From business plans to incorporation, from taxes to your first accountant: clear guides, free calculators, and reading guides to help you move forward step by step. And when the time comes to take action, we’ll connect you with the right accountant, for free.
Starting a business in Quebec follows a familiar path: validating your business plan, choosing a legal structure, registering the business with the Registraire des entreprises, registering for taxes as needed, and then setting up your accounting system. This page brings together all of Bankeo’s guides on the subject, three organized reading paths, and calculators to help you quantify the impact of each decision.
Three reading paths, in the order in which questions actually arise. Start where you are, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
From the business plan to your first accountant: a complete, step-by-step guide for entrepreneurs in Quebec.
Understand each business structure, make an informed decision using our side-by-side comparisons, and then calculate the costs and taxes after incorporation.
Initial registration, GST/QST and small supplier status, first tax return, paying yourself as an executive, and budgeting for your accountant, all backed by data from the Barometer.
The first step: validate your business idea, develop a solid business plan, and know who to consult before getting started.
The steps to starting a business in Quebec, the actual costs, and pitfalls to avoid, updated for 2026.
The Structure of a Solid Business Plan: Sections, Figures, and Common Mistakes.
Why it’s important to work with the right accountant from the very start, and how to find one easily.
Sole proprietorship, corporation, SENC: Your business structure determines your liability, taxes, and accounting. Here’s how to decide.
A comprehensive overview of business structures in Quebec and how to choose the right one based on your income and goals.
The simplest business structure in Quebec: what it allows, what risks it entails, and when to move beyond it.
The Bottom Line: Liability, Taxes, Costs, and the Threshold at Which Incorporation Pays Off.
Corporation or General Partnership: The Showdown Between Partnership Structures.
Self-Employed IT Consultant: The Right Business Structure and Its Tax Implications, Explained Simply.
Definition: What is incorporation? View the glossary
Incorporation creates a separate legal entity: it offers greater protection and more tax options, in exchange for certain procedures and obligations. Here’s the complete step-by-step guide, including costs.
Pros, cons, procedures, and taxation: the definitive guide to incorporating a business in Quebec.
Government fees, professional fees, and recurring costs: a complete breakdown based on the Bankeo Fee Barometer.
Federal or provincial incorporation: the right choice depends on where you operate and your business goals.
REQ, NEQ, and Registration Requirements: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Initial Filing After Incorporation: What to File, When, and How.
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GST/QST, self-employed tax, first corporate tax return: tax obligations come up quickly. It’s best to be prepared.
When to Register, How to Collect and Remit: The GST/QST Guide for Entrepreneurs, 30-Threshold 000 $ included.
Small Supplier Status Explained: Who Qualifies, Its Limitations, and When to Opt Out.
Tax instalments, deductions, due dates: Taxes for self-employed individuals in Quebec in 2026.
Federal and Quebec tax rates applicable to small and medium-sized businesses in 2026, including the SME deduction.
T2, CO-17, required documents: prepare your business tax return with peace of mind.
Calculate your taxes: GST/QST calculator · Your self-employment taxes: Individual tax calculator
Once your business is up and running, there are three key figures to keep in mind: your executive compensation, the cost of your first employee, and your accountant’s fee.
Determining compensation for an incorporated executive, calculated using our interactive calculator.
A one-page comparison: contributions, RRSPs, simplicity, with a recommendation based on your profile.
QPP, QPIP, HSF, CNESST: The actual cost of hiring your first employee, including payroll taxes, projected for 2026.
Fees observed on 1 248 contracts concluded: median, ranges by sector, and pricing factors.
Definition: Salary vs. Dividend. View the glossary
Your business is taking off: here’s when to hire your first accountant, what tasks to assign them, and how to set up a solid accounting system from day one.
When to hire your first accountant, what tasks to assign them, and how much to budget.
Financing, RS Loans&DE, tech accounting: what an accountant brings to a startup.
Setting Up Proper Bookkeeping from Day One: Method, Tools, and Timeline.
The criteria that really matter when making a choice, a grid inspired by more than 20 criteria from the Bankeo Trust Index.
Our calculators are free, require no registration, and provide immediate results. They incorporate the 2026 federal and Quebec tax rates.
Thinking about incorporating? Estimate your company’s taxes using the 2026 federal and Quebec rates, and compare them to your current situation.
Calculate My Corporate TaxIncorporated Executive: Compare your net income based on your compensation structure, just fill in a few fields.
Compare Salary and DividendsThese tools provide estimates. They are not a substitute for professional advice.
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Most entrepreneurs start out as self-employed individuals: it’s simple and inexpensive. Incorporating becomes a good option when your income exceeds your personal needs, you want to protect your assets, or you’re preparing to sell your business. Our comparison Self-Employed or Incorporated helps you make a decision, and an accountant from the network can review your choice before you take the next steps.
Expect to pay government incorporation fees (Registraire des entreprises, Corporations Canada at the federal level), plus professional fees if you hire a professional to assist you. The total ranges from a few hundred dollars if you do it on your own to a few thousand dollars with full legal and accounting support. Our guide Quebec Incorporation Costs 2026 provides a detailed breakdown, backed by figures.
Not necessarily. As long as your taxable sales remain below 30 000 If your revenue remains below the threshold for four consecutive calendar quarters, you can retain your status as a small supplier and defer registration. As soon as you approach the threshold, or if you want to claim a refund of the taxes paid on your expenses, registration becomes necessary. Our GST/QST Guide explains when and how to register.
Once your business is incorporated, you can choose between a salary (which contributes to the QPP and builds RRSP eligibility) and dividends (often simpler, with no source deductions), or a combination of the two. The right choice depends on your income, retirement plans, and family situation. Use our Salary vs. Dividend Calculator Compare options, then consult with an accountant to confirm.
According to the Bankeo Fee Barometer, based on 1 248 contracts signed (2024-2026), out of more than 15 Out of 000 applications received, the median is approximately 3 000 $ per year, ranging from 500 $ to 6 000 $ depending on the industry and the scope of services. A startup often falls at the lower end of the range. Check out the Barometer to assess your situation.
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