How Much Does it Cost to Incorporate in Alberta? Compare the Prices.
It used to be that a law firm was the only place you could go to incorporate a company. The cost to incorporate was high, and consumers had very little choice.
These days a business owner can choose to incorporate with a lawyer or incorporate directly with an authorized service provider (registry agent), either in a registry office, or online. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding the cost to incorporate a business in Alberta.
Pricing Comparison
| Option | Price Range | Legal Advice | Completed Documents | Ongoing Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do-It-Yourself | $500–$1,000+ | No | No | No |
| Traditional Law Firm | $1,200–$3,000+ | Yes | Yes | Extra cost |
| allincorporated.ca | Starting at $575 + gov’t fee | Yes | Yes | Included (1 year) |
Do-It-Yourself Incorporation
DIY incorporation websites advertise low prices ($50–$150), but there are significant hidden costs:
- Government registration fees (~$275) are always extra
- Additional services ($225–$450) for things like share certificates, minute books, and corporate seals
- Total actual cost: $500–$1,000+
More importantly, here’s what is not included with DIY services:
- No legal advice
- Incomplete corporate documents
- No completed share certificates
- No annual maintenance
- No registered office or records address services
- No corporate records portal
Traditional Law Firm Incorporation
Traditional law firms provide comprehensive legal services, but at a higher price point:
- Legal fees alone: $750–$1,500
- Additional costs for minute books, registered office services, and ongoing maintenance
- Total actual cost: $1,200–$3,000+
The benefit is complete legal coverage, personalized advice, and properly prepared documents. The drawback is the cost, and often slower, paper-based processes.
allincorporated.ca
Our packages are designed to provide the benefits of working with a lawyer at a price closer to DIY services:
Basic ($575 + government fee):
- Incorporation (Alberta or Federal)
- Comprehensive legal documents
- Digital corporate minute book
- 1 year Basic Legal Support subscription
Standard ($625 + government fee):
- Everything in Basic
- Registered office and records address services
- Agent for service
- 1 free corporate registry update per year
All packages include access to our corporate records portal, managed minute book services, annual corporate resolutions, and ongoing legal support.
The Bottom Line
The cost of incorporating in Alberta varies significantly depending on who you work with. While DIY services appear cheaper upfront, the lack of legal advice and incomplete setup often leads to expensive problems down the road.
We believe the small additional investment in working with a lawyer from the start is worth the long-term protection and peace of mind. Get started today or book a consultation to discuss your options.