Ownr

Last updated: January 2026

What Is Ownr?

Starting a business in Canada involves significant paperwork: incorporation documents, registration filings, legal structures, and ongoing compliance requirements. Ownr streamlines this entire process, providing online business registration, incorporation, and legal document services that transform weeks of bureaucracy into hours of clicking through a guided interface.

Built specifically for Canadian entrepreneurs, Ownr handles both provincial and federal business registration, generates all required legal documents automatically, and provides ongoing compliance support throughout your business journey. The platform guides users through critical decisions about business structure while handling the technical and legal requirements behind the scenes, making entrepreneurship accessible to anyone with a business idea.

Backed by RBC Ventures, Ownr has helped tens of thousands of Canadians launch their businesses legally and efficiently. For Canadian entrepreneurs ready to formalize their businesses without expensive lawyer fees or confusing government portals, Ownr provides the fastest and most affordable path to legal business operation.

Key Features for Canadian Business Registration

Business Name Registration

Before incorporating, many entrepreneurs start with a registered business name (operating as a sole proprietorship or partnership). Ownr handles provincial business name registration across all Canadian provinces, including Ontario Master Business Licences, BC Business Names, and Alberta Trade Names. The online process takes just minutes, and official documentation is delivered digitally to your dashboard immediately upon approval.

Federal Incorporation

Federal incorporation through Corporations Canada allows your business to operate under the same name nationwide. Ownr manages the entire federal incorporation process, including NUANS name search reports, Articles of Incorporation filing, corporate bylaws generation, share certificates, director and shareholder registers, and initial organizational resolutions. Federal incorporation is ideal for businesses planning national expansion or wanting maximum name protection.

Provincial Incorporation

For businesses operating primarily within one province, provincial incorporation may be simpler and more cost-effective. Ownr supports provincial incorporation in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and other provinces, handling province-specific requirements and documentation. Provincial corporations benefit from simpler annual filing requirements while still providing full liability protection.

Legal Document Library

Beyond incorporation documents, Ownr provides access to an extensive library of lawyer-reviewed legal templates designed for Canadian law. This includes shareholder agreements for multi-founder companies, employment contracts compliant with provincial labour standards, contractor agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and various commercial contracts. Each template is customizable and designed to protect your business interests.

Annual Compliance Management

Canadian corporations must file annual returns and maintain corporate records. Ownr provides compliance reminders, tracks filing deadlines, and offers annual return filing services to keep your corporation in good standing. Missing annual filings can result in dissolution, making this ongoing support valuable for busy entrepreneurs.

Registered Office Address

Every Canadian corporation requires a registered office address where legal documents can be served. Ownr provides registered office address services, giving your business a professional address without requiring a physical office location. This is particularly valuable for home-based businesses or entrepreneurs who prefer privacy.

Corporate Minute Book

Ownr maintains your digital corporate minute book, organizing all corporate documents, resolutions, and records in one accessible location. This includes tracking director and shareholder changes, documenting corporate decisions, and maintaining the paper trail required for good corporate governance.

Pricing (2026)

Sole Proprietorship Registration — From $49 (plus government fees). The fastest and simplest option for getting started as a registered business.

Federal Incorporation — From $499 (plus government fees). Complete incorporation package including all required documents and filings.

Provincial Incorporation — Pricing varies by province, typically ranging from $399-599 plus government fees.

Premium Packages — Additional services including legal document bundles, ongoing compliance support, and priority customer service.

Government filing fees are clearly displayed and added at checkout. Ownr maintains transparent pricing without hidden costs or surprise charges, so you know exactly what you are paying before completing your order.

Use Cases: Who Benefits from Ownr?

First-Time Entrepreneurs

New business owners navigating incorporation for the first time find Ownr invaluable. The guided process explains each decision in plain language, helping entrepreneurs understand the implications of choices like federal vs provincial incorporation or share structure. No prior business or legal knowledge is required.

Freelancers and Consultants Going Official

Freelancers earning significant income often benefit from incorporating for tax planning and liability protection. Ownr helps sole proprietors transition to incorporated status efficiently, providing all necessary documentation and explaining the benefits of incorporation for professional service providers.

E-commerce Entrepreneurs

Online sellers and e-commerce business owners need proper business registration for payment processors, wholesale accounts, and customer trust. Ownr provides the legal foundation for online businesses, including business numbers and proper corporate structure.

Tech Startups Seeking Investment

Investors require properly structured corporations with clean cap tables and standard documentation. Ownr helps startups establish professional corporate structures from day one, making future fundraising simpler and avoiding costly restructuring later.

Side Hustlers Testing Ideas

Part-time entrepreneurs testing business ideas often start with sole proprietorship registration before committing to full incorporation. Ownr's affordable sole proprietorship registration provides legal operation while the business validates its model.

