From business plans to incorporation, from taxes to your first accountant: clear guides, free calculators, and step-by-step reading paths to help you move forward. And when it's time to take action, we'll connect you with the right accountant, free of charge.
Starting a business in Quebec follows a familiar path: validate your project, choose your legal structure, register the business with the Registrar, register for taxes if necessary, and then set up your accounting. This page brings together all of Bankeo's guides on the subject, three ordered reading paths, and calculators to quantify each decision.
Three reading paths, in the order the questions really arise. Start where you are: we'll be with you every step of the way.
From business plan to first accountant: the complete journey of the Quebec entrepreneur, step by step.
Understand each structure, decide with our direct verdict comparisons, then calculate the cost and tax after incorporation.
Initial declaration, VAT and small supplier, first tax return, paying yourself as a manager and budgeting your accountant, with figures from the Barometer to support you.
The starting point: validate the project, build a solid business plan and know who to consult before launching.
The steps to start up in Quebec, the real costs and the pitfalls to avoid, updated for 2026.
The structure of a sound business plan: sections, figures and common mistakes.
Why surround yourself with the right accountant from the start, and how to find one easily.
Sole proprietorship, public limited company, general partnership: the structure determines your liability, your taxes, and your accounting. Here's how to decide.
A complete overview of Quebec structures and how to choose based on your income and objectives.
The simplest structure in Quebec: what it allows, what it exposes, and when to exceed it.
The face-to-face: responsibility, tax, costs and the threshold where incorporation becomes profitable.
Public limited company or general partnership: the duel of partner structures.
Independent IT consultant: the right status and its tax implications, explained simply.
Definition: What is incorporation? See the glossary.
Incorporation creates a separate legal entity: more protection and tax options, in exchange for procedures and obligations. Here's the complete process, including costs.
Advantages, disadvantages, procedures and taxation: the reference guide to incorporation in Quebec.
Public charges, fees and recurring costs: the complete breakdown, based on the Bankeo Barometer.
Federal or provincial constitution: the verdict depends on your area of activity and your ambitions.
REQ, NEQ and registration obligations: the user guide, piece by piece.
The initial declaration after the constitution: what to declare, when and how.
Describe your project, a Bankeo advisor will listen and introduce you to the right accountant to get you off to a good start. It's free, and we'll support you every step of the way.
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VAT, self-employed tax, first company tax return: tax obligations arrive quickly. It's best to anticipate them.
When to register, how to collect and remit: the entrepreneur's VAT guide, including the $30,000 threshold.
The status of small service provider explained: who is entitled to it, its limits and when to give it up.
Provisional payments, deductions, deadlines: the tax of the French self-employed worker in 2026.
Federal and Quebec rates applicable to SMEs in 2026, including small business deduction.
T2, CO-17, documents to provide: prepare your company's tax return with peace of mind.
Calculate your taxes: VAT calculator · Your self-employed tax: personal tax calculator
Once the company is created, there are three figures to master: your remuneration as manager, the cost of a first employee and your accountant's budget.
The remuneration decision for the incorporated executive, calculated using our interactive calculator.
The one-page comparison: contributions, RRSP, simplicity, with a verdict based on your profile.
RRQ, RQAP, FSS, CNESST: the real cost of a first employee, including charges, simulated for 2026.
Fees observed on 1,248 completed mandates: median, ranges by sector and price factors.
Definition: salary vs. dividend. See glossary
Your project is starting: here's when to hire your first accountant, what to entrust to them and how to set up proper accounting from day 1.
When to hire your first accountant, what to entrust to them and how much to budget.
Funding, SR&ED credits, tech accounting: what an accountant brings to a startup.
Establishing a clean bookkeeping system from day 1: method, tools and pace.
The criteria that really matter when choosing, a grid inspired by the 67 criteria of the Bankeo Index.
Our calculators are free, require no registration, and provide immediate results. The 2026 federal and Quebec tax rates are included.
Are you considering joining a corporation? Project your company's tax liability using the 2026 federal and Quebec tax rates, and compare it to your current situation.
Calculate my corporate taxIncorporated executive: compare your net income according to your compensation method, in just a few fields.
Compare salaries and dividendsThese tools provide an estimate. They do not replace the advice of a professional.
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Most entrepreneurs start out as sole traders: it's simple and inexpensive. Incorporation becomes advantageous when your income exceeds your personal needs, when you want to protect your assets, or when you plan to sell your business. Our comparison of sole traders versus incorporation helps you decide, and a network accountant can validate your choice before you take the necessary steps.
Include government incorporation fees (State Registrar of Enterprises, Corporations) Canada (at the federal level), then professional fees if you use an assistant. The total varies from a few hundred dollars on your own to several thousand dollars with full legal and accounting support. Our Quebec Incorporation Costs 2026 guide details the breakdown, with supporting figures.
Not necessarily. As long as your taxable sales remain below $30,000 for four consecutive calendar quarters, you can maintain your small supplier status and defer registration. Once you approach the threshold, or if you wish to reclaim taxes paid on your expenses, registration becomes relevant. Our VAT guide explains when and how to register.
Once incorporated, you choose between a salary (which contributes to the Quebec Pension Plan and creates RRSP contribution room) and dividends (often simpler, with no source deductions), or a combination of both. The best option depends on your income, retirement savings, and family situation. Use our salary vs. dividend calculator to compare, then consult with an accountant.
According to the Bankeo Barometer, based on 1,248 completed mandates (2024-2026) and over 15,000 applications received, the median observed fee is approximately $2,000 per year, with a range of $500 to $6,000 depending on the sector and scope of services. Startups often fall at the lower end of this range. Consult the Barometer to see how your situation compares.
A Bankeo advisor will take the time to understand your project, then introduce you to the right accountant for your needs. It's free, and we'll support you every step of the way.
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