What every immigrant should know before starting a business in Canada

Eddy Ramirez
March 18, 2025

It is feasible to start a business in Canada as a Latino immigrant, in fact, many have succeeded, but you must take into account that from the beginning you must have clarity about the type of business you want to establish and essential knowledge about how the Canadian business world works. 

Incorporating a company in a diverse and competitive market like the Canadian one needs guidance to take the right steps and succeed from day one. So, if you have thought about starting a business in Canada and do not know where to begin, you have come to the right blog, because here you will learn step by step how to create the foundations of a solid company with the legal guidance of Immiland Law Corporation. 

Read with me to the end and take note of the federal and/or provincial incorporation services required and the intake form you need for an efficient and streamlined process. Let's get started!

Guide to incorporating your company in Canada

Incorporating a company means creating a separate legal entity for a business. Once the company is incorporated, it becomes a separate entity from its owners, which offers legal and financial advantages. This process allows the company to function as a "legal entity" with legal rights and responsibilities, such as entering into contracts, owning property and paying taxes. Let's take a step-by-step look at what is required.

Step 1: Decide on the type of incorporation

Before you begin the process, it is important to decide whether you want to incorporate your business federally or provincially. Both options have advantages, but the choice will depend on your business objectives:

  • Federal incorporation allows you to operate across Canada with nationwide trade name protection.
  • Provincial incorporation is ideal if you plan to operate primarily in a specific province. 

If you are not sure which one to choose, don't worry, our team of Canadian lawyers can help you evaluate which option best suits your needs. At the end of the blog, I will share the link to our services.

Step 2: Choose a name for your company

Your company name must be unique and comply with Canadian regulations. To verify the availability of the name, you should perform your search in NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search), as this report ensures that your name is not in conflict with other registered businesses. Immiland Law can guide you through this process to avoid rejections and save time.

Step 3: Complete the admission form

To begin the incorporation process, you will need to complete an intake form. This document collects key information about your company, such as:

  • Company name.
  • Main address.
  • Type of business.
  • Information on directors and shareholders.

Our personalized incorporation service offers a simplified form that you can complete online, designed to facilitate the process and ensure that no important details are omitted.

Step 4: Prepare the necessary documents

In addition to the admission form, you will need to gather certain documents, such as:

  • Identification of directors and shareholders.
  • Direction test.
  • Bylaws of the company(bylaws).

In addition, at Immiland Law we review these documents to ensure that they comply with legal requirements.

Step 5: Register your company

Once you have all the documents ready, the next step is to register your company with the appropriate authorities. This includes:

  • Submit the incorporation documents.
  • Pay registration fees.

It is important that this whole process is done correctly and on time. 

Step 6: Obtain your Business Number (BN)

After incorporation, you must obtain a Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This number is essential for:

  • Tax returns.
  • Record payroll or sales tax (GST/HST) accounts.

Step 7: comply with local regulations

Depending on your province and type of business, you may need additional licenses or specific permits and you must ensure that you comply with all local regulations. To learn about these regulations and to manage all the steps mentioned above, you can contact a Canadian lawyer from Immiland Law, who will incorporate your business into the commercial system in order to make it fully operational.

Customized services from Immiland Law Professional Corporation

At Immiland Law, we are your strategic partner for the success of your business. We offer a wide range of business legal services, designed to cover all stages of your business life cycle. From the incorporation of your company to the resolution of business disputes. Our team of highly qualified lawyers will provide you with personalized and strategic legal advice.

Incorporating a business in Canada may seem difficult and sometimes impossible, but it is not! With this clear and practical guide to understanding how the Canadian business world works, you will be able to focus on the types of businesses you already know and have mastered in your home country and offer them to the Canadian community in compliance with federal and provincial regulations. 

Ready to start a business in Canada? Complete Immiland Law's intake form and take the first step towards business success in this prosperous country. Visit: https://www.immilandcanada.com/law/corporativo for more information.

I hope you find this topic useful. Don't miss our next blog on corporate record keeping. Thank you very much for reading, see you soon!

With love,

Immiland Law Professional Corporation