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Registering a Corporation in Alberta

A corporation is a legal business structure that exists separately from its owners (shareholders). This means the corporation is treated as its own “person” under the law.

What a corporation can do

A corporation can:

Buy, sell, and own property or assets
Enter into contracts
Sue or be sued

You do not need to be a large business to incorporate. Many small businesses — even those with one owner — choose to register as a corporation.

Not sure if incorporating is right for you? It’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer or accountant before deciding.

Cost

There are two fees when registering a corporation:

A government filing fee
A service provider fee (charged by the registry agent processing your application)

Fees can vary. Please refer to the Registry Agent Product Catalogue for current pricing.

How to Register a Corporation

Step 1: Choose a Corporation Name

A named Alberta corporation must include three parts:

Distinctive – What makes your name unique
Descriptive – What your business does
Legal element – Indicates it is a corporation

Example: ABC Building Supplies Ltd.

Distinctive: ABC
Descriptive: Building Supplies
Legal: Ltd.

Accepted legal endings include:

Ltd. / Limited
Inc. / Incorporated
Corp. / Corporation
ULC / Unlimited Liability Corporation

Professional Corporations are limited to specific professions (such as law, medicine, dentistry, accounting, etc.).

Numbered Corporations

You may also choose a numbered name, such as 1234567 Alberta Ltd.

The number is assigned by the Corporate Registry
“Alberta” is always included
No name search is required

Step 2: Get an Alberta NUANS Report (Named Corporations Only)

A NUANS report confirms that your chosen name is not already in use or too similar to another corporation.

The name is reserved for 90 days
The report must be less than 91 days old when submitted
Not required for numbered corporations

If another corporation objects to your name and the Registrar agrees, you may be required to change it later.

Step 3: Prepare Your Incorporation Documents

You’ll need:

Articles of Incorporation
Notice of English/French Name Equivalency (optional)

Step 4: Record the Corporation’s Address

The registered office must be a physical address in Alberta
A record's address is also required (can be the same location)
A mailing address is needed if mail is not delivered to the physical address

Step 5: Appoint at Least One Director

A corporation must have at least one director
Directors must be 18 years or older
Director details are filed on the Notice of Directors

Step 6: Appoint an Agent for Service

An agent for service is an individual located in Alberta who can receive legal documents on behalf of the corporation.

The agent does not need to be a lawyer
Written consent is required
An alternate agent may also be appointed
Agents can be located at different Alberta addresses

Step 7: Submit Your Application

Bring the following to a Red Deer Registries agent:

All completed incorporation forms
NUANS report (if applicable)
Valid government-issued ID
Payment for applicable fees

If everything is in order, you’ll receive:

A Certificate of Incorporation
An email once your federal business number is issued

Doing Business Outside Alberta

If you plan to operate in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, you may also need to register your Alberta corporation in those provinces.

Alberta Corporation

Registry Agent Product Catalogue