Incorporate in London, Ontario.

I'm a financial advisor or insurance broker in London: should I incorporate?

Many financial advisors and insurance brokers in Ontario incorporate for tax deferral, and some for income splitting, though that second one is far narrower than it was: since 2018 the tax on split income has taxed dividends paid to a family member at the top marginal rate unless a specific exclusion applies, and the exclusions turn on hours actually worked in the business, age, and the share of votes and value held. A standard Ontario business corporation works for most. Some regulatory bodies and dealer networks have specific requirements about how the corporation is structured or what it can be named, so check with your compliance officer or dealer network before filing. CorpStart handles the incorporation; your advisor group handles the regulatory approval.

Does incorporating in London, Ontario give me access to Western University research or incubator programs?

Western University's Propel Entrepreneurship programs and the Innovation Works incubator both work with incorporated entities. Having your corporation in place before applying to accelerators or incubators is generally required, not optional. CorpStart gets you incorporated the same business day so you can apply without delay.

What's included when I incorporate through CorpStart in London?

Your flat service fee covers document preparation: Articles of Incorporation, By-law No. 1, Organizational Resolutions, Share Register, Directors Register, and a complete digital Minute Book delivered by email. The Ontario government's filing fee is collected separately and paid directly to the registry at cost. No hidden extras: everything is shown before you pay.

Do I need a London 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 London'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, London licenses food truck licence, taxi and rideshare driver licence, salon, barber and tattoo licence, contractor and trades licence and short term rental 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 London?

$250 in the first year. London calls it a Refreshment Vehicle Class 1 under Fees and Charges By-law A-62, Schedule 1 (2026); Business Licensing By-law L.-131-16, Schedule 16, which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. We last checked this on 2026-09-15, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.

What does a taxi and rideshare driver licence cost in London?

$65 in the first year. London calls it a Driver Licence, Cab, Accessible Cab, Limousine under Fees and Charges By-law A-62, Schedule 1 (2026), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $65 a year after that. We last checked this on 2026-09-15, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.

What does a salon, barber and tattoo licence cost in London?

$212 in the first year. London calls it a Personal Services Business licence under Fees and Charges By-law A-62, Schedule 1 (2026); Business Licensing By-law L.-131-16, which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. We last checked this on 2026-09-15, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.

What does a contractor and trades licence cost in London?

$178 in the first year. London calls it a Contractor Business licence under Fees and Charges By-law A-62, Schedule 1 (2026); Business Licensing By-law L.-131-16, which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. We last checked this on 2026-09-15, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.

What does a short term rental licence cost in London?

$547 in the first year. London calls it a Short-Term Accommodation Provider licence under Fees and Charges By-law A-62, Schedule 1 (2026); Business Licensing By-law L.-131-16, which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $196 a year after that. We last checked this on 2026-09-15, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.