A client in Montreal, a founder in Lyon
In [year], Karim Benali runs a small product team in Lyon selling scheduling software to French SMEs. A Montreal distributor offers a contract, on condition he invoices from a Canadian entity. “I had two options: turn it down, or find out how to set up a Canadian company without being there.”
First instinct: a law firm. Quote: [amount], three to four weeks, and one question nobody answered clearly: did he need a resident director? “Federally, yes, 25% of directors. In Quebec, none. Nobody put it that simply until I found the guide.”
« The difference between federal and Quebec was the difference between doing it alone or not at all. »
One evening, seven screens, a registered office
The flow starts with the name. “Benali Software” clears the REQ and Nuans; the French version “Logiciels Benali” is reserved at the same time for use in Quebec. Jurisdiction: Quebec, $397 fee shown apart from our fees. Form: corporation, one common and one preferred class for a future partner.
The expected blocker: the registered office. A Quebec corporation needs a Quebec address. The Non-resident plan includes one plus an agent for service; Karim ticks the option, uploads his passport and e-signs the articles at 11:40 pm Lyon time.
The certificate and NEQ arrive by email. The digital minute book already holds the organizational resolutions; Karim just signs. Two days later he starts opening a bank account with a Perks partner that accepts non-resident directors.
« The summary showed $699 in fees and $397 in registry fees on two lines. That’s exactly what I paid. »
The contract, the visa, then the team
The Montreal contract is signed by Benali Software Inc. [n] weeks after incorporation. The visa follows; Karim moves to Quebec City and hires a first local developer. The Compliance plan ($29/month) reminds him of the REQ annual update at 60, 30 and 7 days.
Today the company has [n] employees and added a share class for an angel investor. “The amendment took ten minutes in the dashboard. The minute book was already current, which reassured the investor.”
What would he change? “I’d have registered for GST/QST right away. I did it three months later, when my accountant asked.”