In this guide
Incorporating in Quebec costs a $397 government fee (Registraire des entreprises) plus the provider’s fee, takes 1–3 business days online, requires a French corporate name and imposes no residency rule on directors. Federal ($200) is better if you operate in several provinces.
Fact verified [date] · Sources: REQ, Corporations CanadaYou bill over $60,000 a year, you’re hiring, or a client wants a business number: the incorporation question comes fast. This guide answers in the order it comes up — how much, how long, how, then what next.
How much does incorporating in Quebec cost?
Two lines on every invoice: government fees, the same with any provider, and the service fee. Here are 2026 fees for jurisdictions open to a Quebec founder.
| Jurisdiction | Registry fee | Typical turnaround | Residency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec (REQ) | $397 | 2 business days | No requirement |
| Federal (CBCA) | $200 | 1 business day (online) | 25% Canadian residents |
| Ontario | $300 | Immediate online; 15 business days by mail | No requirement |
| British Columbia | $350 | [turnaround] | No requirement |
Add REQ registration (included in the $397 for a Quebec company, but extra — [amount] — for a federal company operating in Quebec) and, for a named company, the name search reportname search reportCanada-wide name and trademark search required to reserve a distinctive name federally and in several provinces.See definition →.
How long does it really take?
The REQ processes online filings in 1–3 business days; federal certificates usually arrive the same day. What really slows things down isn’t the registry, it’s preparation: refused name, unreachable signatory, missing ID.
The 7 steps, in order
- 1Check and reserve the nameSearch the REQ and Nuans. The name needs a generic, a distinctive and a legal element (“inc.”, “ltée”).
- 2Choose the jurisdictionQuebec if you mostly operate in Quebec; federal for nationwide name protection.
- 3Set the share capitalVoting common sharescommon sharesShares carrying voting rights and a share of residual profits. The base class of every corporation.See definition →; a preferredpreferredShares with special rights (priority dividend, redemption), usually non-voting.See definition → class if you plan discretionary dividends or an estate freeze.
- 4Appoint directors and officersOne person can hold every role. No residency rule in Quebec.
- 5File the articlesOnline, $397. You get the certificate of incorporationcertificate of incorporationRegistry-issued document confirming the corporation’s legal existence from its effective date.See definition → and the NEQNEQNumber assigned by Quebec’s enterprise registrar on registration. Separate from the federal business number (BN).See definition →.
- 6Organize the companyBy-laws, organizational resolutions, share issuance, opening the minute bookminute bookOfficial record holding a corporation’s articles, by-laws, resolutions and registers.See definition →.
- 7Register for taxes, open the accountGST/QST from $30,000 in sales, source deductions if you pay yourself a salary.
Federal or Quebec: the real test
It’s not price ($197 apart) but name scope and director residency. A federal company needs 25% resident Canadian directorsdirectorsPerson elected by shareholders to manage the corporation. Federally, 25% must be Canadian residents.See definition →; a Quebec one, none. For a founder based in France, that often decides it.
- you mostly operate in Quebec
- your directors live outside Canada
- the name doesn’t need national protection
- you’ll sell in several provinces
- the name is a brand asset
- you expect investors outside Quebec
Charter of the French Language: what applies
The corporate namecorporate nameThe corporation’s legal name: a distinctive, a descriptive and a legal element.See definition → must be French; an English version can coexist for use outside Quebec. Signage, adhesion contracts and customer documents follow the same rules.
After incorporation: the first-year calendar
- Within 60 days: organizational resolutions and minute book.
- Within the year: annual updating declarationannual updating declarationMandatory yearly filing with the registry, separate from the tax return. Missing it can lead to dissolution.See definition → with the REQ.
- Each fiscal year: financial statements, annual resolutions, T2 and CO-17.