Find experts in your area

Enter your business postal code or select your area

  1. Ouest-de-l'Île 1675, Transcanadienne
    Bureau 301
    Dorval, Québec, H9P 1J1
    514 426-2888
  2. Centre-Ouest 1350, rue Mazurette
    Bureau 400
    Montréal, Québec, H4N 1H2
    514 858-1018
  3. Grand Sud-Ouest 3617, rue Wellington
    Montréal, Québec, H4G 1T9
    514 765-7060
  4. Centre-Ville 630, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
    Bureau 700
    Montréal, Québec, H3A 1E4
    514 879-0555
  5. Centre-Est 6224, rue Saint-Hubert
    Montréal, Québec, H2S 2M2
    514 723-0030
  6. Est-de-l'Île 7305, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Est
    Bureau 200
    Montréal, Québec, H1E 2Z6
    514 494-2606
Find your area

The Charter of the French language and its regulations govern the consultation of English-language content.

Legal considerations

The legal form of your business

The legal form you choose will depend on what your business will be doing, the number of people involved, risk management, financial and social objectives, etc.

Each legal form has its advantages and disadvantages. This guide prepared by the Fondation du barreau Québec (in French) will help you understand them.

Other useful links:

Registering with the Registraire des entreprises

In Québec, businesses must register with the Registraire des entreprises, by filing a declaration of registration when they are created.

The purpose of registration is to collect information on businesses and individuals doing business in the province. This information is essential for individuals, business partners and government agencies that have dealings with these businesses.

When you register your business, the Registraire assigns you a Québec enterprise number (NEQ). You will use this unique number to identify your business when dealing with the Registraire or other government organizations.

When you register your business, you must also declare its legal form.

Tool:

Registraire des entreprises du Québec – Start an enterprise – Register an enterprise

Naming your business

When naming your business, you must comply with the requirements of the Charter of the French language and the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business.

The business name is used by a company or an individual carrying on business or publicizing its activities, particularly in signage, advertising and communications.

Tool:

Registraire des entreprises du Québec - Les noms d'entreprises au Québec (in French)

Shareolders agreement

A shareholders agreement must be designed to meet the shareholders’ specific needs. Examples or templates of shareholders agreements can never be completely satisfactory, no matter how complete they are. You are best to consult a lawyer or notary to make sure you properly understand the clauses of this kind of agreement.

Tools available:

 

Find experts in your area

Enter your business postal code or select your area

  1. Ouest-de-l'Île 1675, Transcanadienne
    Bureau 301
    Dorval, Québec, H9P 1J1
    514 426-2888
  2. Centre-Ouest 1350, rue Mazurette
    Bureau 400
    Montréal, Québec, H4N 1H2
    514 858-1018
  3. Grand Sud-Ouest 3617, rue Wellington
    Montréal, Québec, H4G 1T9
    514 765-7060
  4. Centre-Ville 630, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
    Bureau 700
    Montréal, Québec, H3A 1E4
    514 879-0555
  5. Centre-Est 6224, rue Saint-Hubert
    Montréal, Québec, H2S 2M2
    514 723-0030
  6. Est-de-l'Île 7305, boulevard Henri-Bourassa Est
    Bureau 200
    Montréal, Québec, H1E 2Z6
    514 494-2606