Startup and Onboarding
Registering your business with the Registraire des entreprises (NEQ): 2026 guide
July 23, 2026
At a Glance. In Quebec, registration with the Registraire des entreprises is the legal starting point for most businesses. It assigns you a NEQ, a 10-digit Quebec business number, and enters your business in the public registry. The process is done online, generally within 60 days of starting operations, with fees ranging from about $40 for a sole proprietorship to approximately $400 to incorporate a Quebec corporation, which is automatically registered upon incorporation. This is followed by an annual update filing, annual fees, and, as of March 31, 2023, the filing of beneficial ownership information. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
Registering with the Registraire des entreprises is often the very first official step for a Quebec entrepreneur, and one of the most misunderstood. Many discover the NEQ when opening a business bank account; others learn about the annual update declaration when they receive a notice of default. This 2026 guide explains who must register, how to obtain your NEQ online, what it costs, and, most importantly, exactly when an accountant should become involved in your startup: before, during, and after registration. It complements our guides on Signs It’s Time to Hire an Accountant and on GST and QST in Quebec.
The Registraire des entreprises is the public agency that maintains the Quebec business registry, a directory that anyone can access for free online. To register your business, you must provide the following information: its name, registered office, legal form, directors, major shareholders, and, as of March 31, 2023, its ultimate beneficial owners. In return, you receive the NEQ, the 10-digit Québec business number that identifies your business in its dealings with the Québec government.
In practical terms, the NEQ serves three purposes:
The registration requirement depends on your legal structure and the name under which you operate. The general rule is that you must file a registration declaration within 60 days of when the requirement arises, most often, when you begin operations in Quebec. Here is the 2026 overview:
| Your Situation | REQ Registration | Timeframe or Specifics |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship operating under your exact first and last names | Optional (exemption) | Still mandatory in certain sectors, such as tobacco retail or the operation of a tanning salon |
| Sole Proprietorship Operating Under a Different Name | Required | Within 60 days of starting business operations |
| General Partnership (s.e.n.c.) or Limited Partnership | Required | Within 60 days of its formation |
| Corporation Incorporated in Quebec | Automatic | Automatically registered by the Registrar upon incorporation |
| A corporation incorporated federally or in another province, operating in Quebec | Required | Within 60 days of starting business operations in Quebec |
| NPO, cooperative, or other legal entity | Variable | Depends on the incorporating statute; check your situation with the Registraire des entreprises |
The most common pitfall affects self-employed individuals: as long as you invoice under “First Name Last Name,” you’re exempt; the day you add a trade name, even “First Name Last Name Consulting”, the requirement applies and the 60-day countdown begins. Another pitfall involves federal corporations: incorporation with Corporations Canada does not replace registration in Quebec; these are two separate processes.
Everything is done online through the Registraire des entreprises’ services. The process itself takes less than an hour once the application is ready; processing generally takes a few business days.
Registration does not “protect” your business name, it simply makes it public. Two businesses can have similar names in the registry. If your brand has value, true protection comes from registering a trademark with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, a separate process from the REQ.
A common mistake is to register first and seek advice later. However, the decision with the most significant tax implications for your entire startup, choosing between a sole proprietorship and incorporation, must be made before you fill out any forms with the Registrar. Here’s a step-by-step look at how an accountant can make a real difference:
| Start-up Phase | Steps to Take with the Registry | Where the Accountant Makes a Difference |
|---|---|---|
| The weeks leading up to | Name Search in the Registry, Choosing a Legal Structure | Cost comparison between a sole proprietorship (T1 and TP1) and a corporation (T2 and CO-17), tax deferral, asset protection, and cash flow planning |
| The Day of Registration | Declaration of Registration or Articles of Incorporation, Obtaining the NEQ | Share structure and share classes, fiscal year-end, accurate disclosure of ultimate beneficial owners |
| 0 to 30 days after NEQ registration | Displaying the NEQ, Opening a Business Bank Account | Registering for GST and QST, source deductions accounts (DAS) if you hire employees, chart of accounts, and bookkeeping starting with your first invoice |
| 1 to 12 months | First annual update filing, annual fees | First tax payments, tax instalments, first federal T2 and Quebec CO-17 returns, choosing between salary and dividends |
Before registration: choosing a business structure. A self-employed individual reports business income on their personal tax return, Form T1 at the federal level and Form TP1 in Quebec. A corporation files its own tax returns, Form T2 with the Canada Revenue Agency and Form CO-17 with Revenu Québec, which opens the door to tax deferral and flexible compensation but adds ongoing accounting obligations. Incorporating for the wrong reasons, or remaining self-employed for one year too long, costs far more than the consultation that would have helped you make the right decision: your accountant will run the numbers for both scenarios based on your actual figures.
