• In Canada, a company can incorporate federally or provincially.o' canada image by Kathryn Palmer from Fotolia.com
  
  Incorporation procedures in Canada mirror, to a large extent, the incorporation procedures in the United States. Generally, a company will need to choose an appropriate corporate name and check to see if it is available and draft and file the company's incorporation documents with the state. One major area of difference, however, is in the specific details on how a name is chosen, what is included in the incorporating documents and what is the appropriate state authority in which to file your paperwork.
  
  

Federal Incorporation

• Unlike in the United States, companies in Canada have the choice to incorporate nationally or specifically in the province where the company resides. Federal incorporation allows the company use of its name across the nation, even when there is another company with the same or similar name. Moreover, a federally incorporated company that registers in each province can do business anywhere without having to re-fie its incorporation documents as its business expands from state to state. Accordingly, federal incorporation is ideal for the company that has nationwide plans. On the other hand, because a federally incorporated company must comply with both national and provincial regulations, the procedures for federal incorporation are much more intensive than for a provincial only incorporation.
  
  

Incorporation Documents

• Under both Canadian federal and provincial law a company wishing to incorporate must, at a minimum draft and file: articles of incorporation, the company by-laws or memorandum which explain the company's internal rules of conduct and finally the "notice of offices" which lists the name and addresses of the company's registered office and the the company's records office. If you are incorporating federally or in some provinces such as Ontario, you will also need to file a NUANS Name Search Report. A NUANS report states that the company name has been verified to be original and unique and available for use.
  
  

Necessary Paperwork

• Whether you are a federally incorporated or a provincially incorporated company, both national and provincial law require that you produce and maintain a range of documents vital to understanding how your company is managed, who has the power (if any) to influence or direct both strategic and tactical decisions of what the company aims to accomplish. These documents include such things a copy of the company's articles of incorporation and by-laws; the minutes of the meetings of directors shareholders. While these documents don't need to be filed with the state, they do need to be filed in a company location that is easily accessible in case the state wants to review them.