LaunchList
← All Quebec steps

Step 1 of 12

Choose your structure and business name

Decide how the business is set up and what it is called.

Time
1–2 hours
Cost
Free
Québec.ca — legal forms of enterprise ↗

Choose your structure and business name: step-by-step guide

Screenshots use a made-up example business. Official sites change, so yours may look slightly different.

  1. Québec.ca legal forms of enterprise page with the sentence saying a sole proprietorship has no legal existence separate from its owner highlighted
    1. Read Quebec's guide to legal forms. A sole proprietorship has no legal existence separate from you, so you are personally liable for its debts.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-18. See something different? Report a problem

Structure

Start as a sole proprietorship. It is the cheapest and simplest option, and you can incorporate later if the business grows.

The trade-off is that you are personally liable for the business. Quebec's own guidance says a sole proprietorship has no legal existence separate from its owner. Insurance (step 6) is how you manage that risk.

Name

  • If you trade under a name that includes your first and last names (for example "Jane Tremblay"), you do not have to register, though you can choose to.
  • If you use any other name, for example "Boutique Jane", you must register in the next step.

Under the Charter of the French language, your business name must be in French. It also must not be confusing with another business's name, so search the enterprise register before you settle on it.

Keep it practical

Choose a name you are comfortable seeing on a bank statement, a licence and a shipping label.

Your checklist