Incorporate your professional practice as a regulated professional in Ontario. From $175.99 + government fees, with 2-hour rush available. Includes draft review with you before filing.
Choose your corporation name, which must end with "Professional Corporation" or "Société professionnelle". Provide your profession and share structure.
Standard ($175.99 + government fee, 1-3 days) or Rush (+$64.91, 2-hours).
Pay by credit card.
Once filed and accepted, we email your Articles of Incorporation and supporting documents directly to you.
An agent reviews every submission for accuracy before filing.
If we spot any issues with your name, details, or NAICS code, we contact you before submitting to avoid Ministry rejection.
Information required to file your Articles of Incorporation under the OBCA
| Article 5 | Set out restrictions, if any, on the business the corporation may carry on or on the powers that the corporation may exercise. If none, state so. |
| Article 6 | Set out the classes and any maximum number of shares that the corporation is authorized to issue. This item should be completed (e.g., unlimited common shares). |
| Article 7 | Set out the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions (if any) attached to each class of shares and directors authority with respect to any class of shares that may be issued in series. |
| Article 8 | Set out restrictions on issue, transfer or ownership of shares (if any). |
| Article 9 | Set out other provisions (if any). |
A Professional Ontario Incorporation is different from any other incorporation in Ontario when selecting a business name. Most Professional Incorporations include reference to the individual or individuals' personal name. This practice is not an absolute but it is most commonly used to establish the business name. Often, the governing body reviews the business name for approval prior to the incorporation being completed. You may want to confirm with your governing body if this is a requirement before proceeding. To assist you in gaining quick access, we have included a listing of most professions with their governing body website under Professional Colleges and Governing Body Links.
Examples of a professional corporate name are as follows:
Legal Element: The only two legal endings available to a Professional Incorporation are: Professional Corporation or Société professionnelle
Your next steps once your corporation is officially formed
Our team reviews your submission for accuracy. We then prepare and send incorporation documents for your review and approval. You may provide your governing body a copy of the draft documents for their approval before completion.
We file the Professional Articles of Incorporation with the Ontario Business Registry. Once accepted, we email all completed documents directly to you.
Within 60 days of incorporation, you will need to file the Initial Return (formerly Initial Notice) with Ontario, which lists corporate officers and confirms incorporation details. Failure to meet this filing requirement can put the corporation at risk of dissolution if not corrected. We can handle this filing for you.
Regulatory Colleges
After incorporation, you may need to obtain a Certificate of Authorization or other approval from your professional governing body before practising through the corporation. Most regulatory colleges require an annual Corporate Profile Report. We offer this as a separate search under our Corporate Search services. Failing to maintain compliance can result in your college revoking your authorization to practice.
These accounts can be set up for free directly with the government. Here’s when each one applies.
Whether your Professional Corporation needs to register for HST depends on the services you provide. Generally, registration is required when taxable supplies exceed $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four consecutive calendar quarters. However, many health, medical and dental services are exempt from HST and do not count toward this threshold. Professionals who provide taxable services may also choose to register voluntarily if they are below the threshold. OBC can help you register for an HST account when required.
WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) protects employees in the event of a workplace injury, with optional coverage available for owners. Whether your practice is required to register depends on your profession and staffing, so it’s best to contact WSIB directly with your specific business details to confirm your obligations and protect both your staff and yourself.
A payroll account is required as soon as you begin employing individuals within your corporation. It lets you remit source deductions (income tax, CPP, and EI) to the Canada Revenue Agency on your employees’ behalf. We can help set up your payroll account when you're ready to hire. The account can be created up to 30 days prior to the first date of pay to employees or within 30 days from the first date of pay to employees.
Quick answers to the most common questions about incorporating a regulated profession in Ontario
An Ontario Professional Corporation is a corporation formed under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) that allows an eligible regulated professional to carry on their professional practice through a corporation. Professional Corporations must follow specific rules for their corporate name, ownership, directors, share structure and permitted business activities, as well as any additional requirements of their professional governing body.
No. Professional Incorporation protects your personal assets from the corporation's business debts and contractual obligations, but does NOT protect you from professional liability, malpractice claims, or regulatory disciplinary action. As a regulated professional, you remain personally accountable for your professional services. Professional liability insurance is still essential and required by most governing bodies.
