Incorporate a Business in Oshawa for $35
Incorporate your Oshawa business for $35.00, HST included, with the government fee on its own line at cost: $300 for an Ontario corporation or $200 for a federal one. A CPA from our Durham Street office checks your share structure, your year end and whether the City will want a business licence in the company’s name before anything is filed. Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA.
Oshawa Incorporation, Ontario or Federal, Reviewed by a CPA
Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA. We prepare and file your Ontario or federal incorporation for a professional fee of $35.00, HST included. Government fees are separate and billed at cost: $300 for Articles of Incorporation filed online with the Ontario Business Registry, or $200 for federal articles filed online with Corporations Canada. Our Oshawa office is at 210 Durham St, open 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Monday to Sunday. A CPA reviews your share structure and year end before anything is filed. Call 647-212-9559 or start the incorporation intake form.
Oshawa is changing fast. The city grew 10.0 percent between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, faster than most of Ontario, while General Motors cut the third shift at Oshawa Assembly in January 2026. Skilled trades workers going independent, health and education professionals, and newcomers settling in Durham Region are the people we see most often from here.
Oshawa Business Statistics
Every figure below carries its source and year. Statistics Canada supplies the census and labour figures, and Durham Region publishes its annual business count.
| Statistic | Figure | Source and year |
|---|---|---|
| Population, City of Oshawa | 175,383, up 10.0% from 159,458 in 2016 | Statistics Canada, 2021 Census |
| Population, Oshawa census metropolitan area | 415,311 | Statistics Canada, 2021 Census |
| Population, Durham Region | Over 815,000 | Region of Durham estimate, end of 2025 |
| Businesses in Durham Region | 12,970, up about 2.8% from 2024 | Region of Durham, 2025 Business Count |
| Jobs in Durham Region | 223,453 | Region of Durham, 2025 Business Count |
| Unemployment rate, Oshawa CMA | 8.9% in September 2026, against 6.5% nationally | Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted three-month moving average |
| GM Oshawa Assembly | Third shift ended 30 January 2026 | General Motors and Unifor, reported January 2026 |
| Short-term rental Municipal Accommodation Tax | 5% since 1 October 2024 | City of Oshawa |
Why Oshawa Business Owners Incorporate
Oshawa has long been a General Motors town, and the plant still matters. GM has committed $280 million to build next-generation gas full-size pickups at Oshawa Assembly, but the third shift ended on 30 January 2026, with hundreds of jobs lost. Some of the electricians, millwrights and technicians affected now work for themselves, and a contractor bidding for commercial work is usually asked for a corporation, a business number, an HST number and WSIB coverage in the company’s name.
Health care and education are the other anchors. Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Durham College and Ontario Tech University are among the largest employers, alongside Ontario Power Generation and the Canada Revenue Agency. Physicians, nurse practitioners and other regulated professionals who incorporate here need a professional corporation with the right shareholders, not an ordinary company.
Growth brings newcomers. Oshawa added almost 16,000 residents between 2016 and 2021, and Durham Region now has more than 815,000 people. A newcomer who incorporates in Ontario can be the sole director, because Ontario removed its resident director rule in 2021.
The City adds its own rules. Since 4 November 2024, Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 licenses named activities such as food premises, payday loan establishments, tattoo parlours, vehicles for hire and short-term rentals. Where a licence is needed, the application should be in the corporation’s name, so the company has to exist first.
Municipal Licence Requirements in Oshawa
The City of Oshawa licenses named business categories under Business Licensing By-law 122-2024, which replaced By-law 120-2005 on 4 November 2024. Most offices, consultants and professional firms need no City licence.
| Business type | Municipal licence required | Issuing body | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant, take-out or food store | Yes, food licence | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Durham Region Health Department also inspects food premises |
| Smoke, tobacco or vapour product shop | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | New licence $500: $50 application fee plus $450 licence fee |
| Payday loan establishment | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Licensed under By-law 122-2024 |
| Tattoo parlour | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Licensed under By-law 122-2024 |
| Pet or pet store | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Licensed under By-law 122-2024 |
| Vehicle establishment or vehicle for hire | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Separate classes under By-law 122-2024 |
| Driving school | Yes, driving education | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Licensed under By-law 122-2024 |
| Buying and selling goods, entertainment or public hall | Yes | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Separate classes under By-law 122-2024 |
| Short-term rental | Yes, Schedule Q of By-law 122-2024 | City of Oshawa, Business Licensing | Principal residence only, stays under 28 days, no more than 180 days a year, $100 plus a $50 application fee |
| Consultant, accountant, engineer or software firm | No | Not applicable | No class applies, but zoning still governs where the business may operate |
An Oshawa business licence and an Ontario or federal corporation are separate things, and one never replaces the other. The corporation is created under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) through the Ontario Business Registry, or under the Canada Business Corporations Act through Corporations Canada. The licence is the City’s permission to carry on one listed activity under By-law 122-2024.
