Standard British Columbia Incorporations

Incorporating in British Columbia:

Ready to start? Download our Incorporation Instructions form now.

Our standard BC incorporation package is designed for people who want to make sure that they structure their company properly and to receive advice as to how to best use the company.

If you reside outside of Canada and you are thinking of incorporating in Canada this is the package for you. British Columbia is an excellent choice choice for a Canadian corporation because the BC Business Corporations Act allows for non-resident directors and more flexibility than any other jurisdiction in Canada.

5 Steps to Incorporating in British Columbia:

1. Proposed corporate name: Before incorporating a named company in BC, a name reservation must first be obtained. During most times of the year, expect about a two or three business day turnaround from the examination department. Approvals are valid for 56 days, and can be renewed (at further cost) if they expire. BC allows submission of up to three alternate names for the corporation, as first, second and third choices. The name examiner stops at the first name available. A three-element name format is usually the safest choice, especially in BC: distinctive element / descriptive element / legal ending; such as Smith Enterprises Inc. Names with unique first elements are more likely to be approved. Common or popular words are often rejected.

   In BC, there are three choices of legal ending: Limited (Ltd.), Corporation (Corp.) or Incorporated (Inc.). The designations all have the same meaning: that the entity is a corporation with limited liability for its shareholders.

   Note: You may choose a numbered name for your corporation for faster filing results. The government automatically assigns the next corporation number on filing that kind of application. Then later you can change to a named corporation, though at some extra cost.

2. People: For each person who will be a director, officer or shareholder in the corporation, supply the full name (first, middle, last -- just as printed in a person's birth certificate or valid drivers licence or passport) and full street address (not post office box). Directors and officers must be legal adult. BC corporations do not require that a director be resident in Canada. And it is not required to appoint any corporate officers, although you may, of course. One person corporations are allowed in Canada, and are very common.
3. Share structure: Decide upon a suitable share structure. Choices range from a simple one-class structure to structures with two or more classes of shares, and a variety of share special rights. We can help you select the best choice for your initial circumstances.
4. Registered office location: Provide the street address in British Columbia for the company's registered office. Post office box numbers are not allowed. We can act as registered office for the company, for a fee of $150 a year, plus applicable taxes and government filing fees. Please tell us you need this service, when you order your BC company.
5. Go ahead: Lastly, confirm with us that you wish to go ahead with your incorporation.

The easiest way is to fill out and send us the incorporation instructions form.

Ready to start?

Download our Incorporation Instructions form now.

How long will it take to incorporate in BC?

Getting a named company incorporated to the point of existence takes usually four or five business days once we receive complete incorporation instructions. A number name corporation can be completed same day, once information and payment are received and confirmed. After its creation date, in most cases to the Vancouver area of British Columbia, expect to receive the original incorporation documents from the Corporate Registry in Victoria, BC, about one week later. Those documents will be needed to open the corporate bank account.

Our standard British Columbia Incorporation Package includes:

• A British Columbia corporation.
• Complete Corporate Records book with corporate tabs, certificate of incorporation, notice of articles, corporate articles, registers of shareholders and directors, share certificates, director and shareholder post-incorporation resolutions, director's consents and share subscriptions.
• Legal advice with respect to forming your BC company.
• Choice of company structures designed to suit your needs.
• If requested, a corporate name knock-out search to ensure that you do not infringe on someone else's name from elsewhere in Canada. Infringement can result in a lawsuit against your corporation for damages or cause you to lose the right to use the name you chose for your corporation. (Does not include a full NUANS search, a computerized algorithm search, which can be ordered as an extra.)
• Duplicate certificate of incorporation, notice of articles and your incorporation application, sent by email, shortly after incorporation.

All this for Only $699.00 CAD (taxes included!).

Extras not included in the above price (but please ask):

• registered office services
• shipping corporate records book outside Canada or continental USA
• ordering and shipping a corporate seal (usually not needed, but useful for some)
• extraprovincial registration in a province outside British Columbia (where needed for your purposes)
• help with filings under the Investment Canada Act (for non-Canadians)

Contact Us Today to Order

Or download our Incorporation Instructions form now.