Ownr Makes it Easy to Register Your Business

In many ways, starting your own business can feel like a lonely venture. Even the terminology around small businesses reflects this. Whether you’re “self” employed or you’re an “independent” contractor, there is always the sense that you alone are responsible for the majority of your business’s activities.

While this may be true in many ways, you’re definitely not on your own when it comes to registering your business. And this is good news, as knowing how and where to register your business can be one of the most time-consuming tasks for business owners who just want to begin connecting with their customer or client base.

Quick Links

1. What is Ownr?
2. Services offered by Ownr
3. How to register your business with Ownr
4. Registering a business: common questions

What is Ownr?

Ownr was founded in 2017 with a mission to help entrepreneurs succeed in their new endeavours. In a relatively short time, they have already helped more than 30,000 self-starters find their own path through helpful resources and a streamlined business registration process.

Ownr also offers perks to new business owners such as new bank account promotions and discounts on items and services that business owners will find useful, like mobile phones, phone plans, software, shipping, and even office supplies. The Ownr blog is full of resources and key information, and their YouTube channel offers helpful and easy-to-follow webinars.

Services offered by Ownr

Business registration

Ownr provides easy business registration services, which brings Canadian businesses to life in a matter of minutes through an easy-to-use online platform.

In general, businesses who register through Ownr choose to be either a sole proprietorship or a corporation.

Legal services

Recently, Ownr announced their exciting acquisition of the renowned online legal platform Founded. Since their creation in 2017, Founded has helped entrepreneurs automate complex legal tasks like cap table management, help with compliance, and create tailored legal documents—without the prohibitively high costs typically associated with legal work.

Now Ownr is an all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs to start, manage, and grow their businesses, including:

• automating routine legal tasks

• employee stock options

• cap table management, and more

How to register your business with Ownr

Registering your business with Ownr is easy and can be done in a snap. You don’t have to dive in headfirst, though! Ownr has a clear guide on how to complete a successful business registration. Here’s a brief rundown:

1. Choose a business structure. 

Determine whether your business is a sole proprietorship or a corporation (or, less commonly, a partnership or a cooperative).

2. Look out for the next steps.

Depending on where you live, you may have other steps that need to be followed before your business can be registered (such as first registering a business name separately or asking the province for approval to use your business name). Ownr can help you determine whether or not extra steps are required by your jurisdiction.

3. Once you determine the business structure that’s right for you, sign up with Ownr.

Your fees include the business registration fee that is set out by your province, as well as unlimited name searches (usually name searches carry an additional charge). For sole proprietorships, registration costs $89 CAD plus applicable taxes. For corporations, the cost starts at $499 CAD plus applicable taxes and includes your minute book. Ownr customers also get access to exclusive Ownr Perks and support.

4. Save important business information. 

Following registration, you will be provided with a business number, which you will then be able to use to open business accounts, take out business loans, and tap into wholesale prices!

Registering a business: common questions

Registering a business name vs. registering a business

They sound similar in theory, so it would make sense that registering a business and registering a business name could be mistaken for one another. They are technically separate things—though you will need to choose a business name before you can register your business if you’re in Alberta, Ontario, or British Columbia. Ownr offers a complete guide on how to register your business name.

Do I need to register a business?

It is true that a business, in its purest form, is just providing a good or service for a fee. However, in order to be legitimate, if you want to use a name other than your legal name, you need to register with the government. This is not only a mandatory act, but it also helps you in that it enables you to file taxes as a business and to take advantage of tax benefits that are reserved for businesses.

Most things in the business world are complicated—but registering your business doesn’t have to be. If you are ready to take the next step in making your dream business a reality, head on over to Ownr to get started with the added bonus of expert support.