Quebec (Montreal) is a major market, but it has specific French-language requirements for business names and operations, and it administers its own Quebec Sales Tax (QST) alongside the federal GST. Factor the language and QST obligations into your planning.
CanadaProvince
Quebec
Large market with French-language obligations and QST.
Director residencyNo general residency requirement
IncorporationProvincial (QBCA) or federal (CBCA)
Sales taxGST 5% + QST 9.975%
NoteFrench-language obligations apply
In brief
Quebec at a glance
What it takes
What you provide, and what we handle.
What you will need
- Directors’ details — check the province’s residency rule
- A Canadian registered office address
- A corporate name and NUANS report, or a numbered company
- Your share structure and shareholder details
How StartEase helps
- Advising on federal vs provincial and director-residency options
- Incorporating and preparing your minute book
- Business Number and GST/HST registration
- T2 corporate tax and annual return filing
Step by step
How setup works in Canada.
The path is broadly the same across Canada — Quebec follows this route.
- 01
Federal or provincial
Decide between federal (CBCA) incorporation and the province, based on where you operate and each option’s director-residency rules.
- 02
Name & NUANS
Choose a corporate name and run a NUANS name search, or opt for a numbered company to move faster.
- 03
Incorporate
File articles of incorporation with the chosen registry and set up your directors and share structure.
- 04
Registrations
Obtain a Business Number and register for GST/HST, payroll and any provincial accounts you need.
- 05
First filings
Set up your minute book and diarise the annual return and the T2 corporate income tax return.
Costs depend on federal vs provincial filing, the name search, and whether you need a resident-director solution. We provide a transparent, all-in estimate before filing.
A considered first step.
Request a consultationPlanning Quebec? Let’s scope it.
Share your business activity and where you’re starting from.
We’ll help define what comes next.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Service scope and provider responsibilities are agreed before engagement. Government decisions, banking approvals and completion dates are not guaranteed.