How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Ontario?
Last updated October 9, 2026
If you are starting a business in Ontario, the registration fees are small and published. This page lists them as shown on the province's own fee page, Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name or corporation (updated September 29, 2026). Fees change, so confirm there before you pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
The fees, online
| What you are doing | Fee | Time (as published) |
|---|---|---|
| Register a sole proprietorship (business name) | $60 | Immediate |
| Register a partnership | $60 | Immediate |
| Incorporate a business corporation | $300 | Immediate |
| Renew a business name registration | $60 | Immediate |
| Name search (Certificate of No Match) | $26 | Immediate |
Registration is done through the Ontario Business Registry. The fee page does not state the cost of a NUANS name-search report, so check the incorporation page for that before you budget.
Which structure?
- Sole proprietorship: the simplest. You and the business are the same person in law.
- Partnership: two or more people carrying on business together.
- Corporation: a separate legal entity from its owners. It costs more to set up and brings ongoing filings.
Which one fits depends on your liability, tax and funding plans. An accountant or lawyer can advise on that for your case.
After registering
- Open a business bank account.
- Check whether you need a CRA business number and HST account: see the $30,000 rule.
- Check licences or permits for your trade or city.
- Build your numbers before you ask for money: the Canadian Startup Funding Kit ($39) has a 36-month cash-flow model, a plan template and a document checklist, and our documents checklist is free.
Not legal or tax advice. K.M.E. Incorporated is independent and not affiliated with the Government of Ontario.
KAE MOB ENTERTAINMENT INC., operating as K.M.E. Incorporated · Ontario corporation · CRA business number 753923143RC0001 · Mailing address: 22 John St, Toronto, ON M9N 2B3, Canada · Email: kmeinchq@gmail.com