Incorporation in British Columbia: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting Your Business
Incorporating a British Columbia company costs $350 for the incorporation application, plus $30 for a Name Request if you want a word name. BC uses its own name approval system instead of NUANS, keeps most corporate documents off the public file, and has no director residency rule. This guide covers each step, the costs and your yearly obligations as of 2026.
BC incorporation at a glance
Item | British Columbia |
|---|---|
Governing law | Business Corporations Act (BC) |
Where you file | BC Registries (BC Business Registry online) |
Name approval | BC Name Request: $30, about 6 business days; $100 priority for 1–2 business days |
Name reservation | 56 days after approval |
Incorporation fee | $350 (unlimited liability company: $1,000) |
Annual report | $43.39, within 2 months of each anniversary |
Director residency | None |
Small business tax rate | 11% combined (9% federal + 2% BC) on the first $500,000 |
Why incorporate in BC?
Incorporate in BC if your business is based in or mainly serves British Columbia. A BC company gets limited liability, the 2% provincial small business rate, and flexible structures: standard limited companies, unlimited liability companies (ULCs) for cross-border tax planning, benefit companies that commit to a public benefit, and community contribution companies. There is no residency requirement for directors, so founders anywhere can run a BC company.
If you'll operate across Canada from the start, compare with federal incorporation, but remember that a federal corporation operating in BC still pays $350 to register here extraprovincially.
How to incorporate in BC: step by step
Step 1: Decide on a named or numbered company
A numbered company (e.g. 1234567 B.C. Ltd.) needs no Name Request and can be incorporated right away. For a word name, you need a distinctive element, a descriptive element and a legal ending such as Limited, Ltd., Incorporated, Inc., Corporation or Corp.
Step 2: Get your Name Request approved
Submit a Name Request through BC Registries for $30. Review takes about 6 business days, or 1–2 business days with the $100 priority option. Once approved, the name is reserved for 56 days, and you need the Name Request number to incorporate. BC does not use NUANS for BC companies. Our BC name registration guide explains how to avoid rejections, or let us handle the Name Request.
Step 3: Prepare the incorporation agreement and Articles
BC companies have an incorporation agreement, signed by each incorporator, and Articles, the company's internal rules on shares, directors and meetings. Neither is filed with the registry. They are kept in the company's records office, which keeps them private.
Step 4: Name the registered office and records office
Every BC company needs a registered office and a records office, both in British Columbia. They can be the same address, often a lawyer's or service provider's office for founders outside the province.
Step 5: File the Incorporation Application and pay $350
File the Incorporation Application online through the BC Business Registry. It includes the Notice of Articles, which is the public part of your company record: name, directors, registered and records office addresses, and the authorized share structure. The fee is $350 ($1,000 for a ULC).
Step 6: Organize the company
After incorporation, issue shares, appoint officers, adopt resolutions and set up the records office binder: the Articles, incorporation agreement, registers of directors and shareholders, minutes and resolutions. Private BC companies must also keep a transparency register listing individuals with significant control.
Step 7: Register for taxes
Get your Business Number and corporate tax account from the CRA. Register for GST (5%) once taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive quarters. BC's PST (7%) is registered separately with the BC government if you sell taxable goods or services.
How much does it cost to incorporate in BC?
Cost | Amount (CAD) | Paid to | When |
|---|---|---|---|
Name Request | $30 | BC Registries | Once (named companies) |
Priority Name Request | +$100 | BC Registries | Optional |
Incorporation application | $350 | BC Registries | Once |
Unlimited liability company (ULC) incorporation | $1,000 | BC Registries | Instead of $350 |
Annual report | $43.39 | BC Registries | Every year |
Extraprovincial registration (non-BC companies) | $350 | BC Registries | Once |
See OpenCompany pricing for an all-in BC package, or start a BC incorporation.
Keeping a BC company in good standing
- Annual report: file it online for $43.39 within 2 months after each anniversary of incorporation. A company that stops filing can be dissolved.
- Annual general meeting: hold one each year, or pass a unanimous resolution in its place.
- Changes: file a notice when directors or office addresses change, and alter the Notice of Articles for changes to the name or share structure.
- Records and taxes: keep the records office and transparency register current, and file a T2 return within six months of year-end.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to incorporate in BC?
$350 for the incorporation application plus $30 for a Name Request, or $380 in government fees for a named company. A numbered company costs $350.
How long does incorporation take in British Columbia?
The Name Request is usually the slow part: about 6 business days, or 1–2 with priority service. The incorporation itself is fast once the name is approved.
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate in BC?
No. BC companies use the BC Name Request system instead of NUANS.
Can non-residents incorporate in BC?
Yes. There is no residency requirement for BC directors, but the registered and records offices must be in British Columbia.
What is a Notice of Articles?
The public summary of your company filed with the registry: name, directors, office addresses and authorized shares. The Articles themselves stay private in your records office.
How long is a BC name approval valid?
56 days. If you don't incorporate in that window, you need a new Name Request.
What is the small business tax rate in BC?
2% provincial plus 9% federal, for 11% combined on the first $500,000 of active business income of a Canadian-controlled private corporation.
Sources: Incorporated companies, Request approval for a business name, Forms and fees (Province of BC); CRA corporation tax rates. Checked October 2026.
Watch: the video guide
Incorporation in Canada – All Your Questions Answered (FAQ)
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