Start a business in Alberta.
Registration with the Alberta Corporate Registry, 5% sales tax, WCB-Alberta, licences, bank account and Alberta Advantage Immigration Program business plans. Here is how it works and what we do for you.
- Capital · cities
- Edmonton (capital) · Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray
- Statute
- Business Corporations Act (Alberta)
- Name search
- Alberta-biased NUANS report
- Sales tax
- 5% combined: 5% GST
- Workers’ compensation
- WCB-Alberta
- Business immigration
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP): Rural Entrepreneur Stream, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Farm Stream
- Business support
- Business Link (Alberta small business hub) · Alberta Innovates
What makes Alberta different.
Alberta is the only province with no provincial sales tax, no payroll health tax and some of the lowest corporate tax rates in Canada, which is why so many newcomers choose Calgary and Edmonton for a first business. Registration runs through authorized registry agents rather than a single government portal, so the process is quick when the paperwork is right and confusing when it is not.
SZ Business Solution prepares your NUANS name search, the incorporation or trade name documents, your CRA Business Number and program accounts, and your WCB-Alberta account, and then walks you through opening your business bank account. One scope, one price, start to finish.
- Alberta corporations are registered through private registry agents; a NUANS report is required for a named corporation.
- There is no PST, so most small businesses only register for GST once sales pass $30,000 in four consecutive quarters.
- Sole proprietorships and partnerships register a trade name with a registry agent; incorporation gives you limited liability and the small business deduction.
- Employers register with WCB-Alberta; most industries are compulsory.
- Annual returns are due each year in the anniversary month of incorporation to keep the corporation in good standing.
Popular with newcomers here: Energy and energy services, Construction and trades, Trucking and logistics, Agriculture and agri-food, Technology, Restaurants and franchises.
How to start a business in Alberta.
The sequence matters: a bank will not open the account before the registration exists, and CRA cannot issue accounts before the Business Number. We run the steps in order.
Plan the business
Confirm the idea, the market and the money. If you are applying through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), this is where the business plan is written.
Business plansChoose the structure and the name
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, Alberta or federal. Name search: Alberta-biased NUANS report.
Registration & incorporationRegister with the Alberta Corporate Registry
File the registration or articles of incorporation under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta). Federal corporations register extra-provincially here as well.
Get your CRA Business Number and tax accounts
Business Number with GST/HST (5% GST), payroll and corporate tax accounts. No provincial sales tax. You charge 5% GST once registered.
Register as an employer
Register with WCB-Alberta when you hire, set up payroll deductions and remittances, and issue T4s each February.
Payroll & taxLicences, permits and bank account
Municipal business licence and industry permits (BizPaL lists them), then the business bank account with the registration documents in hand.
Bank accountsBrand, website and launch
Logo, signage, Google Business Profile, business email and website, so the business looks established from day one.
Branding & signsKeep it running and in good standing
Monthly bookkeeping, sales tax returns, payroll, the T2 or T1 at year-end, and the annual return with the Alberta Corporate Registry.
ComplianceEvery business solution, delivered remotely in Alberta.
From Calgary to Fort McMurray, the same eight service lines, with the Alberta rules handled for you.
Business Registration & Incorporation
Sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation, federal or provincial, in all 13 provinces and territories.
Make it official. Anywhere in Canada. 02 · PlanBusiness Plans for Immigration, Banks & Investors
Canada and USA immigration business plans, bank and BDC loan plans, investor pitch decks and financial projections.
A plan that opens doors. 03 · BankBusiness Bank Accounts
Open your business account at any Canadian bank or credit union, with the paperwork prepared and the appointment booked.
Open for business. Literally. 04 · CountAccounting, Bookkeeping & Tax
Monthly bookkeeping, payroll, GST/HST, T1 personal and T2 corporate returns, financial statements and CRA support.
Books that balance. Filings on time. 05 · BrandBranding, Marketing, Social Media & Signs
Logo and identity, business cards and print, storefront and vehicle signs, social media, Google Business Profile and ads.
Look established from day one. 06 · BuildIT & Digital Solutions
Domain and business email, website and online store, booking and POS, accounting and CRM software, cloud and security basics.
Your business, online by launch day. 07 · RunVirtual Assistance & Office Support
Inbox and calendar, appointments, customer follow-ups, data entry, document preparation and the back office, monthly.
A back office without the overhead. 08 · KeepCompliance, Corporate Changes & Closing
Annual returns, director and address changes, name changes, extra-provincial registrations, licences, dissolutions and wind-downs.
Stay in good standing. Change with confidence.Business plans for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
We write the plan to the stream’s criteria (investment, job creation, location, your experience) in the format the program expects, working directly with your licensed immigration consultant or lawyer, who manages the application. We do not provide immigration advice.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Farm Stream
Federal pathways that also apply
- Start-up Visa (SUV)
- Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)
- C11 entrepreneur and self-employed work permits
- Owner-operator and LMIA-supported plans
Program names, streams and intake status change; your consultant confirms what is open before we start the plan.
Starting a business in Alberta: questions we hear most
Short answers. For anything specific to your situation, book a consultation and we will walk through it.
Can a newcomer or a non-resident incorporate in Alberta?
Alberta has no Canadian residency requirement for directors, which makes it a popular choice for newcomers and foreign-owned companies. We prepare the documents and coordinate with the registry agent; a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer handles any immigration questions.
Federal or Alberta incorporation?
An Alberta corporation is simpler and cheaper to maintain if you will operate only in Alberta. A federal corporation protects your name across Canada but must also be registered extra-provincially in Alberta. We help you choose and file either one.
How long does it take?
With a clean NUANS report and complete information, incorporation through a registry agent is usually same day or next business day. CRA Business Number and GST accounts follow once the corporation exists.
Do I need to register for GST?
You must register once your taxable sales exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. Many businesses register voluntarily from day one to claim input tax credits; we set up the account and the filing cycle.
Start a business in another province or territory.
Expanding from Alberta to a second province? That is an extra-provincial registration; we file it and keep both in good standing.
Starting in Alberta? Tell us what you are opening.
One short call, then a written scope with our fee and the government fees listed separately. Registration, bank account, books and brand can all be one scope.