Registering a company in the province of British Columbia is one of the most essential parts of starting a business, but sometimes the procedure may look confusing if you have never worked with government documents before. The good news is that the procedure is straightforward if you understand the BC company incorporation procedure. This article will take you through the procedure of company incorporation in BC using straightforward explanations that ensure every step is easy to understand.
We’ll walk you through what you’ll require before you begin the incorporation, the online incorporation procedure, incorporation documents and papers needed, common pitfalls to avoid during the incorporation procedure, and the true costs of incorporation. If you are considering acquiring knowledge of incorporating a business within BC, establishing a corporation within BC, or incorporating within the province of British Columbia, the details presented herein will give you a clear understanding of the matter—without the sales talk.
Why Incorporation Makes Sense
When you decide to incorporate a company in BC, you create a separate legal identity, whereas if you register, for example, as a BC Sole Proprietorship, there is no separate legal entity, and you are fully liable for all business debts and more.
Incorporating a company in BC means that such a company is capable of making its own contracts, having its own assets, and assuming liability independent of you.
If you have any questions about whether incorporating is worth your while, here is one research-supported fact to ease your mind:
Research Fact:
As reported by The Government of Canada’s SME Profile Data, incorporating is much more desirable because corporations thrive after the first five years compared to unincorporated businesses. If you know what is required to incorporate a business in BC, you can incorporate easily.
5 Steps: How to Register a Company in BC
This is a breakdown of the specific 5-step process we work our clients through during a BC incorporation business registration.
This is the official BC business registration system and ensures you meet all BC incorporation requirements with the BC Government.
Step 1: Choose Your Company Name & Submit a BC Name Request
The first thing you need to do to learn how to register a company within BC is to select a unique and acceptable name for your company.
The company name has to comply with certain rules, which are:
- Distinctive
2. Descriptive
3. Compliant with the BC Naming Rules
After you choose your name, you will have to make a Name Request (NR) via the BC Registry system.
What to Expect:
- You can enter a maximum of 3 name suggestions
2. British Columbia Registry evaluates names
3. Standard Processing: A few business days (Different processing times available via Business Registration Center BC)
3. If approved, your requested name will take effect for only 56 days
You have to incorporate your business in BC during these 56 days to secure it officially.
Step 2: Prepare Your Incorporation Documents
To incorporate ain BC legally, there are some legal documents involved. They contain information about how you will operate your company and how it will be managed. This part is normally where one feels most “technical” while learning how to incorporate a company within BC.
Important documents include:
- Incorporation Agreement
- Articles of Incorporation
- Notice of Articles
- Registered Office Address
- Records Office Address
- Directors’ Information
These documents cover:
- Who controls the company
- How Decisions Are Made
- Structure of shares
- Where the business shall store its business records
We recommend always checking everything carefully before submitting, as simple errors can hold up your application.
Using an official BC Government intermediary like us helps reduce the chances of any errors, as every BC incorporation application is precisely reviewed before submission.
Step 3: File Your BC Incorporation Application
Now, once your documents are prepared, the next step is submitting the BC Incorporatoin application through our online forms in just a few simple steps. We have an easy, supportive, guided process with our forms that answers any of your most common questions right beside each step.
You will need to include:
- Your approved Name Request
- Your Signed Incorporation Agreement
- Your Articles
- Your directors’ and office addresses
This is the formal step whereby your company is established.
After approval, the government shall issue:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Notice of Articles
- Incorporation Number
Right now, your business is an entity separate and distinct under the law.
Step 4: Set Up Corporate Records & Share Structure
Finally, after your BC incorporation filing is finished, your business is required to keep records that reflect how your corporation functions. This is known as staying compliant, which you will see a lot across many business incorporation websites.
These are typically found within your business records:
- Share certificates
Share - Central securities register
- Directors’ register
- Minutes of meeting
- Resolutions
- Transparency register (required in BC)
A good corporate records structure ensures that your business remains up to date and makes future submissions easier.
Step 5: Register for Additional Accounts After Incorporation
Now that your business is incorporated in BC, you might have to register a couple more things, depending on what type of business you have.
Typical post-incorporation registrations include:
- GST/HST
- PST
- WorkSafeBC
- Payroll accounts
- Licences to operate a business on the Municipal level
These are not part of incorporating a company but are rather part of establishing a fully functional company in BC.
Costs of Incorporating a Company in BC
Here is a simple breakdown of the average cost for anyone learning how to register a company in BC:
| Cost Type | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Name Request | $30–$31 |
| BC Incorporation Filing Fee | $350 |
| Optional professional preparation | Varies |
| Business licence (municipal) | Varies |
Common Mistakes When Registering a Company in BC
When individuals search on how to incorporate a business within BC, they tend to commit similar mistakes.
Here are the most frequent:
Submitting a weak company name that would fail to register
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Using an improper business structure (corporation vs. proprietorship)
Filling out Articles of Incorporation incorrectly
Failure to keep required corporate records
Failure to register for other accounts after incorporation
These errors should be avoided if you plan to incorporate your business successfully in British Columbia.
Practical Tips for a Smooth BC Incorporation Process
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