What is the very first thing to do when starting a business in Ontario?

Talk to ten potential customers before you register or spend anything. Registration takes an afternoon and costs $60; a business nobody wants costs a year. Once you can say who the customer is, what problem you solve, what you charge and what it costs you to deliver, the rest of this checklist is mostly paperwork.

How much does it cost to start a business in Ontario?

The government part is small: $60 to register a business name (or nothing if you trade under your own name), $300 to incorporate in Ontario or $200 federally, and $0 for the Business Number and HST account. Insurance, a municipal licence if you need one, equipment and your first months of expenses are where real money goes. Figures are those published at the time of writing; the Ontario Business Registry page is the authority.

Do I have to register anything to start a small business in Ontario?

Only in specific cases. A sole proprietor trading under their own legal name, with no employees and under $30,000 in annual taxable sales, does not have to register a business name or an HST account. Using a business name, hiring someone, or passing the HST threshold each makes a registration mandatory. Municipal licences depend on your business type regardless.

How long does the whole checklist take?

The filings are fast: name registration and incorporation are usually same or next business day online, and the CRA Business Number is immediate. The slow parts are the customer conversations in item one and any municipal inspection. Most service businesses go from idea to first sale in four to eight weeks.

Do I need a lawyer or an accountant?

Not for most of the list; name registration, the Business Number, HST and municipal licensing are designed to be self-serve. An accountant is worth an hour before you choose a structure and before your first tax return, and a lawyer is worth paying for shareholder agreements, leases and anything with real liability exposure. Small Business Enterprise Centres offer free advice on everything else.

Is this checklist official or legal advice?

No. It is general guidance to help you track the real steps, not legal, tax or financial advice. Requirements vary by business type and municipality, so confirm specifics with the Ontario Business Registry, your municipal office or a qualified professional. Each item names where to confirm it.

How is this different from the business plan checklist?

This one covers the legal, licensing and administrative steps to operate in Ontario. The business plan checklist covers what a lender, grant panel or competition judge expects to see in a written plan. Most founders need both, usually in this order, and item twelve on this list is where they meet.

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Starting a business in Ontario: the 17-step checklist

Every step from first customer conversation to first tax deadline, in the order you will need them, with where to do each one, what it costs and how long it takes. Tick items off as you go; your progress is saved on this device.

Published July 13, 2026Last reviewed September 5, 2026How we research and correct this

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Start with the three items that cost nothing.

General guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice. Fees and thresholds are the published figures at the time of writing and each item says where to confirm it. Requirements vary by business type and municipality.

Extra steps by business type

The list above applies to everyone. These are the additions that catch people out in specific kinds of business.

Home-based

Confirm home-occupation zoning: client visits, employees, signage, storage and parking are all commonly limited
Tell your home insurer; a standard policy usually excludes business use and business inventory
If registered for HST, you can claim the business-use share of home expenses; keep the calculation with your records

Food and drink

Notify your local public health unit before opening and expect an inspection
At least one certified food handler on site during operating hours
Low-risk foods (most baked goods, jams, candy) may be prepared in a home kitchen and sold; higher-risk foods need an inspected premises
Farmers' markets and pop-ups often have their own vendor permits

Skilled trades and construction

Compulsory trades (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, automotive and others) require certification or registration with Skilled Trades Ontario
Electrical contracting requires a Licensed Electrical Contractor licence from the Electrical Safety Authority
WSIB coverage is mandatory in construction even for an independent operator with no employees
New home builders need a Home Construction Regulatory Authority licence

Online and e-commerce

Once registered for HST, charge the rate of the province the customer is in, not Ontario's, under the place-of-supply rules
A privacy policy that meets PIPEDA if you collect any personal information, which every checkout does
Marketing emails and texts need consent under Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation
Marketplace platforms may collect and remit sales tax for you; confirm rather than assume

Hiring your first person

CRA payroll account before the first pay date; remit deductions on the assigned schedule
WSIB registration within 10 days
Ontario Employment Standards: minimum wage, hours of work, vacation pay, public holidays, and the mandatory Employment Standards poster
Mandatory worker and supervisor health and safety awareness training under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

Documents you will end up with

Keep these in one folder. Banks, landlords, clients and grant panels ask for the same set.

Government photo ID and your Social Insurance Number (for the Business Number)
Business name registration certificate, or articles of incorporation and the Initial Return
NUANS report, if you incorporated with a name
CRA Business Number confirmation, and HST number if registered
Municipal business licence, if your type needs one
Certificate of insurance
WSIB account number or clearance certificate, if applicable
Lease, or written permission to operate from the premises
Supplier and equipment quotes
The business plan and cash-flow forecast

The reasoning behind each step, with the full cost table and timeline, is in our guide to how to start a business in Ontario.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Checked 5 September 2026. Fees change; the official page always wins over this one. How we research and correct guides is described in our editorial standards.

Your next step

Working through the list? Enter while you do.

You do not have to finish every step before you pitch. Entries close March 31, 2027, and the written pitch plus three short videos can be recorded on a phone. Start Business 101 free, then submit — the judges' feedback will tell you which steps matter most.

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Starting a business in Ontario: the 17-step checklist

Before you register

1Talk to ten potential customers

2Choose a business structure

3Choose a name and search the registry

Legal and registration

4Register the business name, or file articles of incorporation

5Get a CRA Business Number

6Register for HST when you need to, or earlier if it pays

7Open a payroll account before the first pay date, if you will pay anyone

Licences, permits and insurance

8Check zoning, licences and permits with your municipality

9Confirm industry certifications and inspections

10Arrange insurance

11Register with WSIB within 10 days of hiring, or if you are an independent operator in construction

Money and operations

12Open a business bank account

13Set up bookkeeping and a receipts habit

14Write a plan with a 12-month cash-flow forecast

15Line up financing and free support

Launch

16Make a first sale within 30 days

17Put every tax and filing deadline in a calendar