How to Incorporate in BC: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Incorporating in British Columbia is one of the best decisions you can make as a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner in Canada. A corporation gives you liability protection, tax planning flexibility, and professional credibility. But the process can feel opaque if you've never done it before.

Here's exactly how it works, step by step.

Step 1: Choose Your Corporation Name

You have two options: a named corporation or a numbered corporation.

A numbered corporation (like 1234567 B.C. Ltd.) is faster and cheaper. BC Registries assigns the number automatically. You can always register a trade name later.

A named corporation (like "Maple Digital Consulting Ltd.") requires a name approval request through the Name Request system. This costs $31.50 and takes 2-5 business days.

Most solo consultants go with a numbered company and register a DBA (Doing Business As) name afterward. It's simpler.

Step 2: Prepare Your Incorporation Documents

You'll need the following:

• Articles of Incorporation - These define your share structure. For a simple one-person corporation, a single class of common shares is typical.
• Incorporation Agreement - Signed by the incorporator(s).
• Registered Office Address - This must be a physical BC address (not a PO Box). It becomes public record.
• Director Information - At least one director who is ordinarily resident in Canada.

If you're incorporating yourself, you are the incorporator, the sole director, and the sole shareholder.

Step 3: File with BC Registries Online

Go to the BC Registries website and use the BC Online portal to file your incorporation application.

The filing fee is $350 for a standard BC corporation.

Once submitted and approved, you'll receive your Certificate of Incorporation and your Incorporation Number. For numbered companies, this is usually processed within the same business day.

Step 4: Set Up Your Corporate Records

After incorporation, you need to organize your corporate minute book. This includes:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Articles of Incorporation
• Initial resolutions (appointing directors, setting fiscal year-end, etc.)
• Share certificates
• Registers of directors, officers, and shareholders

You can maintain these digitally. There's no legal requirement for a physical binder, though many lawyers still provide one.

Step 5: Register for a Business Number with CRA

Your BC corporation exists provincially, but you need a Business Number (BN) from the Canada Revenue Agency to operate federally. This is free and can be done online through CRA's Business Registration Online service.

When you register, you can also open the following program accounts:

The BN registration typically takes 1-2 business days online.

Step 6: Choose Your Fiscal Year-End

Your corporation needs a fiscal year-end date. Many small corporations choose December 31 to align with the calendar year, but you have flexibility.

A common strategy: if you incorporate mid-year, choosing a year-end that's 12 months away gives you a longer first fiscal year and defers your first corporate tax filing.

Your corporate tax return (T2) is due six months after your fiscal year-end. Taxes owing are due two months (or three months for eligible small businesses) after year-end.

Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account

You'll need your Certificate of Incorporation and Articles to open a business bank account. Most major Canadian banks offer business accounts, though fees vary significantly.

Keep personal and business finances completely separate from day one. This is non-negotiable for clean bookkeeping.

Step 8: Register for Provincial Sales Tax (PST)

If you sell taxable goods or certain services in BC, you may need to register for BC PST. This is separate from GST.

Many service-based corporations (consultants, developers, designers) are exempt from PST on their services. But if you sell physical products, software as a product, or certain digital services, you'll need to register.

Total Cost Summary

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not filing your Annual Report. BC corporations must file an annual report with BC Registries each year. The fee is $43.39. Miss it and your corporation can be dissolved.

Forgetting the Transparency Register. As of October 2020, BC corporations must maintain a Transparency Register listing individuals with significant control. This is a legal requirement even for one-person companies.

Skipping the corporate minute book. You don't need a lawyer to maintain it, but you do need one. Directors' resolutions, share issuances, and annual records should all be documented.

How ledg Helps

Once your corporation is set up, the ongoing challenge is keeping your books in order. ledg is built specifically for Canadian one-person corporations, handling GST/PST calculations, expense categorization, and the day-to-day bookkeeping that keeps your accountant happy at year-end.