In Ontario, creating a business corporation is achieved by filing articles of incorporation. The Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the “OBCA”) allows one or more individuals or bodies corporate to incorporate, but it excludes certain people from acting as incorporators, including minors, people found incapable, and undischarged bankrupts. The articles are not just an administrative filing; they establish the corporation’s legal architecture, including its name or numbered name, share structure, restrictions on share transfers, number of directors, and any business restrictions.
For founders, the practical point is simple: incorporation is not just “getting a company.” It is making foundational decisions about ownership, governance, financing, and control. Bad articles can create future friction between founders, investors, directors, and other potential stakeholders.
Our guide can show you exactly what information to put in each section of the articles of incorporation so that you can have confidence in the business you have created having a flexible share structure, and complying with the necessary corporate law requirements in the OBCA.
The information in this post is intended to be legal information only and nothing in it should be interpreted as legal advice.