Online Retail Incorporation
Incorporate your online store, right.
Whether you’re building a Shopify brand, a dropshipping operation, or a marketplace seller business, incorporating separates your store’s liability from your personal assets and unlocks business banking, supplier accounts and GST/HST registration. We incorporate e-commerce companies federally and in every Canadian province and territory.
jurisdictions
- Same-day preparation & submission
- NUANS name search & NAICS coding for online retail
- CRA business number & GST/HST filed alongside your incorporation
Incorporate your e-commerce business anywhere in Canada.
Federal incorporation gives an online store nationwide name protection and the ability to ship and sell in every province under one name. Provincial incorporation is often faster and cheaper if you’re selling primarily from a single home base. We’ll help you choose — then file it directly.
Ontario e-Commerce
Canada’s largest e-commerce market — incorporate under the Ontario Business Corporations Act.
Federal e-Commerce
Nationwide name protection under the Canada Business Corporations Act — ideal if you ship coast to coast.
British Columbia e-Commerce
Fast turnaround incorporation for stores based on the West Coast.
Alberta e-Commerce
No corporate name search fee surprises — a straightforward registry for online sellers.
Quebec e-Commerce
Incorporate with the Registraire des entreprises, including required French-language filings.
New Brunswick e-Commerce
Bilingual incorporation for stores serving Atlantic Canada.
Saskatchewan e-Commerce
Manitoba e-Commerce
A budget-friendly registry for growing prairie-based online retailers.
Nova Scotia e-Commerce
Incorporate through the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, with annual renewal required.
Newfoundland e-Commerce
Incorporation through the Registry of Companies for Newfoundland and Labrador-based sellers.
Prince Edward Island e-Commerce
A compact, low-cost registry well suited to small online storefronts.
Yukon e-Commerce
Incorporate through Yukon Corporate Affairs for territory-based e-commerce operations.
Nunavut e-Commerce
Northwest Territories e-Commerce
Incorporation through the NWT registrar for territory-based sellers.
From storefront idea to registered corporation.
Pick your jurisdiction
Name search & clearance
Articles filed
Ready to sell
Certificate delivered, then CRA business number, GST/HST and business accounts set up.
A sole proprietorship online store carries real, personal risk.
Product complaints, chargebacks, supplier disputes and shipping claims stay with the corporation, not your personal bank account.
Payment processors, marketplaces and wholesale suppliers routinely favour or require a registered corporation over a personal name.
Lower tax rate
Corporate tax rates on active business income are typically lower than personal rates as your store scales.
Name secured
Built for growth
A corporation makes it easier to bring on partners, raise investment, or sell the business down the road.
Incorporating an e-commerce business, explained.
Do I need to incorporate before I start selling online?
No — many stores start as a sole proprietorship. But once you have real sales, inventory, or supplier and payment processor relationships, incorporating limits your personal liability and often unlocks better terms.
Should my e-commerce business incorporate federally or provincially?
Federal incorporation protects your brand name across all of Canada, which matters if you ship nationwide. Provincial incorporation is usually faster and cheaper if you operate mainly from, and primarily ship within, one province.
Can I incorporate if I run my store from home?
Yes. A home-based e-commerce business incorporates the same way as any other — you’ll list your home address as the registered or records office unless you use a separate business address.
Will incorporating help with Shopify, Amazon or payment processor approvals?
It often does. Marketplaces and payment processors frequently offer better account terms, higher processing limits, or dedicated business support to registered corporations over individual sellers.