Company Formation in Canada

Benefits of Company Formation in Canada

• British Columbia company law is modern, flexible and commercially minded 
• Right to carry on business in all Canadian provinces and territories 
• Right to use your name across Canada
• British Columbia’s general corporate income tax rate is only 12% is among the lowest of all Canadian provinces
• Better access to capital and grants
• No residency requirements for company directors

British Columbia Company Formation Requirements

Company formation in British Columbia is a relatively simple process for non-Canadian parties. Firstly, Canadian companies are only required to have 1 shareholder and 1 director for company formation purposes, with the position of company secretary optional (unless required by a company’s articles). Directors of Canadian companies must meet a residency requirement (25% of a company’s directors are required to be Canadian residents). However, provinces such as British Columbia are not subject to these requirements.

Unlike other Canadian provinces, company formation in British Columbia does not require a local office lease. Virtual offices are sufficient for the purposes of company formation.

Lastly, there are no minimum capital requirements. However, parties contemplating company formation in Canada should note that Canada possesses thin-capitalization rules that may deny deductions for interest payments to specified non-residents.

Annual Maintenance

• Annual report detailing all director and shareholder meetings, or resolution signed by all directors or shareholders, as the case may be
• Annual tax return filing with federal and provincial/territorial tax authorities

FAQs

Can one person complete the company formation process in Canada?

Yes. Although Canadian companies are required to have at least 1 shareholder and 1 director, a single individual can hold one or more positions. However, non-profit corporations usually require a minimum of three directors.

Are there any rules that dictate what I can name my company?

Names of Canadian companies must be in a 3-element format which contains a distinctive unique name, a descriptive of the activity of the business (services, products etc) and the legal form of the business entity.

Can my Canadian company utilize a local registered address provided by a third-party service provider?

Yes. The provision of a local registered address by a third-party service provider is allowed for the purposes of company formation in British Columbia. FastLane can provide both virtual office addresses in addition to physical office addresses upon request.

Do I need to have a bank account opened prior to my company’s formation?

A bank account is not necessary when forming a Canadian company and can be opened after successful formation. FastLane can assist our clients open bank accounts in Canada.