Eligibility is restricted to regulated professionals under five governing acts: the Regulated Health Professions Act (physicians, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, chiropractors, etc.), the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario Act, 2017 and Law Society Act (accountants and lawyers), the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, and the Veterinarians Act. If you don't hold one of these regulated licenses, regular Ontario Incorporation is the right choice.
Standard service is 1-3 business days. Rush service offers a 2-hour turnaround when ordered before 3pm Mon-Fri ET. The draft review step adds time for your governing body's review, but ensures the incorporation is filed correctly the first time.
Professional Corporations have additional regulatory complexity: governing body coordination, restricted share structures, mandatory NUANS reports, the draft review workflow, and only two allowable legal endings. Our $175.99 + fees pricing reflects this additional work versus our $54.99 + fees for standard Ontario incorporation. We're still significantly cheaper than law firms for the same compliance assurance.
We prepare draft Articles of Incorporation based on the information you provide and send them to you for review before filing. We recommend having the draft reviewed by your governing body to confirm it meets the requirements for your profession and to obtain any required approval. You may also wish to review the Articles with your accountant or lawyer. Once you confirm the Articles are ready to proceed, we file them with Ontario. This extra step can help identify potential issues before your Professional Corporation is incorporated.
Ownership rules for Ontario Professional Corporations depend on the profession. Generally, shares must be owned by members of the same regulated profession. However, specific exceptions apply to physician and dentist corporations, which may allow certain non-voting shares to be owned by a spouse, child or parent of a voting professional shareholder. Always confirm the ownership requirements that apply to your profession before issuing shares.
Only two legal endings are permitted: "Professional Corporation" (English) or "Société professionnelle" (French). The corporation typically includes the professional's name. Examples: "John Smith Medical Professional Corporation," "Smith Dentistry Professional Corporation," "Smith & Jones Chiropractic Professional Corporation," or "John A. Smith Law Professional Corporation". An Ontario Professional Corporation cannot have a numbered name.
The Initial Return (formerly Initial Notice) is a mandatory filing due within 60 days of incorporation. It lists corporate officer positions (commonly president, secretary, treasurer) and confirms incorporation details. Failure to file can put the corporation at risk of dissolution if not corrected. We can handle this filing as an add-on during incorporation or separately afterward.
Professional Corporations have several ongoing obligations. Depending on your profession, your regulator may require annual authorization renewal, a Corporate Profile Report, fees or other filings. You must also keep corporate information up to date, file corporate tax returns, maintain applicable tax accounts such as HST and payroll, and keep your professional licence in good standing. Failure to meet your regulator's requirements may affect your corporation's authorization to practice.
Yes. You can register a Trade Name (DBA) under your Professional Corporation to operate a secondary business name. For example: "Smith Dentistry Professional Corporation carrying on business as Smiley White." Trade Names share the corporation's bank account and tax accounts, simplifying administration. Name protection for Trade Names are more limited than your Professional Corporation name. We can register Trade Names alongside your incorporation or separately.
An Ontario Professional Corporation is restricted to carrying on the practice of its profession. It may also carry on activities that are related or ancillary to the professional practice, including investing surplus funds earned by the corporation. These restrictions are included in the corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
Have a different question? Speak with an agent or call 1-800-280-1913
Start your incorporation in 2 to 5 minutes
Most governing bodies review or approve your corporate name and require a certificate of authorization. Find your college’s incorporation page below before you file.
Tip: Confirm your college’s name and authorization requirements before incorporating. We include a “draft” copy of your Articles so you can have your governing body review them prior to filing with the Province of Ontario.
In the 2000 Ontario Budget, the Ontario government announced its intention to allow regulated professionals to incorporate their practices.
Professional incorporation provides many of the same tax and non-tax advantages enjoyed by other incorporated self-employed individuals. However, professional liability is not limited through incorporation, and shareholders of professional corporations are generally restricted to members of the same profession, subject to specific exceptions.
You may need a different registration based on your situation
Incorporate to Operate Within Ontario
Jamie Mason
Very easy. Very prompt to respond. I had a lot of difficulty creating a PC because I'm a social worker and the college has some specific requirements for the articles of incorporation. This is a great option for social workers in Ontario who want to incorporate!
Dave Banks
We have been dealing with Ontario Business Central Inc. for years and have always been very pleased with how quickly and accurately our requests have always been executed! Thank you!
Janet
The team answered all of my questions in a timely and respectful manner. The entire process was completed in less than 2 business days!
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