How much does it cost to incorporate in Quebec in 2026?
Incorporating a business in Quebec costs at least $397 in government fees in 2026: $497 or $697 all-inclusive with Incorp-Québec, $840 to $950 elsewhere online, $750 to $3,500 with a lawyer.
The $397 minimum is the government fee for the certificate of incorporation of a Quebec corporation; the actual total then depends on the method you choose, compared below.
Comparison · 2026 rates
Incorporating in Quebec: all your options compared
Registrar government fees included in the totals.
| Registraire des entreprises (you do the filings) | Incorp-Québec (Essential package) | Other online services, lawyer or notary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cost | $397 (government fees)+ your time | $497 all-in$397 government fees includedStart | $750 to $3,500depending on provider and file complexity |
| Your effort and support |
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| Method | Total cost | Your effort and support | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registraire des entreprises (you do the filings) | $397 (government fees)+ your time |
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| Incorp-Québec (Essential package) | $497 all-in$397 government fees includedStart |
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| Other online services, lawyer or notary | $750 to $3,500depending on provider and file complexity |
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This guide breaks down every fee using the exact 2026 rates of the Quebec Registrar of Enterprises: first-year cost, annual fees, a numbers-based comparison of your options, provincial vs federal cost differences, real-world examples and the hidden costs to plan for. For how the process itself unfolds, see the steps to incorporate.
What are the Quebec incorporation fees charged by the Registrar (REQ) in 2026?
The Registrar's 2026 incorporation fees are $397 for a Quebec inc. ($595.50 priority) and $27 to reserve a name; the initial declaration is free within 60 days.
Here is the Registrar's 2026 fee schedule (the REQ fees) for the most common procedures:
| Procedure | Regular fee 2026 | Priority fee 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $27 | $40.50 |
| Certificate of incorporation (Quebec inc.) | $397 | $595.50 |
| Initial declaration (within the prescribed deadline) | No fee | Fees apply |
| Annual registration fee — corporation | $106 | N/A |
| Registration — sole proprietorship | $41 | — |
| Federal online incorporation (Corporations Canada) | $200 | — |
| REQ registration of a federal corporation active in Quebec | $397 | — |
| Federal annual return | $12 | N/A |
Source of the schedule: the Registrar of Enterprises' official form RE-101 (2026-01), Tarif des droits, and the fee page published on quebec.ca — amounts current as of January 1, 2026. That schedule is the only authority: the fees are revised every January 1.
The annual registration fee is not payable in the year following registration (note 5 of form RE-101; Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises, or LPLE, s. 80): a corporation registered in 2026 therefore pays no $106 in 2027. It becomes payable the year after that.
The initial declaration must be filed within 60 days of registration. It is free of charge within that deadline; past it, fees apply.
Priority processing is not mandatory: it is a paid option to speed up the processing of your application. To understand the role of the Registrar, the NEQ and the obligations that follow incorporation, see our complete guide to the Quebec Enterprise Register.
How much does the first year cost, then each year?
In the first year, $397 to incorporate (plus $27 if you reserve a name); the $106 annual registration fee starts in the second year following registration (LPLE, s. 80).
In the first year, budget $397 in government incorporation fees, plus $27 if you reserve a name. Add the initial declaration, free of charge if filed within 60 days of registration. The $106 annual registration fee owed to the Registrar is not payable in the year following registration (note 5 of form RE-101): it starts the year after that, alongside the annual updating declaration, generally free of charge when submitted within the prescribed deadline.
| Item | Year 1 | Following years |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of incorporation | $397 | — |
| Name reservation (optional) | $27 | — |
| Initial declaration (within the prescribed deadline) | No fee | — |
| Annual registration fee | — | $106 per year |
| Annual updating declaration | — | Generally free within the deadline |
In other words, keeping a Quebec inc. in good standing generally costs $106 per year in recurring government fees, provided the declarations are filed on time. Late filings can lead to penalties, and repeated failure to file can result in cancellation ex officio.
Do it yourself, online service or lawyer: what is the total cost?
The total cost is about $397 doing it yourself (plus your time), $497 all-inclusive with Incorp-Québec, $840 to $950 with other online services and $750 to $3,500 with a lawyer.
The full comparison at the top of this page breaks down each option in detail.
Every option has its place. If your situation calls for a legal opinion (complex shareholder structure, advanced tax planning, potential dispute), a lawyer remains the right choice. For a standard incorporation, a document preparation service generally gets you the same result with the Registrar, at a fraction of the price. To compare online services with each other (price, turnaround, what is included), see our comparison of incorporation services.
$497 all-inclusive, government fees included
The Incorp-Québec Essential package covers the government fees, the preparation of your articles of incorporation, the initial declaration with the REQ, and the director and shareholder structure. No hidden extras: the advertised price is the final price.
Incorporate in Canada (federal) or in Quebec: which costs less?
Federal incorporation costs $200 online with Corporations Canada, but a federal corporation active in Quebec adds $397 for its REQ registration: $597 in total, versus $397 for a Quebec inc.
Add $12 per year for the federal annual return: for a business active in Quebec, going federal therefore often ends up more expensive than the provincial route.
| Item | Quebec inc. | Canada inc. active in Quebec |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation | $397 | $200 |
| Registration with the REQ | Included in the Quebec process | $397 |
| Initial total | $397 | $597 |
| Federal annual return | N/A | $12 per year |
| Annual registration fee (REQ) | $106 per year | Depending on the applicable category |
The $200 federal fee looks attractive at first glance, but it only tells part of the story: the dual structure (Corporations Canada + Quebec Registrar) means two files to maintain and two sets of annual obligations. The choice between the two regimes depends on your situation — notably whether you plan to operate in several provinces — and not on cost alone.