Professional Corporations

Doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other regulated professionals often require professional corporations. Ownr supports professional corporation registration in applicable provinces, understanding the specific requirements for regulated professions.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

Dramatically faster than navigating government portals and DIY filings, often completing incorporation in one to two business days

Significantly cheaper than hiring lawyers, saving entrepreneurs $500-2500 compared to traditional legal incorporation

Canadian-specific expertise ensures compliance with federal and provincial requirements

Guided process explains complex decisions in plain language without legal jargon

All required documents included in packages with no nickel-and-diming for essential items

Ongoing compliance support and reminders prevent costly filing mistakes

Digital document storage keeps everything organized and accessible

Backed by RBC Ventures, providing stability and trust

What Could Be Better

Canada-only service does not help with US or international incorporation

Complex situations involving multiple founders with different share classes may still benefit from lawyer consultation

Premium add-on services can increase total costs beyond base pricing

Limited customization on legal document templates compared to custom-drafted agreements

Phone support not always available, primarily email and chat based

Ownr vs. Alternatives

vs. Lawyer incorporation: Traditional lawyer incorporation costs $1000-3000+ and takes one to four weeks. Ownr costs around $500 and completes in days. Lawyers offer personalized advice for complex situations; Ownr provides standardized packages perfect for straightforward incorporations.

vs. DIY government filing: Government portals like Corporations Canada Online are technically free beyond government fees, but are confusing, time-consuming, and error-prone for first-time users. Ownr handles the complexity and dramatically speeds the process while ensuring accuracy.

vs. Stripe Atlas: Stripe Atlas incorporates Delaware C-Corps for US business structure. Ownr serves Canadian incorporation specifically. Canadian entrepreneurs wanting Canadian corporations should use Ownr; those wanting US structure for US investors might consider Stripe Atlas.

vs. Other Canadian services: Competitors like CorpNet and provincial legal services exist, but Ownr's combination of pricing, user experience, and RBC backing makes it the leading choice for most Canadian entrepreneurs.

Tips for Successful Canadian Incorporation

Understand structure implications: Sole proprietorship offers simplicity but no liability protection. Incorporation provides liability protection and tax planning opportunities but requires ongoing maintenance. Consider your risk exposure and income level when choosing.

Choose federal vs provincial wisely: Federal incorporation allows nationwide operation under one name and provides maximum name protection. Provincial incorporation is simpler for single-province operations. Most scaling businesses benefit from federal incorporation.

Plan your share structure early: Think carefully about share classes, voting rights, and ownership percentages before incorporating. Adding partners or investors later is easier with thoughtful initial structure. Consider authorized vs issued shares.

Maintain corporate formalities: Corporations require annual meetings, documented resolutions, and maintained records. Treat your corporation as a separate entity from day one to preserve liability protection.

Keep records organized: Store all corporate documents Ownr provides in your digital minute book. Organized records simplify tax filing, future financing, and potential sale of the business.

Set compliance reminders: Annual returns must be filed to maintain good standing. Use Ownr's compliance features or set personal reminders to avoid dissolution for missed filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can I incorporate with Ownr?

Federal incorporation is often completed same-day or next business day. Provincial incorporation timelines vary by province, ranging from same-day to several business days depending on government processing times.

Do I need a lawyer to incorporate?

Not for standard incorporations with straightforward ownership structures. Ownr handles typical incorporation scenarios effectively. Complex situations involving multiple founders with different rights, unusual share structures, or specific industry requirements may benefit from additional legal advice.

What documents are included in incorporation packages?

Complete packages include Articles of Incorporation, corporate bylaws, share certificates, initial director and shareholder resolutions, corporate registers, and organizational minutes. Everything needed to legally operate your corporation is provided.

Can I incorporate federally through Ownr?

Yes. Federal incorporation through Corporations Canada is fully supported, including NUANS name search and all required federal filings.

What is the difference between sole proprietorship and incorporation?

Sole proprietorship is simpler and cheaper but offers no personal liability protection. Incorporation creates a separate legal entity, protecting personal assets from business liabilities and offering tax planning opportunities through income splitting and retained earnings.

Can I upgrade from sole proprietorship to corporation later?

Yes. Many entrepreneurs start as sole proprietors and incorporate later as their business grows. Ownr supports this transition, though it requires a new incorporation rather than simple upgrade.

Does Ownr help with business bank accounts?

As an RBC Ventures company, Ownr integrates smoothly with RBC business banking, though you can use any Canadian bank for your business accounts.

What ongoing costs should I expect after incorporation?

Corporations require annual return filings (government fees vary by jurisdiction) and should maintain accounting records for tax filing. Ownr offers ongoing compliance packages to help manage these requirements.

Final Verdict

Ownr removes the friction from Canadian business registration and incorporation. For standard incorporations, sole proprietorship registrations, and ongoing corporate maintenance, the platform delivers professional results faster and cheaper than alternatives. The guided process makes entrepreneurship accessible to Canadians without legal backgrounds, while the document quality and compliance support ensure businesses start on solid legal footing.

While complex multi-founder situations or unusual corporate structures may still warrant lawyer consultation, the vast majority of Canadian entrepreneurs will find Ownr provides everything needed to launch legally and professionally.

Rating: 4.4/5