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Incorporation links: Main page About the law Articles FAQs Fees Lawyers And... Other areas Reference links Search the site |
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Companies are the main form of business organization in B.C. Each year, over 25,000 companies
are registered here. Most businesses operate as companies for two reasons: limited liability
and tax advantages.
A company is a separate legal "person." It can have owners, hire and fire people, buy and sell things, as well as sue and be sued. Except for certain specific situations, a company can do any kind of business that an individual can: hold investments, own property, trade or manufacture goods, and so forth. There are three kinds of companies in B.C.: those incorporated under the B.C. Company Act; those incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act; and foreign companies registered to do business in B.C. We will just focus on B.C. companies here. 
The key steps in incorporating a company are: 1. Choosing a name Your company name must be distinctive, describe the business, and have a corporate designation. For example, "Joe's Carpentry Ltd." or "Magna Cosmetics Inc." 2. Deciding on a share structure Preferred shares usually have a set value and pay set dividends. With common shares, you're paid after creditors and preferred shareholders. What sort of share structure do you need? 3. Drafting a memorandum and articles These form the "constitution," or legal framework, for the company. The memorandum sets out the name, authorized share capital, and subscribers (who become the first directors and shareholders). The articles set out the rules for the conduct of the company. 4. Naming shareholders, directors, and officers The shareholders are the real owners of the company. They elect the directors, who are in charge of the overall management of the company. The directors appoint officers, who handle the day-to-day management. 5. Choosing registered and records offices Each B.C. company must have an official legal address, called the registered office. Court and other legal documents are delivered there. The records office is where certain records, such as the incorporation certificate, memorandum, and articles, are kept. Once you've incorporated, you need to file annual reports, naming the company's directors and officers, and its registered office. If you fail to do so for more than two years, the company's registration could be cancelled and its assets forfeited to the government. |
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