Licences issued under the old By-law 120-2005 stay valid until they expire, and renewals now fall under By-law 122-2024. If you are incorporating an existing licensed business, the renewal is the natural point to move the licence into the company’s name.
If you are not sure whether your activity is licensed, ask the City before you open: email licensing@oshawa.ca or call Service Oshawa on 905-436-3311. We prepare the corporate documents. The licence application itself is yours to submit.
For free start-up help, the Business Advisory Centre Durham at 3000 Garden St, Suite 200, Whitby, offers advice to new businesses across the region, and Spark Centre at 2 Simcoe St S, Suite 300, Oshawa, supports technology start-ups.
Our Oshawa Office
Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA.
Gondaliya CPA, Oshawa, 210 Durham St, Oshawa, Ontario L1J 5R3. Phone 647-212-9559. Open 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Monday to Sunday.
You can meet a CPA in person by appointment, but you do not have to come in: every incorporation is prepared by email and filed electronically. Whitby, Courtice, Bowmanville, Ajax and Pickering files are handled from this office.
Our Services for Oshawa Businesses
Our professional fees include HST. Government fees are separate, itemised and charged at cost with no mark-up.
Incorporation Services in Oshawa
Incorporate in Canada for just $35, HST included, with a CPA review before filing.
NUANS Name Search and Report in Oshawa ($25)
A $25 NUANS report, checked by a CPA before you incorporate.
Address Service in Oshawa ($75)
A registered office address that keeps your home address private.
Annual Return Filing in Oshawa
Federal and Ontario annual returns filed on time to keep your corporation active.
Corporate Tax Filing in Oshawa (From $300)
Your T2 corporate tax return, prepared by a CPA, from $300.
Payroll Service in Oshawa
Payroll and CRA source deductions for owners and staff.
Incorporate in Ontario
Ontario incorporation for $35 plus the $300 government fee, often processed the same day.
Federal Incorporation
Federal incorporation for $35 plus the $200 government fee, with your name protected across Canada.
Holding Company Setup in Oshawa
A holding company for $35, structured by a CPA for tax-efficient dividends.
Industries That Incorporate Most in Oshawa
These are the groups we see most often from Oshawa and Durham Region, and what each has to settle when it incorporates.
| Industry | Why it incorporates here | Our matching page |
|---|---|---|
| Construction and skilled trades | Tradespeople going independent need WSIB coverage, an HST number and often a vehicle moved into the company | Construction and skilled trades |
| Manufacturers and auto suppliers | Shareholders often include a partner or family member, and equipment may need a section 85 rollover | Manufacturing companies |
| Physicians | Lakeridge Health Oshawa is a major employer, and a doctor incorporates as a professional corporation | Physicians |
| Nurses and nurse practitioners | A nurse practitioner’s corporation must meet College of Nurses of Ontario rules | Nurses and nurse practitioners |
| Truck drivers and logistics | Owner-operators near Highway 401 and the 407 weigh Driver Inc risk before incorporating | Truck drivers and owner-operators |
| Newcomers and international graduates | Durham College and Ontario Tech graduates starting a business, with no resident director rule in Ontario | Immigrants and newcomers |
Free Oshawa Incorporation Consultation
Case Studies: Oshawa Incorporations
Courtice Electrician – Leaving the Plant
The problem: An electrician who left a manufacturing job in 2026 was starting a contracting business with a van and tools they already owned.
What we did: We incorporated in Ontario, registered for HST and WSIB, and used a section 85 rollover to move the van and tools into the company without tax.
The result:
- Articles filed online
- Equipment moved without tax
- HST and WSIB registered
Oshawa Nurse Practitioner – Professional Corporation
The problem: A nurse practitioner taking on clinic contracts wanted to incorporate.
What we did: We checked the College of Nurses of Ontario requirements, filed the articles with the professional wording the College expects, and set up the business number and payroll account.
The result:
- Professional corporation filed
- College requirements met
- Payroll account ready
Whitby Consultant – Not Yet
The problem: An IT consultant drawing everything they earned asked whether to incorporate.
What we did: We showed that the deferral would not cover the yearly cost of a T2 yet, and set a revenue point to revisit it.
