Incorporate · By Province
Two routes. Incorporate provincially in Quebec, or incorporate federally under the CBCA and register (immatriculation) with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) to operate there. CorpStart files the federal-plus-REQ-registration route, not Quebec provincial incorporations. Quebec has French-language name requirements you'll need to plan for.
Two routes. Incorporate provincially in Quebec, or incorporate federally under the CBCA and register (immatriculation) with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) to operate there. CorpStart files the federal-plus-REQ-registration route, not Quebec provincial incorporations. Quebec has French-language name requirements you'll need to plan for.
Upfront and honest: CorpStart files Ontario incorporations and federal incorporations. We do not file Quebec provincial incorporations. So here's a clear map of what a Quebec founder can actually do.
Option A is a true Quebec company, incorporated provincially under Quebec's Business Corporations Act and registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (the REQ). That's the right choice if your business is entirely Quebec-based and you want a provincial company. It's handled through the REQ, not through CorpStart.
Option B is to incorporate federally under the CBCA and then register with the REQ (a process Quebec calls immatriculation) so your federal corporation is authorized to carry on business in the province. This registration is the Quebec equivalent of extra-provincial registration, and it's the route CorpStart supports end-to-end.
Quebec is different from every other province in one important way: language. Under Quebec's language rules, a business operating in the province is generally expected to have and use a French-language name in its dealings within Quebec. Even a federally incorporated company with an English name will usually need a French version of its name to register and operate in Quebec.
This matters at the planning stage. If you incorporate federally and intend to operate in Quebec, think about your French name early: it affects your branding, signage, and how you appear on the REQ. It's not a reason to avoid the province, just something to plan for rather than discover late.
The REQ, the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, is the provincial registry where your federal corporation completes its immatriculation and where a Quebec provincial company would be incorporated. Registration and annual updates with the REQ carry their own provincial fees and deadlines; confirm current amounts on the REQ site, since they're handled directly by Quebec.
If you're working with CorpStart, the federal-plus-REQ-registration path is what we file, and it's a legitimate, strong option. A federal CBCA corporation gives you name protection across Canada, one federal home jurisdiction, and the ability to register with the REQ in Quebec plus any other province you expand into.
The honest trade-offs are the residency rule, the registration step, and the French-name requirement. Federal incorporation needs at least 25% resident-Canadian directors; your corporation must complete immatriculation with the REQ before operating in Quebec; and you'll need a French-language name for Quebec. If your group meets the residency rule and you want national reach, that's a fair set of steps.
If your business will live entirely in Quebec and you'd rather have a straightforward Quebec provincial company, incorporating directly with the REQ is the right path, and we'll tell you so rather than steer you into a federal filing you don't need.
It comes down to national reach versus local simplicity. A federal corporation with REQ registration is built to operate beyond one province and protects your name coast-to-coast, at the cost of the CBCA residency rule, the immatriculation step, and a French-language name. A Quebec provincial company is the clean choice for a business that will only ever operate in Quebec.
Either way, the French-name and REQ requirements apply once you operate in Quebec. That's a feature of the province, not of the route you choose. The choice is really about whether you need a national footprint and name protection.
As always, we're honest about which route we file: federal incorporation and its REQ (immatriculation) registration, yes; a Quebec provincial incorporation, no. Tell us your plans and we'll point you the right way.
For the federal route, you answer a short questionnaire: numbered or named (with your French name in mind), your directors and shareholders (with at least 25% resident Canadians), registered office, and share structure. We check the residency rule and flag anything off before you pay.
We prepare your Articles of Incorporation, By-law No. 1, organizational resolutions, and share registers, and file with Corporations Canada under the CBCA. Then we can help you register (immatriculation) with the REQ so your federal corporation is authorized to operate in Quebec. If a Quebec provincial company is what you truly need, we'll say so plainly and direct you to the REQ.
Federal incorporation plus REQ (immatriculation) registration, three steps.
Plan your name, confirm the route
Think about your French-language name for Quebec. If national reach fits and you can meet the ≥25% resident-Canadian director rule, federal is a strong choice.
We file your federal corporation
CorpStart drafts your Articles, By-law No. 1, and resolutions and files under the CBCA with Corporations Canada, usually within about one business day.
Register (immatriculation) with the REQ
We help you register your federal corporation with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec so you're authorized to carry on business in Quebec.
Quebec provincial company vs. federal + REQ registration
| Factor | Quebec provincial company | Federal + REQ registration |
|---|---|---|
| Who files it | REQ (Registraire des entreprises) | CorpStart (federal + REQ immatriculation) |
| Home jurisdiction | Quebec | Canada (federal) |
| Director-residency rule | None | ≥25% resident Canadians (CBCA) |
| French-language name | Required to operate in Quebec | Required to operate in Quebec |
| Name protection | Within Quebec | Coast-to-coast |
| CorpStart files it? | No | Yes |
Can CorpStart incorporate a Quebec provincial company for me?
No, and we're transparent about this. CorpStart files Ontario incorporations and federal incorporations, not Quebec provincial incorporations. For a Quebec founder, we can incorporate you federally under the CBCA and help you register (immatriculation) with the REQ. A Quebec provincial company is filed directly through the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
Do I need a French name to operate in Quebec?
Generally, yes. Quebec's language rules mean a business operating in the province is expected to have and use a French-language name in its Quebec dealings. Even a federally incorporated company with an English name will usually need a French version to register and operate there, so plan your French name early.
What is immatriculation with the REQ?
Immatriculation is Quebec's registration process with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, the province's equivalent of extra-provincial registration. A federal corporation that carries on business in Quebec must complete immatriculation with the REQ before operating there. CorpStart can help you with this as part of the federal route.
Should a Quebec business incorporate provincially or federally?
If your business will operate only in Quebec, a Quebec provincial company through the REQ is often simplest. If you want name protection across Canada or expect to operate beyond Quebec, federal incorporation plus REQ registration (the route CorpStart files) is a strong fit. Either way, the French-name and REQ requirements apply once you operate in Quebec.
Does federal incorporation require a Canadian-resident director?
Yes. Under the CBCA, at least 25% of a federal corporation's directors must be resident Canadians (or at least one if you have fewer than four directors). If your group can't meet that, the federal route isn't available without adding a qualifying director, something to weigh against a Quebec provincial company, which has no residency requirement.
Based in Quebec?
$279 service fee + $200 federal government fee, plus REQ immatriculation. We file federal incorporations and REQ registration, not Quebec provincial companies, and we'll help you plan your French name.
Start my corporationCorpStart is a document preparation service, not a law firm. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal or tax advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed lawyer or accountant.