Incorporate in Markham, Ontario.

Can a foreign-resident founder incorporate an Ontario corporation in Markham?

Yes. Since Ontario repealed its director residency requirement in July 2021, a non-Canadian resident can be the sole director of an Ontario corporation. There is no requirement for a Canadian shareholder, director, or registered agent for the directors. A registered office address within Ontario is required: a physical address, not a P.O. box.

Our Markham tech company has investors: should we use a numbered or named corporation?

For investor-facing tech companies, a named corporation is standard: investors and counterparties expect a real business name, not a number. CorpStart runs the NUANS pre-search and files your named corporation. Note that investor-specific share structures (preferred shares, multiple voting shares, anti-dilution provisions) should be reviewed with a startup lawyer before filing, since changing your Articles later requires a government amendment.

How does CorpStart deliver my Markham corporation's documents?

Everything is delivered by email as a downloadable digital Minute Book (PDF and ZIP). You receive your Certificate of Incorporation, Articles, By-law No. 1, Organizational Resolutions, Share Register, and Directors Register. Physical minute books are not included, but any professional printer or office supply store can produce one from your digital files.

Do I need a Markham 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 Markham'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, Markham licenses food truck licence, taxi and rideshare driver licence, salon, barber and tattoo licence, contractor and trades licence and home based business 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 Markham?

$599.50 in the first year. Markham calls it a Refreshment Vehicles, Food Sales from Mobile Vehicles (All Types), Owners under By-law 2012-137, Licensing, Permit and Service Fees (consolidated to 1 January 2025), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $599.50 a year after that. That figure comes from the schedule effective 2025-01-01, which predates our check, so treat it as the latest published rather than a confirmed 2026 price. 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 Markham?

$111 in the first year. Markham calls it a Taxi Driver licence under By-law 2012-137, Licensing, Permit and Service Fees (consolidated to 1 January 2025), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $111 a year after that. That figure comes from the schedule effective 2025-01-01, which predates our check, so treat it as the latest published rather than a confirmed 2026 price. 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 Markham?

$300.50 in the first year. Markham calls it a Barber and Hair Salon Owner licence under By-law 2012-137, Licensing, Permit and Service Fees (consolidated to 1 January 2025), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $300.50 a year after that. That figure comes from the schedule effective 2025-01-01, which predates our check, so treat it as the latest published rather than a confirmed 2026 price. 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 Markham?

$300.50 in the first year. Markham calls it a Contractor licence under By-law 2012-137, Licensing, Permit and Service Fees (consolidated to 1 January 2025), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $300.50 a year after that. That figure comes from the schedule effective 2025-01-01, which predates our check, so treat it as the latest published rather than a confirmed 2026 price. 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 home based business licence cost in Markham?

$300.50 in the first year. Markham calls it a Home Based licence under By-law 2012-137, Licensing, Permit and Service Fees (consolidated to 1 January 2025), which is worth knowing because searching the city website for the common name often returns nothing. Keeping it costs $300.50 a year after that. That figure comes from the schedule effective 2025-01-01, which predates our check, so treat it as the latest published rather than a confirmed 2026 price. We last checked this on 2026-09-16, and Ontario fee schedules commonly reset in January, so confirm against the city before you budget.