The result:
- Honest advice
- No unnecessary corporation
- Plan to revisit
What It Costs to Incorporate in Oshawa
Our fee is the same everywhere. Government fees depend on whether you incorporate in Ontario or federally, and each one is shown on its own line at cost. See the full fee table or every 2026 government registry fee.
| Item | Amount | HST | Total | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incorporation prepared and filed | $35.00 | Included | $35.00 | Open Corporation for $35, a department of Gondaliya CPA |
| Ontario Articles of Incorporation, filed online | $300.00 | None | $300.00 | Ontario Business Registry |
| Federal Articles of Incorporation, filed online | $200.00 | None | $200.00 | Corporations Canada |
| Ontario NUANS report, named Ontario corporations only | $25.00 | Included | $25.00 | Ordered through us |
| Ontario Initial Return and Annual Return | $0.00 | None | $0.00 | Ontario Business Registry |
| Federal annual return | $12.00 | None | $12.00 | Corporations Canada |
A numbered Ontario corporation costs $335.00 in total and a named one $360.00. A federal corporation costs $235.00, because the federal online filing includes its own name search. City of Oshawa licence fees are set by the City and are separate. Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA.
The same checks run on every file. In Oshawa the answers usually turn on trades equipment, professional corporations and newcomer directors.
Ontario or federal
Federal suits a business that trades across provinces under one protected name, but it needs 25 percent resident Canadian directors. Ontario has no such rule.
Share structure
One class of common shares suits a solo tradesperson. A manufacturer or supplier bringing in a partner needs separate classes from the start.
Who holds the shares
Dividends to a spouse are tested against the tax on split income rules before any share is issued, and professional corporations have their own shareholder limits.
Year end and HST
A year end away from your busiest season, and HST registration at the $30,000 threshold or earlier.
Salary or dividends
This decides RRSP room, Canada Pension Plan contributions and whether a payroll account is needed on day one.
Moving an existing business
Where a sole proprietorship is being converted, a section 85 rollover moves vehicles, tools and goodwill across without tax.
An Oshawa example. A Whitby tradesperson asked us to incorporate after running as a sole proprietor for three years. Their van, tools and customer list were worth more than they had paid, so a straight sale to the new company would have triggered tax. We filed the Ontario articles, prepared a section 85 rollover so the assets moved across at their tax cost, and moved the WSIB account and insurance into the company’s name.
Why Choose Open Corporation for $35 in Oshawa?
Our Official Partners
Oshawa Incorporation FAQs
Do I need a City of Oshawa business licence as well as a corporation?
Should an Oshawa business incorporate federally or in Ontario?
I lost my job at a plant and want to work for myself. Should I incorporate?
Can I rent out my Oshawa home as a short-term rental through a corporation?
Is there free start-up help near Oshawa?
Can I meet a CPA in person at your Oshawa office?
How long does it take to incorporate an Oshawa business?
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate in Ontario?
Do I have to register for HST when I incorporate?
What does my corporation have to file every year?
Meet the CPAs Behind Your Oshawa Incorporation
A Chartered Professional Accountant reviews your shares, name and registered office before anything is filed.
What Our Clients Say
These Google reviews belong to Gondaliya CPA Professional Corporation and cover every service the firm provides. See Oshawa reviews.
Why Owners Trust Us
Gondaliya CPA Professional Corporation is registered with CPA Ontario under firm registration number 61330051. Our clients have left us 1,300+ five-star Google reviews, and we work from 13 Ontario offices, open 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Monday to Sunday. We back every filing with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 60-day fee-matching policy, and we are a Xero Partner Award Winner 2026. Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA. See incorporation services at Gondaliya CPA.
Start Your Oshawa Incorporation
Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA. Complete the intake form and a CPA will confirm whether you should incorporate in Ontario for $335.00 in total or federally for $235.00, both including our $35.00 fee with HST, and tell you whether the City will want a licence for what you do. Send payment by Interac e-Transfer to info@gondaliyacpa.ca with the security question set to “Not Applicable”, as auto-deposit is enabled. Card is also accepted. Questions first? Call 647-212-9559, 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM, Monday to Sunday.
Where to Go Next
Incorporate in Ontario
OBCA filing, the $300 fee and the Initial Return.
Federal incorporation
CBCA filing, the $200 fee and the resident director rule.
Gondaliya CPA incorporation services in Oshawa
The parent firm’s Oshawa incorporation and accounting services.
Scarborough incorporation services
Our nearest office to the west.
Markham incorporation services
Incorporation for Markham and York Region.
Toronto incorporation services
Our Toronto office at 55 Queen St E.
All service areas · All incorporation and corporate filing services
No legal advice
Gondaliya CPA Professional Corporation is a firm of Chartered Professional Accountants licensed by CPA Ontario, firm registration number 61330051. It is not a law firm. We prepare and file corporate documents and we provide accounting and tax advice. Nothing on this page is legal advice, and reading it creates no solicitor and client relationship. For legal advice, including advice on a shareholder agreement before you sign it, consult a lawyer licensed in the province where your corporation carries on business.
Open Corporation for $35 is a department of Gondaliya CPA.
