Certified Liaison β€” Province of Ontario

info@amqlegals.ca

(780) 297-8924

Start Your E-Commerce
Company in Canada

Incorporate your online business, Shopify store, digital agency, or e-commerce brand in Canada. AMQ Legals registers your e-commerce company in any province or territory β€” with full legal documentation delivered to your inbox within 2 hours.

πŸ›’ Built for Online Sellers

⚑ Ready in 2 Hours

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ All 14 Provinces & Territories

🌍 Resident & Non-Resident

E-Commerce Package

Starting from

$ 60

+ Government filing fees included

Not sure which to pick?Β Get a free consultation

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Limited Liability

Keep your personal assets protected from business debts, legal claims, and customer disputes.
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Lower Corporate Tax

Access Canada’s small business tax rate on the first $500K of income β€” far below personal rates.
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Sell Globally with Credibility

Directors and shareholders are protected from personal responsibility for corporate debts.

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Brand Name Protection

Your corporate name is legally registered β€” no competitor can incorporate under the same name.

Why Incorporate?

Why Every Serious E-Commerce Business Should Incorporate

Whether you’re selling on Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or your own platform, incorporating your e-commerce business unlocks major legal and financial advantages.

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Protect Your Personal Assets

If a customer sues, a payment dispute escalates, or your business takes on debt, a corporation keeps your personal savings, home, and assets out of reach. Sole proprietors have no such protection.

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Pay Less Tax on Profits

Corporate tax on the first $500,000 of active business income is as low as 9–12% federally β€” significantly less than personal income tax rates that can exceed 50%. Keep more profit in the business.
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Access Better Payment Processing

Many payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, Shopify Payments) offer lower transaction fees, higher limits, and better terms to incorporated businesses. A corporation also reduces chargeback risk and account bans.

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Sell to International Markets

A Canadian corporation opens doors to global suppliers, wholesale accounts, Amazon Seller accounts, and international merchant agreements that require a registered business entity.
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Win Trust with Customers & Partners

Having “Inc.” or “Ltd.” in your business name instantly signals professionalism and legitimacy to customers, suppliers, advertising platforms, and potential business partners or investors.

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Scale & Raise Investment

Corporations can issue shares to investors, bring on co-founders, and structure equity properly. When you’re ready to grow, your corporate structure is already in place β€” no scrambling to reorganize later.

Package Details

What’s Included in Every Package

NUANS Name Search & Report

We run an official NUANS search to confirm your e-commerce company name is unique and available across Canada β€” included at no extra charge for all named corporations.

Articles of Incorporation

Your Articles are prepared by our legal team in compliance with provincial or federal legislation, defining your corporation’s structure, share classes, and restrictions.

Corporate Bylaws & Resolutions

Full set of corporate bylaws and organizational resolutions β€” the internal governance rules for how your e-commerce corporation is managed and decisions are made.

Share Structure & Minute Book

Your share classes, rights, and restrictions are established. We prepare your corporate minute book with initial share certificates and meeting records.

Government Filing & Certificate

We file your Articles directly with the provincial or federal registry and deliver your official Certificate of Incorporation by email within 2 business hours.

In-House Legal Counsel Review

Every filing is reviewed by an experienced corporate law specialist before submission β€” ensuring full compliance and zero errors in your incorporation documents.

What You Need to Get Started

Requirements for e-commerce incorporation

Business Name or Numbered Corporation

Choose a unique brand name for your e-commerce company (we run the NUANS search) or opt for a numbered corporation for instant registration β€” no name search required.

Director Names & Addresses

Full legal names and addresses for all directors. Most provinces (including Ontario) have no residency requirements β€” international directors are accepted.

Registered Office Address

A physical address in the province of incorporation. AMQ Legals offers registered address and mail-forwarding services for entrepreneurs who work remotely or from abroad.

Business Activities (NAICS Code)

A short description of your e-commerce activities (e.g., retail sales of goods online, digital product sales, dropshipping). We help identify the right NAICS code.

Desired Incorporation Date

Choose today for immediate incorporation or a future date to coordinate your business launch. We file on your chosen date.

E-Commerce Setup Guide

After Incorporating β€” Your E-Commerce Launch Checklist

Everything you need to do after your corporation is registered

Open a corporate bank accountΒ β€” Use your Certificate of Incorporation to open a business account. Separating business and personal finances is essential for tax purposes and liability protection.

Register for a CRA Business Number (BN)Β β€” Required to file corporate taxes, collect HST/GST, and set up payroll if you have employees. AMQ Legals can handle CRA registration for you.

Register for HST/GSTΒ β€” Mandatory once your revenue exceeds $30,000. Register voluntarily even before that threshold to claim input tax credits on your business expenses.

Set up your payment processorΒ β€” Update your Shopify, Amazon Seller, PayPal, or Stripe account with your new corporate details. Benefit from lower fees and higher transaction limits.

Register your trademarkΒ β€” Protect your brand name and logo with CIPO. An incorporated e-commerce brand without trademark protection is vulnerable to copycats. AMQ Legals offers trademark registration from $300.

File your Initial ReturnΒ β€” Ontario corporations must file within 60 days of incorporation. AMQ Legals can handle this filing on your behalf.

