- A numbered company skips the name-search step entirely, since it never has to clear a name against the registry — one way to trim this stage if a distinctive name isn’t essential to you.
- Even though the Ontario annual return itself carries no government fee, most businesses still pay their accountant or lawyer to prepare and file it correctly and to keep the minute book…
- If your corporation was incorporated outside Canada and wants to carry on business in Ontario, an extra-provincial licence currently runs $330 (as of mid-2026 — verify before filing).
The government filing fee is the number most people ask about first — and it’s the smallest piece of the real cost of running a corporation. Between name searches, ongoing filings, and the accounting and legal work a corporation generates every year, the actual budget is bigger than a single line item.
This article breaks down what to expect at each stage: incorporating, keeping the corporation in good standing, and the variable costs that catch people off guard.
One-Time Costs to Incorporate
| Item | Approximate fee (as of mid-2026 — verify the current amount) |
|---|---|
| OBCA incorporation (Ontario, Articles of Incorporation via the Ontario Business Registry) | $300 |
| CBCA incorporation (federal, online filing) | $200 |
| CBCA express service add-on (faster processing) | +$100 |
| Corporate name search / report | Varies by provider — not a fixed government fee |
| Legal fees for drafting articles, organizing resolutions, and setting up the minute book | Varies by firm and complexity |
A numbered company skips the name-search step entirely, since it never has to clear a name against the registry — one way to trim this stage if a distinctive name isn’t essential to you.
Annual and Recurring Costs
| Item | Approximate fee (as of mid-2026 — verify the current amount) |
|---|---|
| Ontario annual return (Corporations Information Act filing, via the Ontario Business Registry) | $0 |
| CBCA annual return (online) | $12 |
| Accounting fees for corporate bookkeeping, financial statements, and a corporate tax return | Varies — generally higher than a sole proprietorship’s personal return |
| Legal fees to keep the minute book current (annual resolutions, any director/officer changes) | Varies by firm |
Even though the Ontario annual return itself carries no government fee, most businesses still pay their accountant or lawyer to prepare and file it correctly and to keep the minute book updated alongside it — an outdated minute book is one of the most common problems that surfaces later, in financing or a sale.
Costs That Only Apply in Certain Situations
- Extra-provincial registration. If your corporation was incorporated outside Canada and wants to carry on business in Ontario, an extra-provincial licence currently runs $330 (as of mid-2026 — verify before filing). A Canadian corporation registering extra-provincially in Ontario generally files an initial return at no charge.
- Certificates and copies. A certificate of status (often requested by lenders or landlords) is $26; a profile report is $8; a document copy is $3 (all as of mid-2026 — verify current amounts).
- Business name registration. If the corporation also operates under a trade name different from its legal name, that name needs to be registered under the Business Names Act — a five-year registration currently costs $60.
- Dissolution. If you eventually wind the corporation down, Articles of Dissolution currently cost $25 to file.
- Trademark protection. If you want to register a trademark federally (separate from your corporate name), CIPO charges an application fee per class, plus a renewal fee down the road — these are set separately from any corporate filing fee and adjust periodically, so verify the current schedule when you’re ready to file.
Costs That Are Easy to Underestimate
- HST compliance. Once a business is required to register for GST/HST (or chooses to voluntarily), there’s ongoing bookkeeping and remittance work — not a government fee itself, but a real time and accounting cost.
- Employer costs, if you hire. Payroll processing, WSIB premiums (which vary by industry classification), and — once payroll passes a threshold — Employer Health Tax, all add recurring cost once a corporation has employees.
- A properly maintained minute book. Many small corporations let this slide after the first year. Catching it up later, especially right before a sale or a financing round, often costs more than keeping it current annually would have.
Budgeting Realistically
A rough way to think about it: the government filing fee is a one-time cost measured in the low hundreds of dollars; the ongoing legal and accounting cost of doing it properly every year is usually the larger number over time. Businesses that treat incorporation as "file once and forget it" are usually the ones facing a costly cleanup later.
Frequently asked questions
Is incorporating federally cheaper than incorporating in Ontario?
The federal (CBCA) filing fee is currently lower than the Ontario (OBCA) fee, but that’s rarely the deciding factor — director residency rules, where you’ll need to register extra-provincially, and how you want your name protected usually matter more than the fee difference.
Do I have to pay the Ontario annual return fee every year?
No — the Ontario annual return filed through the Ontario Business Registry currently carries no government fee. Most businesses still budget for their accountant or lawyer’s time to prepare and file it correctly.
Does a numbered company cost less to incorporate than a named one?
The government filing fee is the same either way. A numbered company can save money indirectly by skipping the name-search step, since there’s no name to clear.
What’s the biggest cost people forget to budget for?
Ongoing accounting and legal maintenance — bookkeeping, corporate tax returns, and keeping the minute book current — tends to add up to more over a few years than the initial incorporation fee.
This is a corporate question
Start a file online — flat, published fees, reviewed by a licensed Ontario lawyer before a dollar is owed.