to run its Canadian operation. It doesn’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Here’s what you’ll generally need:
Officers look more closely at start-ups. You’ll need real commercial premises (not a home office), enough capital in a Canadian account, and a realistic plan to hire locally. The first work permit for a new office is usually limited to one year.
After working in Canada, many ICT holders apply for permanent residence through Express Entry or a provincial program.
If you want to move to Canada to run the business yourself, compare these three routes:
| Intra-company transfer | C11 work permit | PNP entrepreneur stream | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Owners of established foreign companies | Owners of a new or purchased Canadian business | Entrepreneurs aiming for PR from the start |
| Ownership | Your foreign company owns the Canadian entity | At least 51% | Usually at least 33% to 100%, depending on the province |
| Minimum investment | No fixed amount | No fixed amount | About $100,000 to $250,000 |
| Leads to PR? | Not directly; often via Express Entry or a PNP | Not directly; can bridge to a PNP | Yes, after you meet your business conditions |
These mistakes can cost you money, time or your immigration application:
We help you find businesses and franchises for sale and give you an honest view of the numbers.
Incorporation, subsidiaries, branch registration, CRA accounts and banking, done properly from day one.
For legal, tax and immigration advice, we work alongside licensed lawyers, accountants and immigration consultants (RCICs).
Yes. Foreigners can own 100% of most Canadian businesses. Most foreign buyers just need to file a notification under the Investment Canada Act within 30 days after closing. Owning the business doesn’t give you the right to live or work in Canada, though.
Yes, through some provincial entrepreneur streams (such as the Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream and BC Entrepreneur Immigration) or a C11 work permit. The business and your ownership share must meet the program’s rules.
Buying a franchise alone doesn’t give you a work permit. You may qualify through a C11 work permit or a provincial entrepreneur stream if you actively run the franchise and meet the investment and job requirements.
It depends on the program. Provincial streams usually ask for $100,000 to $250,000 in investment and a net worth of $300,000 to $600,000. C11 and intra-company transfers have no fixed minimum.
Yes, but only as an active owner. Passive investment doesn’t qualify. Provincial entrepreneur streams let you invest in and run a business, then get nominated for permanent residence once you meet your conditions.
Not anymore at the federal level. Canada’s federal investor programs closed years ago. Today, business investment leads to immigration mainly through provincial entrepreneur streams.
Review at least three years of financial statements and tax returns, corporate records, a PPSA lien search, the lease, licences, employee obligations, GST/HST on the sale and whether the deal fits your immigration program.
Yes. You can buy a Canadian business from India, but you must follow RBI rules, including the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (currently US$250,000 per person per financial year) and Overseas Direct Investment rules.
Register your foreign company as an extra-provincial corporation in each province where you’ll operate, appoint a local agent if required and get a CRA Business Number. Many companies set up a subsidiary instead to limit liability.
You need a qualifying link between the foreign and Canadian companies, at least one year of full-time work for the foreign company in the last three years and an executive, senior manager or specialized knowledge role.
A subsidiary is usually better for long-term expansion, because it limits your parent company’s liability. A branch can be simpler for testing the market, but your foreign company is directly liable and a branch tax may apply.
Steady sectors include home and trade services, food and franchises, logistics, health and care services, tech services and rural agri-food. The best choice is one that matches your experience.
It’s a no-obligation report with our view on buying, investing or expanding, a first look at any business you’re considering, how your budget compares with program minimums and a realistic timeline.
Tell us what you’re considering. We’ll send your free Audit Report with honest feedback, real numbers and a clear next step. No pressure, no jargon.
This guide was written by the team at Crewlink Canada, a business consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta that helps entrepreneurs set up, buy, franchise and grow businesses in Canada. We check rules and figures against official sources and update this page when they change. Learn more about us.
Official sources: Investment Canada Act · IRCC · Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream · WelcomeBC · Reserve Bank of India
Important: Crewlink Canada is a business consulting firm, not a law firm, accounting firm or licensed immigration representative. This page is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice.
Crewlink Canada is a Canada-based business support company helping entrepreneurs and businesses launch, grow and succeed.
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