Update your e-commerce platform legal pagesΒ β€” Terms of service, privacy policy, and refund policy should reflect your new corporate entity. Consult a lawyer to ensure compliance.

Works With All Major Platforms

Your AMQ Legals certificate is accepted everywhere

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Shopify

Shopify Payments eligible

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Amazon

Seller Central verified

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Etsy

Business seller account

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Stripe

Lower processing fees

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PayPal Business

Business account access

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WooCommerce

Self-hosted stores

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eBay

Business seller verified

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Dropshipping

Supplier credit accounts

Tip: Most platforms require government-issued business registration documents to verify your account. Your AMQ Legals Certificate of Incorporation and CRA Business Number are the primary documents accepted by all major platforms worldwide.

AMQ Legals vs DIY

More Than Just Government Filing

Filing your own incorporation through the government portal gives you bare-bones registration. AMQ Legals gives you a complete, professionally reviewed corporate package β€” so you can focus on growing your store, not on paperwork.

Feature
AMQ
DIY
Government Incorporation Filing
NUANS Name Search Included
Corporate Bylaws & Resolutions
Share Structure & Minute Book
In-House Legal Counsel Review
Same-Day / 2-Hour Rush Processing
Expert Guidance & Support
Post-Incorporation Compliance

Why AMQ Legals

Trusted by Canadian E-Commerce Entrepreneurs

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Non-Residents Welcome

You don’t need to live in Canada to incorporate an e-commerce company here. Most provinces β€” including Ontario β€” have zero residency requirements for directors. We specialize in helping international entrepreneurs set up Canadian businesses.

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Fastest in the Industry

Our rush service delivers your Certificate of Incorporation within 1–2 business hours. Start selling through your corporation today β€” not in weeks. Every hour you wait is revenue lost.

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All-Inclusive Transparent Pricing

Government filing fees are always included in our package price. No hidden charges at checkout. No surprise add-ons. What you see on our pricing page is exactly what you pay.

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Post-Incorporation Support

We don’t disappear after filing. AMQ Legals provides ongoing compliance services β€” Initial Returns, Annual Returns, CRA account setup, director changes, and trademark protection β€” to keep your e-commerce corporation in good standing.

Simple Process

Get Incorporated inΒ 3 Easy Steps

No government portals. No confusing forms. Our team handles everything β€” start to finish.

1
Choose & Submit
Select your province and complete our simple online form with your business name, director details, registered address, and business activities. Takes under 10 minutes. No legal experience needed.
2
Expert Preparation & Filing

Our legal team reviews your submission, runs the NUANS name search, prepares your Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, minute book, and share documents, then files directly with the government registry.

3
Launch Your Business
Your Certificate of Incorporation and all corporate documents are emailed within 2 business hours. Use them to open your business bank account, update your payment processor, and start selling as a corporation today.

Common Questions

Frequently AskedΒ Questions
Do I need to be in Canada to incorporate an e-commerce company?
No. Most Canadian provinces β€” including Ontario, Alberta, BC, and New Brunswick β€” have no residency requirements for directors. International entrepreneurs can fully incorporate a Canadian e-commerce company online without visiting Canada. AMQ Legals specializes in helping non-residents set up their Canadian business with all the necessary documents for operating internationally.AMQ Legals offers same-day incorporation, often completing Ontario business registration in as little as 30 minutes. Our priority filing service typically processes within 2 business hours.

Yes. You should update your store and payment processor accounts with your new corporate details β€” business name, registration number, and CRA Business Number. This unlocks business-tier features, lower processing fees, higher transaction limits, and improved account security on most platforms. Your AMQ Legals Certificate of Incorporation is the primary document you’ll need for all platform verifications.

Legally, an e-commerce company is incorporated the same way as a standard corporation β€” there is no separate e-commerce corporate structure in Canadian law. The “e-commerce company” designation reflects the nature of your business activities (online retail, digital products, dropshipping) rather than a different legal entity type. The Articles of Incorporation, share structure, and bylaws are identical to those of a standard corporation.
Should I incorporate federally or in a province?
Provincial incorporation (e.g., Ontario) is typically best for businesses primarily operating within one province, at a lower cost. Federal incorporation lets you use your company name across all of Canada under a single registration β€” ideal if you plan to sell nationally. For most e-commerce businesses selling across Canada, Ontario or federal incorporation are the most popular choices. AMQ Legals can advise based on your specific plans.
GST/HST registration is mandatory once your worldwide taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 in a 12-month period. However, you can (and should) register voluntarily before reaching this threshold so you can claim input tax credits on your business expenses β€” including advertising, inventory, and software. AMQ Legals can set up your CRA accounts including your Business Number and HST/GST account.

After incorporation, you must file an Initial Return within 60 days (Ontario), maintain a registered office address, file Annual Returns each year, and update the registry with any director or address changes. You should also set up corporate bookkeeping, file corporate tax returns annually, and keep your minute book up to date. AMQ Legals offers all post-incorporation compliance services to keep your corporation in good standing.

Ready to Launch Your E-Commerce Corporation?

Incorporate your online business today β€” any province, any background, fully online. Certificate of Incorporation delivered within 2 business hours.