ONIncorporation & Corporate

Incorporating in Ontario (OBCA)

Incorporating a business under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) via the Ontario Business Registry.

This is legal information, not legal advice. A licensed lawyer must review your matter. Fees below are government charges effective today, not professional-fee estimates.

Incorporating under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) creates an Ontario provincial corporation. An OBCA corporation has legal personality separate from its shareholders and directors.

OBCA incorporation is popular for businesses operating primarily in Ontario. It provides automatic corporate registration in Ontario without requiring a separate extra-provincial registration fee. Effective 2021, Ontario removed the requirement for 25% of directors to be Canadian residents, making it accessible to international founders.

Government fees in effect

Ontario Articles of Incorporation (online via OBR)
$300
Government source · checked 2026-08-19
Ontario NUANS Name Search Report
Optional or conditional
$13.80
Required for named corporations
Government source · checked 2026-08-19
Ontario Business Name Registration / Master Business Licence (Sole Prop / Partnership / Operating Name)
Optional or conditional
$60
Required when operating under a trade name separate from legal corporate name
Government source · checked 2026-08-19

Steps to complete

1
Obtain an Ontario NUANS Name Search Report
Unless incorporating as an Ontario numbered company, obtain an Ontario-specific NUANS report (valid for 90 days).
File with: NUANS / ServiceOntarioFiling portal
2
File Articles of Incorporation online via OBR
Complete Form 5243E online via the Ontario Business Registry portal, specifying corporate rights, share classes, and director details.
Form 5243E — Articles of IncorporationFile with: Ontario Business RegistryFiling portal
3
File Initial Return (Form 1)
Within 60 days of incorporation, submit the Initial Return specifying corporate officers and location.
File with: Ontario Business Registry

When professional advice may help

For single-shareholder, simple business structures, online self-filing is straightforward. Seek legal counsel when setting up multi-class share structures, shareholder agreements, or tax-driven corporate organization.

Before you start

Registered office address in Ontario
At least one director (no Canadian residency requirement)

What you finish with

Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Incorporation (Form 5243E)
Ontario Corporation Number (OCN) and Business Identification Number (BIN)

Related legal guides

Federal or provincial incorporation: which is right for your business?

Incorporating federally is not automatically better. Here is what actually differs — name protection, filing obligations, cost — and how to tell which fits your situation.

Start an intake Authoritative source

Source checked 2026-08-19. Independent legal review: Lawkin Editorial — pending independent legal review.