Registration day: decisions you can’t easily undo. Classes of stock, distribution among spouses or partners, and fiscal year-end: these parameters are set at incorporation and are difficult to change later. This is also the time to correctly declare the ultimate beneficial owners, that is, the individuals who hold 25% or more of the voting rights or fair market value, or who exercise de facto control.
The First 30 Days: Setting Up Your Tax System. Once you have your NEQ number, you’ll need to set up your business with Revenu Québec: GST/QST filings, which are required once taxable sales reach $30,000 but are often beneficial to file earlier, and source deductions accounts starting with your first hire, as covered in our guide on The Actual Cost of an Employee in Quebec explains the process in detail. This is the window where the accountant sets up the bookkeeping while it is still empty.
The First 12 Months: Finding Your Stride. Tax remittances, instalments, the company’s first returns, and the owner’s compensation decision: our analysis salary or dividends shows why this issue warrants a proper calculation rather than a rule of thumb.
Registration comes with responsibilities. There are three obligations that arise each year or whenever changes occur:
Failing to file two consecutive annual updates can result in automatic cancellation of the registration. For a Quebec corporation, cancellation results in its dissolution: the business legally ceases to exist, with consequences for contracts, bank accounts, and insurance policies. It is possible to rectify the situation, but the process is lengthy and time-consuming. An accountant who manages your compliance schedule eliminates this risk at the source.
The NEQ isn’t your only identifier, and mixing them up wastes time every time you deal with a government:
A Quebec company with employees therefore has to juggle these three categories of identifiers. The good news is that, if set up correctly from the start, this system will require virtually no further adjustments.
How much should you budget for this service? The typical business spends a median of about $3,000 per year on accounting, with most engagements ranging from $500 to $6,000, based on actual fees from 1,248 engagements concluded through Bankeo (2024-2026), out of more than 15,000 requests received; the Bankeo Fee Barometer breaks down these fees by service, from the startup package to monthly bookkeeping. You can also browse the Vetted accountants in the Bankeo network to start comparing.
Bankeo connects you for free with vetted accountants from its network of over 1,500 partners. Legal structure, registration, GST/QST, bookkeeping: everything is set up correctly from the start. Free service, often completed within 48 hours, with no obligation, and we’ll support you for as long as you need.
Find my accountantThe NEQ, or Quebec Business Number, is a 10-digit identifier assigned by the Registraire des entreprises at the time of registration. It identifies your business in its dealings with the Quebec government and is required by Revenu Québec, banks, and many clients. You can find it on your registration statement, in notices from the Registrar, or by searching for your business for free in the online business registry.
This primarily applies to individuals who operate a sole proprietorship under a name consisting of their exact last name and first name. As soon as you operate under a different name, even a slight variation, registration becomes mandatory within 60 days. Certain sectors, such as tobacco retail or tanning salons, require registration even when operating under one’s own name.
Expect to pay around $40 to register a sole proprietorship, about $60 for a partnership, and approximately $400 to incorporate a Quebec corporation, with an additional fee if you choose expedited processing. Annual registration fees are then added each year. These rates are adjusted as of January 1: check the Registrar’s official fee schedule before paying.
Yes. Incorporation with Corporations Canada does not replace registration in Quebec: as soon as a federal corporation conducts business or has an establishment in Quebec, it must file its registration statement within 60 days. It then receives its NEQ and becomes subject to the same annual filing requirements and annual fees as a Quebec corporation.
The business is listed as being in default in the registry, which is publicly visible and can complicate financing or bidding processes. After two consecutive missed annual filings, the Registrar may automatically cancel the registration; for a Quebec corporation, this cancellation results in its dissolution. It is possible to bring the registration back into good standing, but it’s best to mark the deadline on your calendar or have your accountant handle it.
your accountant will set up your business for GST-QST, source deductions, and bookkeeping
General information provided for informational purposes only, based on known 2026 tax rules. It is not a substitute for the advice of a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA): always consult a professional regarding your specific situation.
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