How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Alberta?
Incorporating in Alberta costs about $400 to $600 if you file yourself through a registry agent. An online package costs around $500 to $800, and a corporate lawyer charges $1,200 to $1,800 or more. Every option includes the $275 government filing fee. A named company also needs a NUANS name search, which costs $15 to $60, while a numbered company skips it.
After that, you pay a $50 government fee plus a registry service charge each year for your annual return. Budget for yearly accounting and T2 filing on top of the setup fees. This guide breaks down each cost so you can plan your budget before you file.
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Alberta in 2026?
The total cost of incorporating in Alberta depends on the name you choose and who files the paperwork for you. The one fixed cost is the $275 government fee to file your Articles of Incorporation with Alberta Corporate Registry. You can’t file directly with the province, so every Alberta incorporation goes through a registry agent or an authorized online service. Each one adds its own service charge on top of the government fee. That’s why quotes from different providers can be hundreds of dollars apart.
Your name choice changes the price too. A named company like “Bow River Renovations Ltd.” needs an Alberta NUANS report, which confirms that no other business is already using a similar name. A numbered company, like “2614587 Alberta Ltd.,” skips the NUANS report completely. Many Calgary owners start with a number to save money and add a trade name later.
So what does it cost to incorporate in Alberta for most small businesses? A basic named corporation filed through a Calgary registry agent usually costs $450 to $600 all in. If you want a minute book, share certificates, and bylaws prepared for you, plan on $700 to $1,000. Our guide on How to Incorporate a Business in Alberta walks through each step of the filing.
Breakdown of Alberta Incorporation Fees
Each part of the incorporation cost covers a specific filing or document, and knowing them helps you compare quotes.
1. Government Filing Fee and NUANS Report
The Alberta government charges $275 to file your Articles of Incorporation, along with your Notice of Address and Notice of Directors. This fee is the same no matter how big your company is or what industry you’re in. It’s also the same for a numbered company and a named company. The registry agent pays this amount to the province for you.
A NUANS report for a named company costs about $15 to $60, depending on the provider. The report is valid for 90 days, so you have to incorporate within that window or buy a new one. If the name is rejected, you pay for another search. That’s one more reason some owners choose a numbered company.
2. Registry Agent and Minute Book Costs
Registry agents in Calgary charge a service fee to submit your documents, usually $75 to $250. Some include the NUANS report and the government fee in one flat price, while others list each item separately. Always ask for an itemized quote, so you can see exactly how much of the price is the $275 government fee.
A minute book holds your bylaws, share register, director resolutions, and share certificates. Alberta law requires every corporation to keep these records at its records address. A basic minute book kit costs $75 to $150 if you buy it separately. Lawyers usually prepare the full set of documents as part of their fee.
Cost by Incorporation Method
How you choose to incorporate has the biggest effect on what you pay upfront. Filing it yourself, using an online service, and hiring a corporate lawyer can differ by more than $1,000. Each option also gives you a different level of support with your share structure and CRA setup.
1. Doing It Yourself Through a Registry Agent
The cheapest route is to take your documents to a registry agent and file them yourself. Expect to pay $400 to $600 in total, including the government fee, NUANS report, and service charge. This works well for a simple corporation with one owner and one class of shares.
The risk is in the details. Mistakes in your share structure or articles can cost far more to fix later than they would have cost to get right at the start. You also have to prepare your own bylaws and first resolutions. Most owners also need help registering a business number and GST account with the CRA.
2. Online Services and Corporate Lawyers
Online incorporation services charge about $500 to $800 for a package that includes the NUANS report, filing, a digital minute book, and CRA business number registration. These services are fast, and most finish the filing in one or two business days. They suit owners who want a simple setup without a lawyer.
A corporate lawyer charges $1,200 to $1,800 or more. That fee covers custom articles, multiple share classes, shareholder agreements, and advice on how to structure the company. If you plan to bring in partners, pay family members dividends, or use a holding company, a lawyer’s fee is often worth it. Good structure at the start saves tax for years.
