"Register a business" sounds like one action. In practice it's a short sequence of decisions and filings, and the order matters. Here's the real path.
Choose Your Structure
Sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation — this decision shapes everything that follows, including how you register.
Search and Reserve Your Name
Sole proprietors operating under a name other than their own legal name register that name provincially. Corporations typically need a NUANS name search first to confirm the name is available.
Register With Your Province — or Federally
Sole proprietorships and partnerships register provincially. Corporations can incorporate provincially or federally, depending on where you plan to operate.
Get a Business Number From CRA
A nine-digit Business Number (BN) becomes the anchor for every CRA program account your business needs — GST/HST, payroll, corporate tax, and import/export all attach to it.
Register for GST/HST If It Applies
Required once your revenue crosses the small-supplier threshold — though many businesses register voluntarily earlier to start claiming input tax credits.
Check Local Licenses and Permits
Municipal business licenses, zoning, and industry-specific permits vary by city and sector — worth confirming before you open your doors.
Mistakes We See Often
- Registering a name first, then scrambling to sort out GST/HST registration late
- Mixing personal and business finances from day one instead of opening a separate account
- Not realizing a federal incorporation usually still needs extra-provincial registration in each province where you actually operate
- Losing track of annual corporate filing deadlines shortly after incorporating