How to Register a Numbered Company in Canada (CBCA / OBCA)

A numbered company in Canada is a corporation that uses a system-assigned number — for example, 1234567 Canada Inc. (federal) or 9876543 Ontario Inc. (Ontario) — instead of a chosen business name. Numbered companies are fully valid corporations with all the legal capacity of any named corporation. They are faster and cheaper to incorporate because they do not require a NUANS Newly Updated Automated Name Search report. This article, written from a Gyoseishoshi (行政書士) document-preparation perspective, explains exactly how to register a numbered company federally under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA, RSC 1985, c. C-44) and provincially under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA, RSO 1990, c. B.16).

1. Why choose a numbered company?

Numbered companies are popular when:

• The corporation will operate under a separate business name (DBA / trade name) registered later
• The corporation is a holding company that does not interact with customers
• Speed and cost are priorities — no NUANS search ($USD 25–35) required
• The founders prefer not to disclose a chosen name during incorporation

A numbered corporation can later adopt a corporate name by filing articles of amendment (CBCA s.173 / OBCA s.168), so the choice is not permanent. Many Canadian businesses incorporate as numbered, operate under a DBA, and only adopt a corporate name once branding is settled.

2. Federal numbered company under the CBCA

Step 1 — Choose federal vs provincial

Federal incorporation under the CBCA gives Canada-wide name protection (although for a numbered company there is no name to protect). The federal corporation must extra-provincially register in any province where it conducts business. The CBCA filing fee is CAD 200 online, lower than Ontario’s CAD 300 or BC’s CAD 350.

Director residency under CBCA s.105(3) still applies: at least 25% of directors must be resident Canadians, except that if the corporation has fewer than 4 directors, at least 1 must be Canadian-resident.

Step 2 — Decide share structure

For a single-class structure (the most common), use unlimited common shares without par value, voting, dividend-bearing, and entitled to remaining property on dissolution. This is the default Scrib🐮 template under CBCA s.6(1)(c).

Step 3 — File Articles of Incorporation (Form 1) online

Open the Corporations Canada Online Filing Centre: Primary source: https://corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs01035.html

In the name field, select “Numbered name” — Corporations Canada will assign a sequential number such as 1234567 Canada Inc. during processing. No NUANS report is needed for a numbered company under CBCA s.10(2).

Complete all seven items required by CBCA s.6(1):

• (a) Corporate name (auto-assigned numbered name)
• (b) Province of registered office
• (c) Classes and maximum number of shares
• (c.1) Rights, privileges, restrictions if multiple classes
• (d) Share transfer restrictions (commonly: “No share shall be transferred without the consent of the directors”)
• (e) Number or min/max range of directors
• (f) Restrictions on business (typically: “None”)
• (g) Other CBCA-permitted provisions

Step 4 — File Form 2 (Initial Registered Office and First Directors)

Under CBCA s.19 and s.106, a federal corporation must designate:

• A registered office address in the province specified in the articles
• The first directors (name, residential address, Canadian residency status)

Step 5 — Pay the filing fee

CAD 200 for online filing. CAD 250 for mail filing.

Step 6 — Receive Certificate of Incorporation

Issued under CBCA s.8 typically within 1 business day for online filings. The certificate is conclusive proof that the corporation came into existence on the date specified.

Step 7 — Register the ISC (Individuals with Significant Control) register

Since 22 January 2024, federal corporations must file a public ISC register with Corporations Canada under CBCA s.21.1. The register identifies individuals who, directly or indirectly, hold or control 25% or more of the shares (by votes or value) or have the ability to direct the activities of the corporation. Filing is part of the initial incorporation package.

Primary source — Corporations Canada main: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/business-corporations

3. Ontario numbered company under the OBCA

Step 1 — Open the Ontario Business Registry (OBR)

Filing is online via the Ontario Business Registry: Primary source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry

You will need a ServiceOntario account (or an authorized intermediary).

Step 2 — Select numbered name

Under OBCA s.8(2), when a corporation accepts an automatically-assigned numbered name, no NUANS report is required. The OBR will assign the next sequential number, e.g., 2987654 Ontario Inc.

Step 3 — Prepare Articles of Incorporation

Required content under OBCA s.5:

• Corporate name (assigned numbered name)
• Address of registered office (must be in Ontario)
• Number or min/max range of directors
• Classes and number of shares
• Share transfer restrictions (commonly required for private companies)
• Restrictions on business (typically: “None”)

Director residency: Since 5 July 2021 amendments, OBCA s.118 no longer requires Canadian residency for any director. Foreign-resident sole directors are now permitted.

Step 4 — File Initial Return / Officer & Director Information

Under the Corporations Information Act, the Initial Return is filed simultaneously with the articles via OBR.

Step 5 — Pay filing fee

CAD 300 for online filing through OBR.

Step 6 — Receive Certificate of Incorporation

Typically issued same day for OBR online filings.

Step 7 — Maintain internal ISC register

Under OBCA s.140.2 (in force 1 January 2023), Ontario corporations must maintain an internal register of individuals with significant control. Unlike the federal CBCA, Ontario does not require public filing of the register — it is kept at the corporate records office and made available to law enforcement and tax authorities on request.

Primary source — OBCA full text: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90b16

4. Documents to keep (regardless of jurisdiction)

After incorporation, every Canadian corporation must maintain a minute book containing:

The minute book is not filed with the government — it is the corporation’s own permanent record. CRA, banks, and prospective investors will require access during any due diligence.

5. Banking and CRA registration after incorporation

Primary source — CRA Business Number: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/business-number.html

6. Switching from numbered to named (if you change your mind)

To convert a numbered company to a named company:

1. Order a NUANS Newly Updated Automated Name Search (CAD 25–35)
2. File Articles of Amendment under CBCA s.173 (federal) or OBCA s.168 (Ontario)
3. Pay the amendment filing fee (CAD 200 federal / CAD 150 Ontario)
4. Update bank, CRA, and other registrations with the new name

The corporation’s legal identity, BN, share register, and history all carry forward — only the name changes.

7. Practical tips

1. Always include share transfer restrictions for private companies. Without restrictions, the corporation may be deemed a “distributing corporation” with public-company disclosure obligations.
2. Keep the minute book current — banks and lenders ask for it; CRA may request it on audit.
3. File the annual return on time — federal CAD 20–40, Ontario filed via OBR (currently no fee). Late filing can result in dissolution.
4. Update the ISC register (federal: with Corporations Canada; Ontario: internal) within 15 days of any change.

A clean numbered-company incorporation, prepared with Scrib🐮, can be filed federally for CAD 200 in 1 business day or in Ontario for CAD 300 same day — the fastest path to a functioning Canadian corporation.

Create your Canadian numbered company with Scrib🐮

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Disclaimer

Legal information, not legal advice. MmowW Scrib🐮 is operated by a licensed Gyoseishoshi (行政書士) office in Japan. We are not Canadian lawyers.

Sources

1. Canada Business Corporations Act — https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-44/fulltext.html
2. Corporations Canada (Online Filing Centre) — https://corporationscanada.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cd-dgc.nsf/eng/h_cs01035.html
3. Corporations Canada (main) — https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/corporations-canada/en/business-corporations
4. Ontario Business Corporations Act — https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90b16
5. Ontario Business Registry — https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry
6. CRA Business Number — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/taxes/business-number.html