BC Incorporation Services
Incorporate your business in British Columbia online. Choose the service that fits your business, submit your information, and receive your completed incorporation documents electronically.
Get It Done in 3 Simple Steps
1
Choose Your Incorporation Service
Select the service that fits your business and complete the online form with the information required for your filing.
2
We Review and File Your Order
Your order is reviewed for completeness before the required documents are prepared and submitted for registration.
3
Receive Your Documents
Once your registration is complete, your documents are sent electronically so you can move forward with your new business.
- Incorporate a named or numbered BC company
- Government incorporation filing included
- Name Request available for named companies
- Choose the appropriate share structure
- Order reviewed before submission
- Completed incorporation documents delivered electronically
BC Society
- For organizations formed for eligible non-profit purposes
- Assistance with the BC society incorporation process
- Society name approval required before incorporation
- Constitution and bylaws form part of the filing
- Director and registered office information required
- Filing reviewed before submission
- For eligible regulated professionals
- Requirements vary by profession and regulatory body
- Corporate structure prepared for the selected profession
- Articles can be customized where required
- Order reviewed before the incorporation filing
- Completed corporate documents provided electronically
BC Holding Company
- Establish a BC corporation to hold business or investment assets
- Can hold shares in other corporations
- Named or numbered company options available
- Flexible share structure options
- Incorporation filing prepared and reviewed
- Corporate documents delivered electronically
BC PREC
- Is a separate legal corporation created by real estate professional
- Creates a Personal Real Estate Corporation
- Must meet applicable real estate regulatory requirements
- Corporate structure prepared for a PREC
- Incorporation documents prepared for registration
- Order reviewed before submission
BC Co-Op
- For organizations using a cooperative structure
- Built around member participation and ownership
- Requires at least three members to form
- Memorandum and rules form part of incorporation
- Director and registered office information required
- Filing documents prepared for registration
Incorporate Your Business in BC Online
A BC corporation is a separate legal entity formed under British Columbia’s Business Corporations Act. You can incorporate using an approved corporate name or choose a numbered BC company.
Why Choose BC Business Register?
Incorporating a company involves more than submitting a form. BC Business Register helps you choose the right filing option, prepare the required information, and complete your incorporation online with a clear process from start to finish.
Choose the Right Incorporation Option: Start a named or numbered BC company based on how you want your business registered.
A Clear Online Process: Complete your order online and provide the information needed for your incorporation filing.
Order Review Before Filing: Your information is reviewed for completeness before the incorporation documents are prepared and submitted.
Options for Different Business Structures: Choose from standard BC incorporation, holding companies, professional corporations, PRECs, societies, and cooperatives.
Documents Delivered Electronically: Receive your completed incorporation documents electronically once your registration is complete.
Ongoing Corporate Services Available: Return to BC Business Register when you need services such as annual filings or corporate updates.
Complete the incorporation documents: The process includes an incorporation agreement, articles, and an incorporation application containing a Notice of Articles.
If you want to use a custom corporate name, it must first be approved and reserved. A numbered BC company does not require a custom name reservation. An approved name is generally reserved for 56 days, giving you time to complete the incorporation process.
BC Business Register helps prepare and submit your filing based on the incorporation service you select, providing a clear online process from choosing your company type to receiving your completed documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get straightforward answers to common questions about incorporating a company in British Columbia, from company names and filing requirements to directors and annual reports.
BC incorporation is the process of forming a company under British Columbia’s Business Corporations Act. Once incorporated, the company exists as a legal entity separate from its shareholders.
The provincial government filing fee for incorporating a standard BC company is separate from name reservation, service-provider fees, and optional services. Your total cost will depend on the incorporation package and services you select.
Processing time depends on the type of incorporation, whether name approval is required, the filing option selected, and the completeness of the information provided. Any expedited processing options and applicable turnaround times should be confirmed when selecting your package.
You will need to choose an approved corporate name or numbered company, identify the incorporator and directors, establish the company’s share structure, provide the required office information, and complete the incorporation documents.
A Name Request is required if you want to incorporate under a custom corporate name. It is not required if you choose a numbered BC company.
A named company uses an approved and reserved corporate name. A numbered company uses its incorporation number followed by the applicable corporate designation, such as “B.C. Ltd.”
A standard BC company does not have a general director residency requirement under the current Business Corporations Act. Other entity types and regulated professional structures may have different requirements.
A lawyer is not generally required to submit a standard BC incorporation filing. Legal or tax advice may be appropriate if you need a customized share structure, shareholder arrangements, professional corporation provisions, or other specialized planning.
A BC company’s core incorporation records include its Certificate of Incorporation, Notice of Articles, and Articles. Additional documents provided by BC Business Register depend on the incorporation package selected.
A BC holding company is a corporation used primarily to hold assets such as shares in other companies, investments, or other property. “Holding company” describes how the corporation is used rather than a separate corporation type under the Business Corporations Act.
A professional corporation is a corporation used by an eligible regulated professional. Incorporation, ownership, and other requirements vary by profession and the rules of the applicable regulatory body.
Yes. A BC company must file an annual report each year to keep its corporate information current with the registry. The annual report is separate from the company’s tax return and other tax filing obligations.