2. Company name
Step 2 of 5 · Previous: Contact · Next: Registered office address
This step lets you choose the official name of your share corporation. You have two main options: a numbered designation or a reserved custom name.
Option A — Numbered company (common)
A numbered company, e.g. 1234-5678 Québec inc., is ready to operate as soon as it is created.
The number is assigned automatically by the REQ and serves as the legal name.
Benefits:
- No availability search required
- Faster creation — no reservation step
- You can add a trade name later at no extra charge
Example:
1234-5678 Québec inc. operating as Nova Tech
Option B — Custom name (reservation required)
If you want a custom name (e.g. Groupe Altitude inc.), you must reserve the name with the REQ.
The proposed name must be reviewed and approved to avoid conflicts with existing registrations.
Notes:
- Reservations are valid for a limited period (typically 90 days)
- If you already reserved a name, you can use it directly in the incorporation
- The name must comply with the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises
Showing the legal form in the name
The name of a Quebec share corporation must show its legal form. Section 20 of the Business Corporations Act allows two ways to do this:
- the name already contains the expression société par actions or compagnie;
- or it ends with one of the three suffixes below.
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| inc. | Incorporée (incorporated) |
| ltée | Limitée (limited) |
| s.a. | Société par actions |
“Ltd” and “Corp.” are not valid for a Quebec corporation, even for an English name — section 20 sets a closed list. A name ending in “Ltd” or “Corp.” will not be accepted by the Registrar. A numbered company gets its suffix automatically, e.g. 1234-5678 Québec inc.
Language versions
You may register the name in French, English, or both. If bilingual, both versions appear in the register.
If your clients are mainly French-speaking, a French name is often preferable. You can add an English version later by amending the articles.
What to provide
- Choice between a numbered designation or a custom name
- Corporate name (if custom)
- Alternate language version of the name, if any
- Desired suffix — inc., ltée or s.a. (unless the name already contains société par actions or compagnie)
Next step
With the name chosen, your corporation still needs an official home: the registered office, recorded in the register. Head to step 3 — Registered office address.
Numbered or custom name, your Inc. for $497
A form of about 20 minutes, $497 all included, government fees included. We prepare, review, and file your application with the Registraire des entreprises.