Free guide — 15 pages

Incorporating your business in Ontario

Everything you need to know about incorporating under the Ontario Business Corporations Act: OBCA advantages, key actors, articles of incorporation, annual costs, financing options, and how to get started.

  • Complete 15-page guide in English
  • Written by legal experts
  • No commitment required
  • Instant delivery by email
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Guide contents

What's inside the guide

A comprehensive guide to Ontario provincial incorporation, from OBCA advantages and corporate governance to financing options and annual obligations.

Incorporating Your Business in Ontario
01
Why incorporate under the OBCA
Advantages of Ontario provincial incorporation: one-step registration, simpler process, lower cost than federal, and where to establish your headquarters.
02
Key actors & governance
The roles and responsibilities of shareholders, directors, and officers, and how they govern your Ontario corporation under common law.
03
Articles & tax advantages
Articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation filed with the Ontario government, and the tax advantages of incorporating your business.
04
Annual costs & legal name
Fixed corporate annual costs, HST filing deadlines, and how to choose a business legal name — numerical or lettered — via the Ontario Business Registry.
05
Financing & minutes book
Flexible financing and compensation options, the minutes book requirement (physical vs digital), and incorporating alone vs with a lawyer.
06
The Lexstart method
Our simplified 4-step process to incorporate your business in Ontario online, including all government fees and legal documents.
Why this guide

What you'll learn

Practical, actionable information to help you incorporate your business in Ontario with confidence.

OBCA advantages
Understand why incorporating under the Ontario Business Corporations Act offers a simpler, one-step registration that is faster and less costly than federal incorporation.
Legal protection
Learn how a corporation creates a separate legal entity that limits personal liability and protects your personal assets from corporate creditors.
Tax & financing
Discover tax advantages, flexible compensation through salaries, dividends or loans, and how to use corporate assets as collateral (ALLPAAP) for better rates.
Required documents
Know exactly which legal documents your corporation needs: articles of incorporation, minutes book, by-laws, and shareholder agreements.
Frequently asked questions

FAQ

Answers to the most common questions about the guide and Ontario incorporation.

Yes, the guide is 100% free with no commitment. We share it to help entrepreneurs better understand Ontario incorporation and make informed decisions.
No, this guide is for informational purposes only. For personalized legal advice, Lexstart can connect you with one of our partner lawyers.
Provincial incorporation under the OBCA allows for one-step registration with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, making it simpler, faster, and less expensive. Federal corporations must register in two steps. You can still sell products and services outside Ontario.
While possible, incorporating without a lawyer means you won't receive the articles of incorporation schedules or minutes book from the government. These are essential legal documents. With Lexstart, you get all documents included at a fixed, affordable price.
Lexstart offers online Ontario incorporation at fixed, affordable prices. Our technology handles all government filings and document generation, and all fees and legal documents are included in one package.

Ready to incorporate in Ontario?

Download the free guide and discover everything you need to know about incorporating your business under the OBCA.

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