Price: flat or hourly
Our fees are flat and shown before payment. A firm often bills flat or by the hour; the gap is justified when the structure needs tailored advice.
Comparison
Incorpo or a lawyer: who should set up your company?
A law firm offers tailored advice; a platform offers a standard, reviewed filing at a flat price. We compare cost, timing, advice and follow-up, without claiming to replace a lawyer when your situation needs one. Law firm fees vary widely and are flagged [to verify].
Updated on [date]Reviewed by David Roy, lawyer
Incorpo.caFlat fees, registry fees at cost, 14 jurisdictions, in French and EnglishEssential $149, Complete $299, Premium $499, Non-resident $699. Government fees shown separately ($200 federal, $397 Quebec). Watch $9/mo and Compliance $29/mo subscriptions, cancel in one click. Human review before filing.
Law firmTailored advice, complex structures, hourly or flat feesIncorporation billed [amount] to [amount] depending on the firm [to verify], registry fees extra. Initial meeting, custom drafting, advice on shareholders’ agreement and tax. Timing depends on the firm’s availability [to verify].
Detailed comparison table
Every row cites its source. A [to verify] cell means the data was collected but not yet confirmed by the editorial team.
| Criterion | Incorpo.ca | Law firm | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation fees | Essential $149 · Complete $299 · Premium $499 · Non-resident $699 | [amount] to [amount] depending on the firm [to verify] | Public firm rates, [date] |
| Government fees | Charged at cost, shown separately: $200 federal, $300 Ontario, $350 B.C., $397 Quebec | Registry fees extra, identical | Corporations Canada, REQ, OBR, BC Registries |
| Jurisdictions | Federal + 13 provinces and territories | Depends on the firm’s bar (often one province + federal) | Law society rules |
| Quebec | Yes: REQ, French name, QST, initial declaration | Yes, if the firm is a Quebec Bar member | Barreau du Québec |
| Language | French and English: interface, documents and support | Depends on the firm | — |
| Non-residents | Dedicated plan: registered office, agent, assisted banking | Possible, on mandate [to verify] | Common practice |
| Minute book | Digital, included from Complete | Often paper or PDF, upkeep billed separately [to verify] | Common practice |
| Ongoing compliance | Watch $9/mo · Compliance $29/mo, cancel in one click | Annual update billed [amount] [to verify] | Public rates, [date] |
| Review before filing | Yes, every file, Montreal business hours | Yes, by the lawyer | — |
| Filing time | Same day as signature | Depends on availability, [n] days [to verify] | — |
| Banking offer | Banking partners for non-residents; no conditional rebate | — | — |
| Accountant program | Pro: multi-company portfolio, bulk actions, consolidated billing | — | — |
Incorpo.ca data: price list in force on [date]. “Law firm” data: collected on [date]; we update it at each check and correct on request at [email protected]. This comparison isn’t legal advice.
Four differences that really matter
Advice: standard or tailored
Our flow covers common cases: one or several shareholders, common shares, any jurisdiction. Estate freeze, trust, multiple holdcos: a lawyer remains the right call.
Timing
Filed the same day as signature, tracked in real time. A firm files on its own schedule; some are very fast, others aren’t.
Annual follow-up
Annual returns, resolutions and reminders in a monthly subscription. At a firm, minute book upkeep is often a separate mandate.
Choose Incorpo if…
- your structure is simple: one to a few shareholders, common shares
- you want a flat price shown before payment
- you want to file this week, not after a meeting
- you want low-cost annual follow-up (Compliance $29/mo)
- you want a digital minute book kept up to date
A lawyer may suit you better if…
- you plan a family trust, estate freeze or several related companies
- you’re several partners with unequal contributions to negotiate
- your business is regulated and needs a legal opinion
- you want an ongoing relationship with an adviser who knows your file
Frequently asked questions
On what a platform does, and what it doesn’t replace.
Does Incorpo.ca give legal advice?
No. We prepare and file your documents from your answers, reviewed by a professional. For advice on your situation, see a lawyer; the Premium plan includes 30 minutes with an expert.
Are the documents as valid as a firm’s?
The filed articles and the registry certificate are the same. By-laws and resolutions are lawyer-reviewed templates; a firm will tailor them more to a specific case.
Do registry fees change depending on who files?
No: $200 federal, $397 Quebec, $300 Ontario, $350 B.C., whoever files.
Can I start with Incorpo and see a lawyer later?
Yes. Share access to your file with your lawyer, who can amend documents or draft a custom shareholders’ agreement.
Is this comparison independent?
It’s written by Incorpo.ca. We explicitly list cases where a lawyer is the better choice, and firm fees are flagged [to verify] since there’s no single rate.
Compare with your own numbers
Pick your jurisdiction: the review shows fees and registry costs before any payment.