Basic Federal Incorporations

Contact our law firm for your incorporation legal work at 403-400-4092 / 905-616-8864 or Chris@NeufeldLegal.com

Incorporating a company can be relatively straightforward, or it can be extremely complex, given the objective purposes for which it is intended to serve. As such, the cost of incorporating a company may be at the base rate, or as additional time and/or expenses are incurred, the prices will increase. Our basic rate legal fees starts at a mere $795.00, (with an additional legal charge for federal incorporations headquartered / operating in Alberta, see below) nevertheless as you can well note from the following charts there are considerable additional charges that must be paid in the process. You will also benefit from reviewing our comparison of Alberta provincial corporations versus federal corporations and Ontario provincial corporations versus federal corporations.

Federal Incorporation (Ontario Headquarters / Operations)

Approximated Breakdown:

Fee Breakdown / Description	Cost (CAD)
Federal Charge for Incorporation	$200.00
Electronic Incorporation Filing Charge	$0.00
NUANS Name Reservation [one]	$79.95
Extra-Provincial Registration (Ontario)	$0.00
Legal Fees Specific to Base Incorporation	$795.00
Legal Work Related to Extra-Provincial Registration	$0.00
Share Certificates	$15.00
Disbursements	$29.50
Taxes (HST)	$119.53
BASE INCORPORATION COST (Numbered company deduct $79.95 + HST)	$1,238.98

Federal Incorporation (Alberta Headquarters / Operations)

Approximated Breakdown:

Fee Breakdown / Description	Cost (CAD)
Federal Charge for Incorporation	$200.00
NUANS Name Reservation [one]	$89.95
Extra-Provincial Registration (Alberta)	$299.95
Electronic Filing Charge for Extra-Provincial Registration	$139.95
Legal Fees Specific to Base Incorporation	$795.00
Legal Work Related to Extra-Provincial Registration	$145.00
Share Certificates	$15.00
Disbursements and Other Charges	$29.50
Taxes (GST)	$60.72
BASE INCORPORATION COST (Numbered company deduct $89.95 + GST)	$1,775.07

Important Fee and Package Scope Notice: The flat rates associated with a standard basic incorporation are strictly limited to standard incorporations (i.e., legal fees include: drafting of articles of incorporation, preparation of by-laws, incorporation resolutions, registers and ledgers, reporting letter; share certificates are provided, with further corporate supplies being available at additional cost [i.e., corporate seal, minute book binder]; disbursements & other charges serve to offset costs of postage, printing, copies, whereas such things as couriers represent further charges), and do not involve complex corporate matters atypical for a basic setup. Additional legal work beyond the base package—including, but not limited to, customized multi-tier share structures, professional corporations, mandatory business licenses, specialized provincial registrations, permits, extra-provincial filings, or the drafting of an extensive Unanimous Shareholders' Agreement—is subject to standard professional hourly rates. Government fees and disbursements are current approximations and remain subject to regulatory changes.

So if you are looking to incorporate a new corporation or deal with the corporate legalities impacting your company, contact us at 403-400-4092 [Alberta], 905-616-8864 [Ontario] or via email at Chris@NeufeldLegal.com.

Please Note: The flat rates associated with a standard incorporation are strictly limited to a basic incorporation (federal, Ontario, Alberta) and do not involve other matters that might be corollary to the incorporation process or might be atypical for a standard incorporation, including but not limited to related legal or tax advice, engagement with other governmental bodies or professional bodies, licensing, drafting of pertinent business contracts (i.e., shareholders' agreements), negotiations, disputes, financing, coordination with other companies, or other legal structuring.

Hidden Costs of Federal Incorporation

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Risks & Concerns: Federal Incorporation vs. Provincial Incorporation (Ontario & Alberta)

While Federal (CBCA) incorporation offers nationwide name protection, it introduces additional administrative layers, extra provincial registration fees, and strict director residency rules. Below is a comparison highlighting key concerns when choosing Federal incorporation over direct Provincial incorporation in Ontario or Alberta.

Comparison Criteria	Federal (CBCA) Incorporation	Provincial Incorporation (Ontario / Alberta)
Canadian Director Residency	Mandatory 25% Canadian resident director requirement (at least 1 director must be resident Canadian).	No director residency requirements in either Ontario (OBCA) or Alberta (BCA), allowing 100% foreign directors.
Multi-Jurisdiction Registration Fees	Must register extra-provincially in every province where business is conducted, leading to dual filing fees (often higher) and duplicate annual renewals.	Single filing and ongoing compliance fee structure within the primary province of operation. Preferential rates oftentimes for multi-jurisdictional registration.
Corporate Name Protection & Nuans	Strict cross-Canada name approval standards. High rate of rejection if similar names exist anywhere in Canada.	Name search (Nuans) is checked primarily within provincial scope, offering smoother approval for local/regional businesses.
Ongoing Administrative Burden	Dual corporate compliance: Annual Returns must be filed with Corporations Canada and provincial registries (e.g., Ontario or Alberta).	Streamlined annual filings managed entirely through a single provincial corporate registry system.
Public Transparency & Beneficial Ownership	Federal Individuals with Significant Control (ISC) register data is submitted directly to Corporations Canada, with public access requirements.	Provincial registers of individuals with significant control are maintained internally in the corporate minute book.
Geographic Operating Scope	Right to carry on business under the corporate name across all provinces and territories in Canada.	Primary right to operate under the corporate name in the home province; extra-provincial registration needed to expand physical locations.
Overall Assessment	Higher Ongoing Maintenance & Strict Residency Rules	Streamlined Management & Maximum Residency Flexibility

Disclaimer: This comparison table is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute formal legal or tax advice. Jurisdictional selection between the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA), and Alberta Business Corporations Act (BCA) depends on operational footprint, director residency, and expansion plans. Consult a corporate lawyer to evaluate the best jurisdiction for your enterprise.