Ontario · Waterloo Region
Cambridge was three separate communities until 1973, and Galt, Preston and Hespeler still read as distinct places with their own main streets. CorpStart files your OBCA corporation (Articles, By-law, and Minute Book) typically within one to two business hours.
Numbered corporation
$279
+ $300 Ontario gov fee
$579 total
Cambridge businesses skew toward supplying other businesses, and a manufacturer's vendor onboarding is where the corporation usually stops being optional. What Cambridge does unusually well is the paperwork question itself: its licensing page states in as many words that you need a Certificate of Articles of Incorporation, a Master Business Licence or a Certificate of Business Name Registration, and that only one of the three is required. That is the clearest statement of the sole proprietor position we have found in any Ontario municipality, and it directly contradicts the impression several other cities give.
Nearby municipalities (Kitchener, Waterloo, Ayr, Paris, Guelph) all fall under the same Ontario Business Corporations Act. A single Ontario corporation covers your operations throughout the province with no additional municipal registrations.
Cambridge licenses one of the business types we have researched, but does not publish its fees where an applicant can find them. We record that gap rather than estimating around it. The licence is still separate from incorporating, and the city will want proof your business is registered before it issues anything.
| Business type | What the by-law calls it | First year |
|---|---|---|
| Food truck licence | Food Truck business licence | Not published |
Food truck licence: Food Truck By-law 129-14. Checked 2026-09-15. View the source
Fee schedules commonly reset in January, so follow the source before you budget. If a figure here disagrees with Cambridge, the city is right and we would like to know. See how Cambridge compares to other municipalities, or browse every licence type we track. Last checked 2026-09-15.
Three steps: no lawyers, no registry line-ups, no guesswork.
Answer our questionnaire
Tell us your corporation name preference, share structure, directors, and Cambridge registered office address. Takes about 15 minutes. We flag issues before you pay.
We prepare and file
CorpStart prepares your Articles of Incorporation, By-law No. 1, and Organizational Resolutions, then files directly with the Ontario Business Registry. Most filings go out the same day.
Receive your Minute Book
Your Certificate of Incorporation, Articles, By-law, and complete digital Minute Book arrive by email. Your bank, accountant, and clients will recognise every document.
No hidden extras. The government fee is collected at cost and shown separately at checkout.
Most popular
Numbered Corporation
e.g., 1234567 Ontario Inc. Fastest option, no name search required.
$279
+ $300 Ontario gov fee = $579 total
Named corporation
Named Corporation
e.g., Acme Holdings Inc. Choose your corporate name, includes NUANS pre-search.
$279
+ $300 Ontario gov fee, NUANS search included = $579 total
Do I have to incorporate to get a Cambridge business licence?
No, and Cambridge says so more clearly than anywhere else we have looked. Its application requirements list a Certificate of Articles of Incorporation, a Master Business Licence or a Certificate of a Business Name Registration, and state that only one of these is required. A sole proprietorship registration satisfies the requirement in full. Incorporating remains a decision about liability and credibility rather than a licensing condition.
What does a licence cost in Cambridge?
The city does not publish fee amounts on its licensing page, saying only that fees vary by type of business. Renewal amounts arrive by email in early March ahead of the 31 March expiry. We would rather tell you that than estimate a figure you might budget on, so contact the licensing office for the current number.
Do I need a Cambridge business licence as well as incorporating?
They are two different things and incorporating does not replace the licence. Incorporating is a provincial filing that creates the company. A municipal licence is Cambridge's permission to carry on a specific activity inside the city, and it is issued under the city's own by-law. Of the business types we have researched, Cambridge licenses food truck licence. The city will normally want proof the business is registered before it issues a licence, so the order runs registration first and licence second.
What does a food truck licence cost in Cambridge?
Cambridge does not publish the fee where an applicant can find it, so we do not publish a number either. It calls the licence a Food Truck business licence. We last checked on 2026-09-15. Contact the city's licensing office for a current figure rather than relying on an estimate.
Learn more about Ontario incorporation
Full OBCA overview, what's included, and Ontario vs federal comparison.
The process is the same province-wide, but the tax angle and pitfalls differ by line of work and situation. Explore the guide that fits you.
Incorporate in Cambridge today
$279 service fee + $300 Ontario gov fee. Submitted to the Ontario Business Registry within one to two business hours. No lawyers, no delays.
Start my corporationCorpStart is a document preparation service, not a law firm. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed Ontario lawyer.