Start a business Register a business in Ontario
How to register a business in Ontario
Register online through the Ontario Business Registry: a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership costs $60 and lasts 5 years, and incorporating costs $300. Online filings are processed immediately; mailed forms take about 15 business days. If you only ever trade under your own legal name, you don't need to register at all. Fees as of September 28, 2026.
What it costs to register a business in Ontario
| What you file | Online | By mail | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business name (sole proprietorship or partnership) | $60, immediate | $60, about 15 business days | Renew every 5 years for $60 |
| Incorporate an Ontario business corporation | $300, immediate | $300, about 15 business days | Once |
| Annual return (corporations) | $0 | $0 | Every year, within 6 months of fiscal year-end |
| Cancel a sole proprietorship | No fee | No fee | When you close |
Registration agents and law firms charge more for the same filing; the ministry fee is the same whoever submits it. A named corporation also needs an Ontario-biased Nuans name search report, bought from a Nuans provider, before you file. Sources: ServiceOntario: cost and time to register, Ontario Business Registry services.
How to register, step by step
- Choose your structure. A sole proprietorship or partnership registers a name; a corporation is incorporated. Not sure? Compare them, including the funding each opens.
- Choose a name. For a named corporation, order an Ontario-biased Nuans report first. A numbered company (for example 1234567 Ontario Inc.) has no name to search.
- Sign in with an Ontario.ca Login and open the Ontario Business Registry.
- File and pay: $60 for a business name or $300 to incorporate. Online filings are processed immediately.
- Set up tax accounts with the CRA. Get a business number, and an HST account once your taxable sales pass $30,000 (CRA rules).
- Put the dates in your calendar: renew a business name every 5 years; a corporation files its annual return within 6 months of fiscal year-end.
Do you need to register at all?
Not if you trade under your own legal name, such as "Jane Smith". Ontario's Business Names Act requires registration only when an individual carries on business "under a name other than his or her own name". The moment you add anything, such as "Jane Smith Design" or a brand name, you need to register it. Corporations always register, because incorporating creates the legal name.
The Ontario funding you can apply for at each stage
What you register decides what you can apply for. Here is what the GrantCompass catalogue shows for Ontario businesses today.
As a registered sole proprietor or partnership
355 of the 475 programmes available to Ontario businesses (open now or between intakes) have no incorporation requirement. The first five open now:
| Programme | Type | Amount | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCESS Business Lab & Marketplace for Entrepreneurs | Program | Free training + market access | Ontario |
| Community Futures Program: Ontario (CFDC Business Loans) | Loan | Varies by CFDC | Ontario |
| TechAlliance GROW Accelerator: TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario | Grant | Up to $10K | Ontario |
| INVEST North: Launch Stream | Grant | Up to $200K | Ontario |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Loan | Up to $1.15M | Canada-wide |
Only once you incorporate
120 more require an incorporated business. The first five open now:
| Programme | Type | Amount | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| MaRS Discovery District Programs | Program | In-kind advisory (no cash) | Ontario |
| Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program | Grant | Varies | Canada-wide |
| ElevateIP Program | Program | Up to $100K | Canada-wide |
| OCI Ready 4 Market Fund | Program | Up to $250K (pre-seed) | Ontario |
| Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) | Tax credit | Up to $100K | Ontario |
From the 475 programmes in the GrantCompass catalogue available to Ontario businesses (provincial and Canada-wide) that are open or between intakes, as of September 28, 2026.
The quiz below counts only programmes taking applications today and narrows them to your answers, so its number is smaller than the totals above.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to register a business in Ontario?
$60 online to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership, renewed every 5 years for the same fee, or $300 to incorporate an Ontario business corporation. These are ministry fees; an agent's price includes its own charge on top.
Can I run a business without registering in Ontario?
Yes, if you operate under your own legal name as a sole proprietor. Any other name must be registered under the Business Names Act. You still report the income to the CRA and need an HST account once taxable sales pass $30,000.
Is a Master Business Licence the same as a business name registration?
Yes. Ontario now calls it a Business Name Registration (formerly a Master Business Licence). It covers sole proprietorships, partnerships and trade names and is valid for 5 years.
How long does it take to register a business in Ontario?
Online filings through the Ontario Business Registry are processed immediately. Filing by mail takes about 15 business days.
What is the $5,000 small business grant in Ontario?
Usually Starter Company Plus, a grant of up to $5,000 for new and growing businesses delivered through local Small Business Enterprise Centres. Our catalogue currently lists the provincial programme as closed. Some centres run their own version, such as Hamilton Starter Company Plus (between intakes).
Should I register as a sole proprietor or incorporate in Ontario?
Register a name if you want the cheapest start and your risk is low. Incorporate if you need limited liability, will keep profit in the business, or want funding that requires a corporation: 120 of the 475 programmes open to Ontario businesses do.