General Overview
A corporation is an independent legal entity that exists separate and apart from its owners (shareholders). Basically, the corporation acts as a ‘person.’
As a ‘person,’ a corporation can:
You do not need to be a large business to register as a corporation. A small business with only one owner can register as a corporation.
As a ‘person,’ a corporation can:
- buy, sell and own assets, including land
- make contracts
- sue
- be sued
You do not need to be a large business to register as a corporation. A small business with only one owner can register as a corporation.
How to apply for your new Alberta Corporation
Step 1: Choose a business name and get an Alberta NUANS Report
An Alberta corporation name consists of 3 elements:
‘ABC Building Supplies Ltd.’ is an example of a corporation name that contains all 3 elements.
'ABC' is the distinctive element.
‘Building Supplies’ is the descriptive element.
‘Ltd.’ is the legal element.
Acceptable Legal Elements
The followings are some of the common legal elements permitted by the Business Corporations Act:
The ‘Professional Corporation’ element can only be used for one of the following types of professions:
Your corporation can also use a ‘number’ name, such as ‘785843 Alberta Inc.’
For more information, please visit https://www.alberta.ca/incorporate-alberta-corporation.aspx
- Distinctive
- A distinctive element is a unique word or location that makes your corporation name different from others.
- Descriptive
- A descriptive element describes what the corporation does or what the corporation is.
- Legal
- All Alberta corporations are required to have a legal element at the end of their name.
‘ABC Building Supplies Ltd.’ is an example of a corporation name that contains all 3 elements.
'ABC' is the distinctive element.
‘Building Supplies’ is the descriptive element.
‘Ltd.’ is the legal element.
Acceptable Legal Elements
The followings are some of the common legal elements permitted by the Business Corporations Act:
- Limited
- Ltd.
- Corp.
- Corporation
- Inc.
- Incorporated
The ‘Professional Corporation’ element can only be used for one of the following types of professions:
- Chartered Professional Accountants
- Chiropractor
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Optometry
Your corporation can also use a ‘number’ name, such as ‘785843 Alberta Inc.’
- the number portion of the name is assigned by Corporate Registry
- ‘Alberta’ always forms the second part of the name
For more information, please visit https://www.alberta.ca/incorporate-alberta-corporation.aspx
Alberta NUANS Report - $45.00
After you choose your business name, you need to get an Alberta NUANS report and review it to make sure there is no other corporation with an identical name or a name that is too similar to your proposed corporation name. Unlike business names, identically named corporations are not allowed.
The NUANS report reserves the proposed name for 90 days. The complete report must be submitted with the incorporation application and must be less than 91 days old.
You can request for a NUANS report at our office. It would only take about 5-10 minutes for us to retrieve the result for you.
A NUANS report is not required when the proposed name will be a 'number name' assigned by Corporate Registry (for example, 9999999 Alberta Ltd.).
After you choose your business name, you need to get an Alberta NUANS report and review it to make sure there is no other corporation with an identical name or a name that is too similar to your proposed corporation name. Unlike business names, identically named corporations are not allowed.
The NUANS report reserves the proposed name for 90 days. The complete report must be submitted with the incorporation application and must be less than 91 days old.
You can request for a NUANS report at our office. It would only take about 5-10 minutes for us to retrieve the result for you.
A NUANS report is not required when the proposed name will be a 'number name' assigned by Corporate Registry (for example, 9999999 Alberta Ltd.).
Step 2: Complete all the required application forms
1. Articles of Incorporation
Record all the necessary information needed for the incorporation including
If you need more space on the form, please save your schedules into plain text format and email it to [email protected]
Effective January 2019, a valid email address must be provided. Refer to this page for more information
2. Notice of Address
The registered office needs to be a physical location in Alberta, so that the corporation can get legal documents delivered. The records address, if not the same as the registered office, also needs to be physically located in Alberta. You will need a mailing address in Alberta for the corporation if you do not have mail delivered to the registered office
3. Notice of Directors
Elect or appoint at least one director for your corporation and record that information on the Notice of Directors. Directors must be adults and at least one quarter of the board must be Canadian residents
4. Notice of Agent for Service/Change of Agent for Service for an Alberta or Extra-Provincial Corporation
This requirement applies to all incorporations and amalgamations for Alberta corporations and all extra-provincial corporations continued into Alberta on or after March 29, 2021.
An agent for service is an individual located in Alberta who can accept notices and documents in person or by mail on behalf of the corporation. The agent for service does not need to be a lawyer.
Record all the necessary information needed for the incorporation including
- Shares Structure
- Restriction on shares transfer
- Minimum and maximum number of allowed directors
- Other rules and provision
If you need more space on the form, please save your schedules into plain text format and email it to [email protected]
Effective January 2019, a valid email address must be provided. Refer to this page for more information
2. Notice of Address
The registered office needs to be a physical location in Alberta, so that the corporation can get legal documents delivered. The records address, if not the same as the registered office, also needs to be physically located in Alberta. You will need a mailing address in Alberta for the corporation if you do not have mail delivered to the registered office
3. Notice of Directors
Elect or appoint at least one director for your corporation and record that information on the Notice of Directors. Directors must be adults and at least one quarter of the board must be Canadian residents
4. Notice of Agent for Service/Change of Agent for Service for an Alberta or Extra-Provincial Corporation
This requirement applies to all incorporations and amalgamations for Alberta corporations and all extra-provincial corporations continued into Alberta on or after March 29, 2021.
An agent for service is an individual located in Alberta who can accept notices and documents in person or by mail on behalf of the corporation. The agent for service does not need to be a lawyer.
Step 3: Submit your application
You need to take your forms to our office along with the following documents:
You can also send in your request by email. Ensure to attach all the required forms and any supporting documents. Our corporate specialist will review the application and send out the electronic invoice. Once payment is processed, our specialist will complete your request within 2 business days.
- Completed, signed application forms
- Articles of Incorporation
- Notice of Address
- Notice of Directors
- Notice of Agent for Service/Change of Agent for Service
- Alberta NUANS Report - within 90 days
- One piece of government issued photo identification (E.g. Provincial Driver license, Passport)
You can also send in your request by email. Ensure to attach all the required forms and any supporting documents. Our corporate specialist will review the application and send out the electronic invoice. Once payment is processed, our specialist will complete your request within 2 business days.
Need a little help or have some other questions? Please feel free to contact us.
