Doing Business in Canada

Interested in starting or expanding a business in Canada?
Osler’s Doing Business in Canada provides practical information about what you need to know and do with links to useful resources. Download the full guide, or create your own customized guide by browsing and adding topics of interest to your library. No sign up required.

Doing Business in Canada provides general information only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Specific advice should be sought in connection with your circumstances. For more information, please contact the corresponding practice group listed with each topic page.

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Initial structuring and income tax considerations Choosing, registering and protecting your corporate name Filings and registrations Foreign investment notifications Acquiring a Canadian business Financing and banking arrangements Regulated industries Doing business in Québec Canadianizing commercial agreements Mining Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Banking

Packaging and labelling French language rules Consumer product safety Regulated products Selling through resellers, distributors or sales representatives Online sales Commodity taxes Advertising to Canadians Contests and sweepstakes Gift cards and loyalty programs Payment processing Collecting debts from consumers

Selling products or services to government customers in Canada Federal government sales – Key policies Federal government sales – Certifications and reporting Federal government sales – Key contracting issues Federal government sales – IP issues Federal government sales – Security Federal government sales – Defence procurement Provincial government sales Lobbying in Canada

Hiring employees Human rights in the workplace and privacy Employment agreements Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Employer-sponsored retirement plans Public retirement income programs Group benefit (welfare) plans Independent contractor

Indigenous consultation Environmental emergency response Developing a project – Environmental impact assessments Dealing with environmental regulators Contaminated lands

Retaining intellectual property in what you develop Registering your trademarks Applying for a patent Registering your copyright Registering your industrial designs and integrated circuits Protecting your trade secrets Registering a .CA domain name IP Licensing in Canada

Doing Business in Canada

Creating, expanding or acquiring a new business in Canada

Investing in a business in Canada

Setting up a Canadian subsidiary to operate the business

Considering frequent tax issues

Operating a franchise system in Canada

Selling products or services to customers in Canada

Dealing with government in Canada

Complying with regulatory requirements

Having employees in Canada

Owning or leasing real property in Canada

Dealing with environmental and land use issues

Creating and registering intellectual property

Processing personal information

Communicating with consumers and businesses

Installing computer programs

Additional useful information