What does incorporating cost in Alberta

The setup fee is not the number that matters

Most people asking this question are quoted a registration fee and stop there. The figure that decides whether incorporating is worth it is the yearly one that follows. A corporation needs a year end and a T2 from $2,500, and usually GST returns from $175 and payroll from $150 per month on top.

HBT charges from $500 for a business structure consultation, which is the conversation about whether those ongoing costs buy you anything. For many owners below a certain level of profit they do not, and we will say so. Shareholder tax planning, where incorporating does make sense, starts at $500.

What the consultation actually answers

How the work begins

1. 1

   Step 1: Current profit and what you draw

   The two numbers that decide the answer.

2. 2

   Step 2: A straight recommendation

   Incorporate, or wait, with the reason and the threshold stated.

3. 3

   Step 3: Set up properly if you proceed

   Year end date, program accounts and the first year of filings mapped out.

What does it cost to incorporate in Alberta?

Beyond the provincial registration fee, the cost that matters is annual. At HBT Accounting a business structure consultation starts at $500, and once incorporated a corporate year end with the T2 return starts at $2,500, GST returns at $175 and monthly payroll at $150. Incorporating only pays when profit left in the company is enough to outweigh that yearly cost, which is what the consultation works out.