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Years of CPA excellence
- 4000 Steeles Ave W Suite 200, Woodbridge, ON L4L 4V9
- info@johricpa.ca
Years of CPA excellence
Clients served across Ontario
Office locations in Ontario
Google rated by real clients
Registering a corporation online takes less than an hour. But choosing the wrong structure, missing a CRA registration, or setting up shares incorrectly can cost you thousands in corrective legal and accounting fees down the road — and in some cases, create personal liability you thought you had eliminated.
Most of the incorporation mistakes we see were not caught at the time. They surface years later, during a CRA audit, a business sale, or when a shareholder relationship breaks down. The right setup from the start saves significantly more than the cost of doing it properly.
Sole proprietorship, partnership, Ontario corporation, federal corporation, professional corporation: each has different tax treatment, liability protection, and administrative burden. The wrong choice is costly to unwind.
Many business owners incorporate first and plan later. But share structure, shareholder agreements, and remuneration strategy set at incorporation have long-term tax consequences that are difficult to change retroactively.
A business number, HST account, payroll account, and corporate tax account all need to be set up correctly with the CRA from day one. Gaps here lead to penalties, missed input tax credits, and compliance problems.
Incorporation is not a one-time event. Annual returns, corporate minute book updates, and director and officer records must be maintained to keep your corporation in good standing with the province.
Select a category to explore what we offer. Not sure which stage you are at? Book a free consultation and we will walk you through it.
We prepare and file your Articles of Incorporation with the Ontario Business Registry, set up your corporate structure, and register all required CRA accounts from day one.
If your business operates across multiple provinces or requires federal branding protection, a Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) corporation may be more appropriate. We advise and file both.
Physicians, dentists, lawyers, engineers, and other regulated professionals can incorporate through a professional corporation. We handle the full setup including regulatory body approval requirements.
Your proposed corporate name must pass a NUANS search to confirm it is not already in use. We run the search, advise on name compliance, and reserve your preferred name.
A shareholders agreement defines how the corporation is owned and governed. It is especially critical when there are two or more shareholders. We prepare or review these in coordination with your legal counsel.
Every Ontario corporation must maintain a minute book containing its incorporating documents, by-laws, share register, and minutes of meetings. We set this up correctly from incorporation.
Ontario corporations must hold an annual general meeting (or pass a resolution in lieu) and document key decisions. We prepare your annual resolutions to keep your minute book current and your corporation in good standing.
Every Ontario corporation must file an annual return with the Ontario Business Registry each year. Missing this filing results in the corporation being dissolved. We track and file this on your behalf.
We manage your corporate CRA accounts throughout the year, including HST remittances, payroll deductions, corporate instalment payments, and account updates when your business circumstances change.
Your annual T2 corporate tax return is prepared and filed by our CPA team, fully integrated with your bookkeeping and year-end financial statements.
If you do not have a physical Ontario office address, we can provide a registered office address for your corporation's public registry listing.
If your existing structure no longer serves your needs, we plan and execute tax-efficient restructurings including rollovers, estate freezes, and holding company insertions.
One of the most common questions we answer. We model your specific income, tax rate, liability exposure, and growth plans to give you a clear, numbers-based recommendation.
A holding company above your operating corporation can protect accumulated profits from business risk, facilitate income splitting, and create a more efficient structure for multiple business lines.
If your business has outgrown its partnership structure, we plan and execute the conversion to a corporation with minimal tax cost using available rollover provisions.
A discretionary family trust as a shareholder of your corporation allows flexible income splitting among family members and enhanced creditor protection. We advise on setup and annual compliance.
For business owners with multiple revenue streams, real estate holdings, or professional practice corporations, we design and maintain efficient multi-entity structures that reduce tax and manage risk.
Buying or selling a business? The structure of the deal has major tax implications. We advise on share purchases vs. asset purchases, capital gains exemptions, and earn-out arrangements.
From your first conversation to a fully operational corporation, here is what working with Johri CPA looks like.
We discuss your business, goals, income level, and risk tolerance to recommend the right structure and timing before any paperwork begins.
We run your NUANS search, confirm name availability, and finalise your share structure, director appointments, and registered office details.
We file your Articles of Incorporation, set up your minute book, and register your business number, HST, payroll, and corporate tax accounts with the CRA.
