
Canada Ltd vs Partnership
Legal Entity Comparison
Time of Update: 2026-03-31
A Limited Company (Ltd) in Canada is a widely-used corporate structure offering limited liability protection to its shareholders. The minimum share capital required for forming a Limited Company in Canada is CAD 1,000, which must be fully paid up at the time of incorporation. The incorporation process involves several key steps. Firstly, you must choose between federal and provincial incorporation. Federal incorporation allows the company to operate under the same name across all provinces in Canada, while provincial incorporation limits the company's name and operations to the province of incorporation.
Next, the Articles of Incorporation need to be prepared. This document outlines the company's structure, including share structure, the number of directors, and any restrictions on share transfers. The company must also establish an initial registered office address and appoint the first board of directors. Additionally, the company must file information on individuals with significant control, including details about the shareholders and their ownership stakes.
After preparing the necessary documentation, the incorporation application is submitted online through the government’s filing center, along with the required fee. Upon approval, the company will receive a federal business number, a corporation income tax program account, and the option to register for other federal tax accounts such as GST/HST, payroll, and import/export.
Incorporating a Limited Company in Canada provides several benefits, including limited liability for shareholders, potential tax advantages, and the ability to raise capital more effectively.
Next, the Articles of Incorporation need to be prepared. This document outlines the company's structure, including share structure, the number of directors, and any restrictions on share transfers. The company must also establish an initial registered office address and appoint the first board of directors. Additionally, the company must file information on individuals with significant control, including details about the shareholders and their ownership stakes.
After preparing the necessary documentation, the incorporation application is submitted online through the government’s filing center, along with the required fee. Upon approval, the company will receive a federal business number, a corporation income tax program account, and the option to register for other federal tax accounts such as GST/HST, payroll, and import/export.
Incorporating a Limited Company in Canada provides several benefits, including limited liability for shareholders, potential tax advantages, and the ability to raise capital more effectively.
Canada Legal Entity Comparison
Canada Legal Entity Comparison
Basic Information
Ltd
Partnership
Ownership:
Consolidated Ownership
Ownership:
Consolidated Ownership
Limited Liability:
Positive
Limited Liability:
See Memo
Publicly Participates In Capital Market:
Negative
Publicly Participates In Capital Market:
Negative
Shareholder / Director / Secretary Requirements
Ltd
Partnership
Requirements For Shareholders:
Minimum one shareholder
Requirements For Shareholders:
No requirements
Requirements For Directors ::
Minimum one director
Requirements For Directors ::
No requirements
Legal Representative Not Mandatory:
Positive
Legal Representative Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Directors Not Mandatory:
See Memo
Local Directors Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:
Positive
Local Secretaries Not Mandatory:
Positive
Registered Capital Requirement
Ltd
Partnership
Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:
No minimum registered capital requirement.
Minimum Registered Capital Requirement:
No minimum registered capital requirement.
Capital Injection Not Required:
Positive
Capital Injection Not Required:
Positive
Capital Injection Requirement:
N/A
Capital Injection Requirement:
N/A
Memo
Ltd
Partnership
Memo:
At least 25% of the directors must be residents of Canada. If there are fewer than four directors, there is no requirement for a local resident to serve as a nominee director of the company.
Memo:
It's not a limited liability company, specific requirements need to be seen in the partnership agreement.
