{"id":10357,"date":"2025-10-10T11:11:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/?p=10357"},"modified":"2025-11-26T15:45:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T20:45:00","slug":"register-a-business-while-working-full-time-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/register-a-business-while-working-full-time-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Register a Business While Working Full-Time (Side Hustle Series)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Any Canadian working a full-time job knows how overwhelming it can be at times. Throw trying to start a new business in the mix, and the stress can boil over quickly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are starting a business and need to register the side hustle, registering a business online in Ontario is a much more seamless process than it used to be, thanks to online tools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the second part of our side hustle series. Here, we will guide you through actionable steps to register your business with minimal disruption to your day-to-day life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/why-start-a-side-hustle-in-canada\/\">Why Start a Side Hustle in Canada? (Side Hustle Series)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first step is to determine what business structure you want to begin. We offer 16 options to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/start-a-business-options.php\">start a business<\/a> in Ontario. This is critical because the structure can significantly impact legal liabilities, particularly when there are multiple owners. Tax implications also play a factor, including the amount of income that is taxed and the deductions available.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/understand-difference-sole-proprietorship-partnership-incorporation\/\">most common business structures<\/a> are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sole Proprietorship<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>General Partnership<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Business Corporation<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Pick and Search Your Desired Business Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arguably, one of the most exciting steps in registering a business is choosing a business name. For registration, you need a name that is unique and doesn\u2019t already exist, or isn\u2019t too similar to an existing business name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;ve come up with an idea but want to ensure the name isn\u2019t already taken, you can use our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/nuans.php\">Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search<\/a> (NUANS) to find out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Register Your Business Online<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019ve decided on your business structure and business name, you can officially begin the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/business-registration.php\"><strong>Register your business<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong> At OBC, we\u2019re happy to help you with this process to ensure all your i&#8217;s are dotted and t\u2019s are crossed.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A valid debit or credit card is required for this step, as a fee applies for registering a business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/incorporation-online.php\"><strong>Incorporate your business<\/strong><\/a><strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0 We make the incorporation process simple with our easy online forms and available Canadian support agents to answer any questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Obtain a <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/company-key.php\"><strong>company key<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/the-difference-between-a-business-number-and-a-business-identification-number-bin-in-ontario\/\"><strong>BIN (Business Identification Number)<\/strong><\/a> or <strong>Corporate Number<\/strong>: After completing the registration and incorporation process, you\u2019ll be given a company key, a BIN (9-digit code), OR a corporate number.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/forms\/business-registration.php\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/start-a-business-3b.webp\" alt=\"Register a Business\" class=\"wp-image-7108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/start-a-business-3b.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/start-a-business-3b-300x157.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/start-a-business-3b-768x402.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Apply for CRA Accounts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When registering or incorporating with OBC, we help make this step as easy as pie. Your business number (also called a BN) is created automatically once your application process is complete. Should you require this, we can provide it to you (for general partnerships and incorporations) on top of your registration or incorporation fee for a minimal cost. Please note that sole proprietors will have to contact the CRA directly to get their BN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CRA account is necessary for federal interactions, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If your business collects <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/businesses\/topics\/gst-hst-businesses.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HST<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/businesses\/topics\/payroll\/open-manage-payroll-account.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Payroll deductions<\/a> if your business has employees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/businesses\/topics\/registering-your-business\/corporation-income-tax-program-account.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Corporation income tax<\/a> if you opt to incorporate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5: Set Up for Smooth Business Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once your business is registered, the bank will require you to set up a separate account for it. However, most financial institutions require different accounts depending on whether your business is incorporated or registered. It can get a bit confusing, but organizing your finances from the start is crucial for when tax season rolls around. If you need a hand, OBC is here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Registering While Working Full-Time?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registering or incorporating only takes a few minutes of your time and can be completed online with Ontario Business Central.&nbsp; We have a team dedicated to helping answer any questions you may have, and our staff are available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Your Business in Ontario With Confidence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With easy-to-access online registration and providing step-by-step guidance, registering for a business has never been easier for full-time workers. Take the first step and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/contactus.php\">contact us<\/a> today to bring your idea to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stay tuned for the next blog in the series, which will cover choosing the proper business structure for your side hustle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"&#x6d;&#x61;&#105;&#108;t&#x6f;&#x3a;&#x69;&#110;&#113;u&#x69;&#x72;&#x69;&#101;&#115;&#64;&#x6f;&#x6e;&#x74;&#97;&#114;i&#x6f;&#x62;&#x75;&#115;in&#x65;&#x73;&#x73;&#99;en&#x74;&#x72;&#97;&#108;&#46;c&#x61;\">&#x69;&#x6e;&#x71;&#x75;&#105;&#114;&#105;es&#x40;&#x6f;&#x6e;&#x74;&#x61;&#114;&#105;&#111;bu&#x73;&#x69;&#x6e;&#x65;&#x73;&#115;&#99;&#101;nt&#x72;&#x61;&#x6c;&#x2e;&#x63;&#97;<\/a><br>Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913<br>Local: 1-416-599-9009<br>Fax: 1-866-294-4363<br>Office Hours: 9:00am \u2013 5:00pm<br>Monday \u2013 Friday E.S.T.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended, when you have legal or accounting questions that you speak to a qualified professional.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Any Canadian working a full-time job knows how overwhelming it can be at times. Throw&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[97,188],"tags":[180,179,134,172],"class_list":["post-10357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startup-guides-tips","category-side-hustles","tag-business-planning","tag-new-business-owners","tag-ontario","tag-side-hustle"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business-150x150.webp",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business-300x200.webp",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business-1024x683.webp",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"obc-archive-card":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business-720x405.webp",720,405,true],"obc-archive-card-2x":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"obc-archive":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business-960x540.webp",960,540,true],"obc-archive-2x":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false],"rt_custom":["https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/registering-a-business.webp",1150,767,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Laura Harvey","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/author\/laura-harvey\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/category\/starting-a-business\/startup-guides-tips\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Startup Guides &amp; Tips<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/category\/tips-resources\/side-hustles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Side Hustles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Any Canadian working a full-time job knows how overwhelming it can be at times. 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