Starting a Business in Ontario:The Complete Checklist
Fourteen concrete steps to go from idea to legally operating business in Ontario — registration, licensing, insurance, and money, in the order you'll actually need them. Check items off as you go; your progress is saved on this device.
This is general guidance, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Requirements vary by business type and municipality — confirm specifics with the Ontario Business Registry, a local municipal office, or a qualified professional before you register.
1. Before You Register
Validate your business idea
Talk to potential customers before you spend money — confirm real demand exists, not just a good hunch.
Choose your business structure
Sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation — each has different liability, tax, and paperwork implications.
Pick and check your business name
Search the Ontario Business Registry to confirm the name isn't already taken before you build a brand around it.
2. Legal & Registration
Register your business name (or incorporate)
Done through the Ontario Business Registry. Incorporated businesses register automatically as part of incorporation.
Get a Business Number (BN) from the CRA
Required for most business activity, including payroll, corporate tax, and import/export accounts.
Register for HST if you expect over $30,000/year
Below that threshold you're a "small supplier" and registration is optional — above it, it's mandatory.
3. Licenses, Permits & Insurance
Check municipal licenses and permits
Food service, trades, and home-based businesses often need a municipal license — requirements vary by municipality.
Get the right insurance
General liability, professional liability, or WSIB coverage if you have employees — often required before you can legally operate.
Confirm industry-specific certifications
Regulated trades, health services, and food handling often carry certification or inspection requirements beyond general licensing.
4. Money & Operations
Open a dedicated business bank account
Keeps bookkeeping, tax filing, and future financing simple — and is required for incorporated businesses.
Set up basic bookkeeping
Before your first sale, not after. Clean records make tax time and financing applications far easier.
Write a real business plan
Needed for almost any financing, grant, or serious investor conversation — and genuinely useful even if you're self-funding.
5. Ready to Launch
Explore financing and support options
Small business loans, regional economic development grants, and community lenders — a solid business plan is a prerequisite for most.
Track your first month of finances closely
Catching a pricing or cost problem in week two is far cheaper than catching it in month six.
Frequently Asked Questions
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