Last updated: February 2026
Starting a business in Canada means government filings, legal documents, corporate structures, and enough paperwork to make your head spin. Hiring a lawyer costs $800-$1,500+ just to get incorporated, plus annual fees for filings and corporate maintenance. Ownr was built to eliminate that pain point. Backed by RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), it lets you register a sole proprietorship, incorporate provincially or federally, and manage corporate compliance from a browser. No lawyer appointments, no paper stacks, no weeks of waiting.
Since launching in 2017, Ownr has helped over 170,000 Canadian businesses get set up legally. The promise: idea to legally registered business in as little as 15 minutes.
Try OwnrSole Proprietorship: The Quick Start
For freelancers, consultants, and side-hustle operators, sole proprietorship registration costs $49 CAD (government fees included). Available in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. The process takes about 15 minutes: unlimited business name searches, your business registration number, all required documents, and secure cloud storage. Done.
The RBC cashback promotion offers up to $300 back when you open a new RBC business bank account within 60 days. That effectively makes the sole proprietorship registration free (and then some). RBC owns Ownr, so the integration between registration and banking is smooth.
Incorporation: Federal and Provincial
For entrepreneurs who need liability protection and tax advantages, Ownr handles both federal and provincial incorporation. Pricing varies by province: $499 CAD for federal (Ontario/Quebec only), $599 for Alberta or Ontario provincial, $699 for British Columbia. Government filing fees are included. For context, those government fees alone are $275-$380 depending on province, so Ownr's markup for handling the entire process is relatively modest.
The platform walks you through selecting corporate structure, choosing directors and officers, setting share classes, and generating all required legal documents. Articles of Incorporation, Corporate By-Laws, Director and Shareholder Resolutions, CRA Business Number registration, and a digital Minute Book are all generated automatically. Everything is filed electronically.
Incorporate Your Business with OwnrOngoing Compliance Management
Incorporation is just the start. Canadian corporations need annual filings, updated resolutions, and maintained minute books. Ownr offers two ongoing plans:
Online Minute Book Plan ($199/year): Annual Return Compliance Package (government filings, resolutions, auditor waivers), digital minute book management, secure cloud storage, up to 3 user accounts, and chat support. Included free for the first year with incorporation. One-off changes (address, directors) cost extra per change. Optional GST/HST registration.
Managed Corporation Plan ($599/year): Everything in the Minute Book plan plus unlimited changes to directors, officers, and addresses. Unlimited users. Legal Agreement Library (NDAs, IP agreements, Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, Dividend Payouts). CRA registration for GST/HST and payroll numbers. Priority support. Share management and employee/contractor management as optional add-ons.
Annual returns through law firms typically cost $450+ alone, so the $199/year plan is genuinely cheaper for straightforward compliance.
What Ownr Does Not Do
Ownr handles paperwork, not legal advice. It cannot help with complex corporate structures, shareholder agreements for multiple investors, tax optimization strategies, or anything that requires actual legal counsel. It does not support partnerships, joint ventures, non-profits, or cooperatives. And it is Canada-only, covering just four provinces for provincial incorporation (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Quebec). If you are in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or the Atlantic provinces, Ownr cannot help with provincial incorporation.
Ownr vs. DIY vs. Lawyer vs. Stripe Atlas
DIY government registration (~$300-$380 CAD): You file directly through provincial registries and handle all paperwork, bylaws, resolutions, and minute book yourself. Cheapest option but time-consuming and easy to get wrong without legal knowledge.
Lawyer (~$1,500 CAD): Personalized legal advice, handles complex structures. Worth it for multi-shareholder corporations or anything non-standard. Overkill for a simple single-owner incorporation.
Stripe Atlas ($500 USD): Incorporates in Delaware, USA as a C-Corp. Designed for founders who want a US entity. Completely different use case: a Canadian founder who wants a Canadian corporation uses Ownr; one who wants a US Delaware C-Corp uses Stripe Atlas.
Ownr ($499-$699 CAD): The middle ground. Faster and cheaper than a lawyer, more hand-holding than DIY. Best for straightforward single-shareholder Canadian incorporations where speed matters more than customization.
Limitations
- Canada-only, and only 4 provinces for provincial incorporation
- No partnerships, non-profits, or cooperative structures
- Annual subscription ($199-$599/year) makes Ownr an ongoing cost, not a one-time expense
- 2.8/5 on Trustpilot (very small sample, but complaints about support and RBC promotion disputes)
- No phone support on the basic plan (chat and email only)
- Refund policy has frustrated some users
- No legal advice included: complex situations still need a lawyer
Our Take
For standard Canadian business registration and incorporation, Ownr is the fastest and most cost-effective option. The 15-minute sole proprietorship setup at $49 is hard to beat, and incorporation at $499-$699 with all documents included saves hundreds compared to a lawyer. The RBC backing adds legitimacy and banking integration that no competitor matches. The ongoing annual plans for compliance management are genuinely useful and cheaper than law firm alternatives. Just understand the limitations: Canada-only, four provinces, no legal advice, and recurring annual fees. If your incorporation is straightforward and you want it done today, Ownr delivers.
Register Your Business with Ownr