Alberta Incorporation Costs at a Glance
This table sums up the main setup costs for each incorporation method. Use it to compare quotes from registry agents, online services, and lawyers before you choose how to file.
| Cost Item | DIY Registry Agent | Online Service | Corporate Lawyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government filing fee | $275 | $275 | $275 |
| NUANS name search | $15 to $60 | Included | Included |
| Service or legal fee | $75 to $250 | Included | $900 to $1,500 |
| Minute book and bylaws | $75 to $150 extra | Digital, included | Included |
| Estimated total | $400 to $600 | $500 to $800 | $1,200 to $1,800+ |
You can also incorporate federally for $200 online through Corporations Canada. A federal corporation protects your name across Canada, but it still has to register in Alberta as an extra provincial corporation. That registration adds about $300 plus service fees. For a business that only operates in Alberta, provincial incorporation is usually cheaper and simpler. None of these figures include the costs of running the corporation once it exists. A business bank account, liability insurance, and a City of Calgary business licence for certain industries all add to your first year budget. Incorporation is the first expense of running a corporation, not the only one.
Once you incorporate, your corporation gets its own business number from the CRA. If your sales will pass $30,000, you also need a GST account. Our GST Registration and Filing Guide for Calgary Small Business explains how to set that up for free.
Yearly Costs After You Incorporate in Alberta
The real cost of a corporation includes the yearly filings that keep it in good standing with the province and the CRA. Every Alberta corporation files an annual return each year around the anniversary of its incorporation. The government fee is $50, and registry agents add a service charge of about $20 to $50. If you skip the annual return, Alberta can strike your corporation from the registry. Reviving it later costs much more than the yearly filing.
Your corporation also files a T2 corporate tax return within six months of its year end. Accounting fees for a small corporation in Calgary usually run $1,500 to $3,500 a year, depending on the number of transactions and whether you need financial statements. Our guide on How to File Corporate Taxes in Alberta explains what goes into the T2 return.
Our team in Calgary provides Bookkeeping in Calgary, Calgary Financial Statements, and Personal Tax Returns in Calgary for newly incorporated businesses. We set up your books, file your T2 and GST returns, and prepare T5 slips when you pay yourself dividends. Our Business Owners Guide to Prepare T5 Slip explains that part of the process.
Is Incorporating in Alberta Worth the Cost
For many small businesses, the tax savings and liability protection outweigh the setup and yearly costs. Alberta’s small business tax rate is 2 percent, and with the 9 percent federal rate, the combined rate is 11 percent on the first $500,000 of active business income. A sole proprietor earning the same profit pays personal rates that can go above 36 percent at higher incomes. Our Alberta Corporate Tax Rate guide shows how those rates compare.
The tax savings only build up when you leave profit inside the corporation. If you take out every dollar to live on, you pay personal tax on salary or dividends anyway. Most accountants suggest incorporating once your business earns more than you need for personal living costs, often around $80,000 to $100,000 in profit.
A corporation also separates your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits in most cases. It can make it easier to sign contracts with larger clients and to bring in partners later. Clean records from day one keep those benefits intact, and our Bookkeeping Checklist for Small Businesses in Calgary shows how to stay organized.
Conclusion
Most small businesses pay $400 to $800 to set up, and $1,200 or more with a lawyer. Every option includes the $275 government fee. A numbered company saves the cost of a NUANS report and works well if you don’t need a brand name on day one. Budget for the yearly costs too: the $50 annual return fee plus a service charge, T2 accounting, bookkeeping, and GST filing. These yearly costs often run more than the setup itself. The tax savings at the 11 percent small business rate usually cover them once your profit grows.
Calgary Tax Consulting helps owners in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, and Okotoks decide when to incorporate, set up their CRA accounts, and handle every filing after that. We look at your numbers first so you know the move will pay off. Book a consultation before you file, so your corporation starts with the right structure.
FAQs
Q. How much does it cost to incorporate in Alberta?
Most owners pay $400 to $600 by filing through a registry agent, or $500 to $800 with an online service. All of these totals include the $275 government fee.
Q. Is a numbered company cheaper in Alberta?
Yes. A numbered company doesn’t need a NUANS name search, which saves $15 to $60.
Q. How much is the Alberta annual return fee?
The government fee is $50, plus a registry agent service charge of about $20 to $50 each year.
Q. Is it cheaper to incorporate federally or in Alberta?
The federal fee is $200, but a federal corporation also has to register in Alberta for about $300. For a business that only operates in Alberta, provincial incorporation usually costs less.
Q. When is it worth incorporating in Alberta?
Incorporating usually pays off once your profit is more than you need to live on, often around $80,000 to $100,000. At that point, the 11 percent small business rate saves more than the yearly costs.