We prepare your initial resolutions, by-laws, share certificates, and shareholders agreement so your corporation is properly documented from day one.
You receive your complete incorporation package and a clear roadmap for ongoing compliance. We remain available year-round as your CPA team.
We incorporate businesses for clients at every stage, from first-time entrepreneurs who have never registered anything to established business owners who have outgrown their current structure.
You have a business idea or are already operating as a sole proprietor. We walk you through whether and when to incorporate, and handle everything if you decide to proceed.
Physicians, dentists, lawyers, accountants, engineers, and other regulated professionals incorporating for the first time or restructuring an existing professional corporation.
Electricians, plumbers, general contractors, and other skilled tradespeople incorporating to protect personal assets, appear more credible to clients, and reduce tax on retained earnings.
Investors setting up holding companies for property portfolios, or incorporating to separate business income from investment income and manage capital gains more efficiently.
You are already running a business but operating under a structure that no longer fits. We model the tax and legal implications of converting, and execute the transition cleanly.
You are acquiring a business and need a corporation to purchase through, or selling and want to maximise your lifetime capital gains exemption. We structure the transaction for optimal tax treatment.
There is no single right answer. It depends on your income, your risk, your goals, and your timeline. Here are the situations where we most commonly recommend making the move.
Keeping Ontario businesses audit-ready since 2012.
Woodbridge, Brampton, and Kitchener: in-person or virtual, wherever you are.
From sole proprietors to incorporated businesses with multiple locations.
Our clients rate us five stars, and many have been with us for over five years.
If your question is not here, we are happy to answer it directly. A free 20-minute consultation covers most situations.
Call 905-605-5272 or email info@johricpa.ca
Most small and medium-sized businesses that operate primarily in Ontario incorporate provincially. A federal (CBCA) corporation gives you name protection across all provinces and easier registration in multiple provinces, but it also requires extra-provincial registration in Ontario and adds some administrative overhead. For most of our clients, an Ontario corporation is the right choice. We will give you a clear recommendation based on your specific situation at no cost during your consultation.
The Ontario government filing fee for Articles of Incorporation is $300. Our professional fees for a complete incorporation package depend on the complexity of your share structure, whether you need a shareholders agreement, and whether CRA account registrations are included. We provide a fixed-fee quote before any work begins so there are no surprises. The total is always a fraction of the cost of fixing mistakes made during a do-it-yourself incorporation.
Once we have all the information we need from you, an Ontario incorporation can typically be completed within two to five business days. Rush filings are possible in urgent situations. The CRA business number and HST registration are processed separately and generally take an additional five to ten business days.
Registering a business name (a sole proprietorship or partnership operating under a trade name) does not create a separate legal entity. You remain personally liable for all business debts and obligations. Incorporating creates a separate legal corporation that can own assets, sign contracts, and carry liability independently of you as an individual. This distinction matters significantly for liability protection, tax planning, and business credibility.
You do not legally need a lawyer to incorporate, and CPAs can prepare Articles of Incorporation and all associated documents. For more complex matters such as shareholders agreements, trusts, or regulatory approvals (for professional corporations), we recommend working with a corporate lawyer in addition to your CPA. We have established relationships with legal professionals and can refer you where needed.
A minute book is the official corporate record of your corporation. It contains your Articles of Incorporation, by-laws, share register, share certificates, and resolutions passed at meetings. Ontario corporations are legally required to maintain an up-to-date minute book. Many business owners neglect this until they need it: during a business sale, a bank loan application, or a CRA audit. At that point, reconstructing missing records is expensive and stressful. We set yours up correctly from day one and keep it current.
Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) benefit from the small business deduction, which reduces the federal corporate tax rate on the first $500,000 of active business income to approximately 9%. Ontario adds a provincial corporate income tax on top of this, bringing the combined small business rate to roughly 12.2% in Ontario. This compares very favourably to personal marginal tax rates for higher earners. Our taxation team handles your T2 corporate return and works with you on the most tax-efficient way to pay yourself from the corporation.
The decisions made at incorporation shape your tax position, your liability exposure, and your ability to sell or grow the business for years to come. Let our CPAs make sure yours are the right ones. Book a free 20-minute consultation and we will tell you exactly what you need before any work begins.
Woodbridge: 905-605-5272
Brampton: 905-230-0115