Cost example — Federal corporation active in Quebec
An entrepreneur chooses the federal regime because he plans to operate in several provinces, while keeping his main activities in Quebec.
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Federal online incorporation | $200 |
| Registration with the REQ (corporation active in Quebec) | $397 |
| Initial total | $597 |
| Federal annual return (recurring) | $12 per year |
| Annual registration fee, REQ (recurring) | Depending on the applicable category |
How much does it cost to register a business in Quebec?
Registering a sole proprietorship in the Quebec enterprise register costs $41 in 2026, versus $397 to incorporate a corporation (Quebec inc.).
A sole proprietorship then pays a $41 annual registration fee, and a partnership, such as a general partnership, $63 for its registration and each year; as for a corporation, these annual fees only start in the second year following registration (LPLE, s. 80). The difference is not just the price: registered, the business is one with you; incorporated, it becomes a separate legal person. Our guide to legal forms compares the two.
How much does it cost to incorporate a business, depending on your project?
Incorporating a business costs $397 plus your time or $497 all-inclusive for a numbered company, and $424 plus your time or $697 with an official name and tax registrations.
Here are two typical scenarios with the actual 2026 amounts, to visualize the total cost of your project.
How much does it cost a self-employed worker to incorporate as a numbered company?
A self-employed worker incorporating as a numbered company pays $397 plus their time doing it themselves, or $497 all-inclusive with the Essential package, $100 more for a complete file.
A consultant wants to move from a sole proprietorship to a corporation, without a specific business name (numbered company, e.g. 1234-5678 Québec inc.).
| Option | Details | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Doing it yourself | $397 in government fees + preparing the articles, the initial declaration and the share structure on your own | $397 + your time |
| Incorp-Québec — Essential | Government fees included, articles of incorporation, initial declaration with the REQ, numbered company, directors and/or shareholders | $497 all-inclusive |
For $100 more than the government fees alone, the complete file is prepared and filed, which reduces the risk of errors in the articles or the initial declaration.
How much does a corporation with an official name and tax registrations cost?
A corporation with an official name costs $424 plus your time doing it yourself ($27 for the name and $397 to incorporate), or $697 all-inclusive with the Complete package, tax registrations included.
An entrepreneur is launching a shop and wants a corporation with an official name, registered for GST/QST and for source deductions in order to hire.
| Option | Details | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Doing it yourself | $27 (name reservation) + $397 (incorporation) + GST/QST and source deduction registrations to complete yourself with Revenu Québec | $424 + your time |
| Incorp-Québec — Complete | Everything in Essential + company with an official name + GST/QST tax registration + source deductions registration + express service + processing on non-business days | $697 all-inclusive |
Once registered for the taxes, she will have to collect GST and QST on her sales: our GST/QST tax calculator instantly computes the applicable amounts in 2026.
What hidden costs should you plan for after incorporation?
The hidden costs after incorporating: the minute book, an accountant's fees for the corporation's tax returns, a shareholder agreement if there are several shareholders, and the $106 annual fee.
These costs vary depending on the professionals you choose and your situation.
- The minute book: the internal record that gathers the corporation's articles, by-laws, resolutions and registers. It can be kept in paper or digital form, and its cost depends on the format and provider chosen.
- The accountant: a corporation files its own income tax returns (federal and provincial), separate from yours. Fees vary with the complexity of the file and the professional chosen.
- The shareholder agreement: strongly recommended as soon as there is more than one shareholder. It is generally drafted by a lawyer or notary, and its cost depends on the complexity of the structure.
- Annual fees and updates: the $106 annual registration fee and the annual updating declaration come back every year. Forgetting them can lead to penalties, or even cancellation ex officio.
These expenses are not incorporation fees strictly speaking, but they are part of the real cost of owning a corporation. Budgeting for them from day one avoids unpleasant surprises.
FAQ — Frequently asked questions about the cost of incorporating in Quebec
How much does federal incorporation cost?
Federal online incorporation costs $200 with Corporations Canada. A federal corporation active in Quebec must generally add $397 for its registration with the REQ, for a total of $597, plus $12 per year for the federal annual return.
Is it cheaper to incorporate yourself?
On paper, yes: you only pay the $397 in government fees. In practice, you must add your time and the risk of errors in the articles, the initial declaration or the share structure, errors that can cost time and money to correct afterwards.
How much does incorporating with a lawyer or notary cost?
Generally between $750 and $3,500 (indicative range, surveyed July 2026), depending on the complexity of the file and the professional chosen. This option makes sense when your situation requires a legal opinion, for example a complex shareholder structure or specific planning.
Does Incorp-Québec's $497 price include the government fees?
Yes. The $497 Essential package includes the government fees, the preparation of the articles of incorporation, the initial declaration with the REQ, the numbered company and the director and/or shareholder structure. There is no additional amount to pay to the Registrar.
Is a numbered company cheaper than a company with an official name?
Yes, generally. A numbered company avoids the name reservation ($27) and the verifications tied to choosing a name. With Incorp-Québec, the numbered company is included in the $497 Essential package, while the company with an official name is part of the $697 Complete package.
Ready to incorporate your business without blowing your budget?
You now know the real cost of incorporating in Quebec in 2026 — and if you are still weighing the right moment, our guide on when to incorporate puts numbers on the decision. Incorp-Québec prepares your complete file — government fees included — for $497 (numbered company) or $697 (official name, GST/QST and source deduction registrations, express service). A document preparation service, transparent from start to finish.