In Alberta you register a business through a registry agent or authorized online service provider, not directly with the government. A sole proprietorship or partnership registers its trade name (usually around $50 to $100 all-in). A corporation needs an Alberta NUANS name report (unless it’s numbered), Articles of Incorporation and a registered office in Alberta. Expect roughly $400 to $500 in government and agent fees to incorporate, more if a lawyer does it. Then get your CRA business number, GST, payroll and WCB accounts.
On this page
- How to Register a Business in Alberta: The Short Version
- Sole Proprietorship, Partnership or Corporation: Which to Register
- Registering a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership Trade Name
- Step-by-Step: Incorporating an Alberta Corporation
- How Much It Costs to Register or Incorporate in Alberta
- After Registration: Business Number, GST, Payroll, WCB and Annual Returns
- FAQ: Registering a Business in Alberta
- Incorporate in Calgary With Maxpro
How to Register a Business in Alberta: The Short Version
- Choose your structure: sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation.
- Choose and check your name (or use a numbered company).
- Register through a registry agent or online service provider: a trade name for a sole prop or partnership, or Articles of Incorporation for a corporation.
- Get a CRA business number and the program accounts you need (GST, payroll, corporate tax).
- Register with WCB-Alberta if you’ll have workers in a mandatory industry.
- Get your municipal business licence (Calgary, Edmonton and most cities require one for many businesses).
Sole Proprietorship, Partnership or Corporation: Which to Register
| Sole proprietorship | Partnership | Corporation | |
| Who owns it | You alone | 2+ people | Shareholders |
| Personal liability for debts | Unlimited | Unlimited (general partnership) | Limited to your investment (in most cases) |
| How it’s taxed | On your T1 at personal rates | Each partner on their T1 | Corporation files a T2. About 11% on the first $500K of active business income in Alberta |
| Setup cost | Lowest | Low | Higher |
| Annual filings | T1 only | T1s (and sometimes a T5013) | T2, AT1 (if required), annual return, financial statements |
| Best for | Starting out, low risk, lower profit | Two or more owners testing an idea | Profit you don’t need to spend personally, liability risk, growth |
Rule of thumb: If your business profit is more than you need to live on, or you have real liability exposure, incorporation usually starts to make sense. See sole proprietorship vs incorporation.
Registering a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership Trade Name
If you operate under your own legal name (for example “Jane Smith”), a sole proprietorship doesn’t have to register a name. As soon as you use any other name (“Smith Renovations”), you must register it as a trade name.
Steps:
- Search the name to make sure it isn’t confusing with existing businesses.
- Go to a registry agent or online service provider.
- File the Declaration of Trade Name (sole proprietor) or Declaration of Partnership.
- Pay the government fee plus the agent’s service fee.
Good to know: Registering a trade name doesn’t give you exclusive rights to it. Someone else can register a similar trade name. Only a corporation name (or a trademark) is protected.
Step-by-Step: Incorporating an Alberta Corporation
Step 1: Pick a name or go numbered
- Named:g. “Bow River Plumbing Ltd.” It must have a distinctive part, a descriptive part and a legal ending (Ltd., Inc., Corp. or similar).
- Numbered:g. “2345678 Alberta Ltd.” No name search needed, and you can register a trade name later.
Step 2: Get an Alberta NUANS report (named companies only)
A name search report that shows similar existing names. It’s valid for 90 days.
Step 3: Prepare your documents
- Articles of Incorporation (share structure, restrictions, number of directors)
- Notice of Address (registered office and records address. Must be a physical address in Alberta)
- Notice of Directors (at least one director)
Step 4: File through a registry agent or authorized online service
You can’t file directly with the government in Alberta. The agent submits your documents and you receive a Certificate of Incorporation.
Step 5: Set up the corporation
- Organize the minute book: bylaws, share issuances, director and shareholder resolutions, and registers
- Open a business bank account
- Consider a shareholder agreement if there’s more than one owner
How Much It Costs to Register or Incorporate in Alberta
| Item | Typical cost |
| Trade name registration (sole prop / partnership) | Around $50 to $100 including agent fees |
| Alberta NUANS report | About $30 to $60 |
| Incorporation (government fee + registry agent) | About $400 to $500 total |
| Online incorporation service (documents + filing) | About $600 to $800 |
| Lawyer-handled incorporation | About $1,000 to $2,500+ |
| Minute book and organizational resolutions | Often included in online or lawyer packages |
| Annual return (each year) | Small government fee plus agent fee |
| Municipal business licence | Varies by city and business type |
Prices change and agents set their own service fees, so get a quote before you file.
After Registration: Business Number, GST, Payroll, WCB and Annual Returns
| Account | When you need it |
| CRA business number (BN) | Corporations get one automatically. Sole props get one when they register for GST or payroll. |
| GST | Once your taxable sales pass $30,000 in four consecutive quarters, or earlier by choice. Alberta has no PST, so you charge only 5% GST. See when to register for GST/HST. |
| Payroll account (RP) | Before you pay your first employee (including yourself, if you take salary from your corporation) |
| Corporate income tax (RC) | Corporations. File a T2 within 6 months of year-end every year. |
| WCB-Alberta | Within 15 days of hiring your first worker in a mandatory industry. See our WCB Alberta guide. |
| Alberta annual return | Every year in your corporation’s anniversary month. Miss it long enough and the corporation can be struck off. |
FAQ: Registering a Business in Alberta
Can I register a business in Alberta online?
Yes, through an authorized online service provider. Behind the scenes it’s still filed through the registry system.
Do I need to live in Alberta to incorporate there?
No. You need a registered office address in Alberta, though, and at least one director.
Does Alberta have PST?
No. Alberta businesses charge only 5% GST on taxable sales.
Should I incorporate federally or in Alberta?
If you’ll operate mainly in Alberta, an Alberta corporation is simpler and cheaper. Federal incorporation gives broader name protection but still requires registering in each province you operate in. See federal vs provincial incorporation.
How long does it take to incorporate in Alberta?
Often the same day or the next business day once your documents are ready.
Do I need a business licence too?
Usually yes. Most Alberta municipalities, including Calgary and Edmonton, require a business licence for many types of businesses.
Incorporate in Calgary With Maxpro
