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PricingService areasAll services →Incorporate a Business in Hamilton
Incorporate a Business in Hamilton
CPA-led Ontario or federal incorporation for Hamilton businesses: $499 or $999 with full legal documents, plus government fees and HST.
- CPA-led by Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA (verify on CPA Ontario)
- Price matching, when agreed before you sign our proposal
- No surprise bills: the price is fixed before we start
- We reply mostly within one business day
- 24/7 receptionist, a real person answers
Last updated: October 15, 2026
Incorporating a Hamilton business
Most Hamilton owners who ask us about incorporating are already in business: a contractor whose profit has grown past what the family spends, a consultant with steady contracts, or a family that wants to hold a building through a company. A smaller group are founders starting fresh, often after working through a plan with the City’s business centre.
I’m Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA. T-Ledgers is a CPA-led accounting firm practising since 2020. We work with Hamilton clients by phone, video and email, so there’s no drive up the QEW. If you’d rather meet in person, our Mississauga office at 100 Matheson Blvd E, Suite 204 is available by appointment.
Hamilton rules to know when you incorporate
← Swipe to compare →
| Local rule or situation | What it means for a new corporation | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Business Centre | Free advice on your business plan before you incorporate, at City Hall. We take it from there: name, articles, tax accounts and books. | Hamilton Business Centre |
| City of Hamilton business licences | A licence is issued to the business owner. If your business type is licensed, ask the City whether the licence needs to be reissued in the corporation’s name. | City of Hamilton business licences |
| Buying property through the company | A corporation buying a Hamilton property pays Ontario land transfer tax only. Holding real estate in a company has trade-offs, which we go over before you incorporate. | Ontario land transfer tax |
Law: Ontario Business Corporations Act s.4 (articles of incorporation); Municipal Act, 2001 s.151(1) (business licensing); Land Transfer Tax Act s.2(1) (Ontario land transfer tax).
How we help Hamilton owners decide
For Hamilton trades, the main question is timing. Incorporating makes sense once profit is consistently more than you need to live on, because the 11.2% small business rate only helps on money left in the company. We run the numbers with your last two years of T2125s before you decide.
If you’re moving an existing business in, equipment, vehicles and work in progress can usually be transferred to the corporation on a tax-deferred basis with a section 85 rollover, quoted separately. The corporation also needs its own HST and payroll accounts, and its own WSIB account if it has workers, so we line them up with the incorporation date.
A typical Hamilton incorporation
An illustrative example (not a client story). A Hamilton electrician has run as a sole proprietor for six years, with two employees and a van, and profit is now about twice what the family spends. We incorporate an Ontario corporation, open its business number, HST and payroll accounts, plan a section 85 rollover for the van and tools (quoted separately) and choose a first year-end that doesn’t land in the busiest season.
Ontario or federal?
Both are taxed the same, and we usually recommend Ontario for a Hamilton business operating mainly in Ontario. Full comparison: Ontario vs federal.
Law: Ontario Business Corporations Act s.4 (articles of incorporation); Canada Business Corporations Act s.105(3) (resident Canadian directors); Corporations Information Act s.3.1 (annual return); Income Tax Act s.85(1) (rollover of assets to a corporation).
What the incorporation includes
- Name search and articles filed
- CRA tax accounts opened
- Legal documents on the $999 package
See everything included.
Incorporation pricing in Hamilton
← Swipe to compare →
| Package | Price (+ HST/GST) |
|---|---|
| Incorporation only | ✓$499 + government fees |
| Incorporation + minute book and legal documents | ✓$999 + government fees |
| Annual minute book maintenance | ✓$500 per year |
| Other provinces, section 85 rollovers, holding companies, professional corporations | Quoted separately |
Government fees at cost: $300 Ontario or $200 federal online; NUANS $25. Details: incorporation pricing.
More for Hamilton business owners
- Accountant in Hamilton
- Incorporation services
- Corporate tax in Hamilton
- Bookkeeping in Hamilton
- Payroll in Hamilton
Reviewed by Wajahat Ajmal, CPA, FCCA. Official sources checked October 2026.
Incorporating in Hamilton: FAQs
Should my Hamilton business be an Ontario or a federal corporation?
For most businesses based and selling mainly in Ontario, an Ontario corporation is simpler and cheaper to keep up. Both are taxed the same. Federal incorporation mainly helps if you want name protection across Canada.
Do I still need a City licence after incorporating?
If your business type is licensed in Hamilton, check with the City whether the licence must be issued to the corporation. We record the fee in the new books either way.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Hamilton?
$499 for incorporation only or $999 with full legal documents, plus HST/GST and government fees ($300 for Ontario or $200 online for federal, plus $25 for a NUANS report on a named Ontario company).
How long does incorporation take?
Online filings in Ontario and federally are usually certified the same or next business day once we have your signed details.
More questions? See our incorporation FAQs or our general FAQ.
Ready to incorporate?
Book a free 30-minute call and get a fixed price, mostly within one business day. If you have a lower written quote for the same work, show it to us before you sign the proposal and we’ll match it.
Call (866) 254-5368 or email info@tledgers.ca. A 24/7 receptionist answers, so a real person picks up.