What this area covers: holding company in Canada
Holding company is one of 4 parts of our “Company Formation” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our Canada practice.
What it covers: clean holding structures · NL / LU / SG / EE.
How we handle holding company
The “Holding company” project in Canada is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
A CBCA corporation registered with Corporations Canada, or a provincial corporation. The right entity type, and a bank file prepared to the requirements of the specific bank.
The same desk that runs holding company handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why Canada
Canada is our primary launchpad for MSB registration and fintech projects. We know where you can genuinely open a corporate account, how to prepare a FINTRAC application to the regulator's requirements, and how to avoid the common pitfalls in provincial corporate law. A G7 country with a developed banking system, a broad network of tax treaties, and a bilingual operating environment.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 26.5% federal + provincial blended (Ontario)
Local execution, one plan
Why INNOVA
What changes for you when INNOVA runs the project. If a company or a second jurisdiction is not needed yet, we will say so plainly.
Turnkey, without the extra hassle
One window and one contract: we take the task whole, handle everything on your behalf with our own team and trusted contractors, and you buy the result. From you we need decisions and signatures; we get in touch only when the next step depends on you.
We handle banks and regulators
A bank refusal, a registry query, a regulator's request, a stalled deadline: we answer, rework the file and resubmit at no extra charge for our work until the matter is closed.
We see it through
The partner who opens your project carries it through to the result, even when the process runs for months, and stays on afterwards: renewals, filings, changes to the structure. Where the law requires a licensed professional, we bring one in and remain answerable to you.
A boutique, personally involved
We have worked in international business since 2012. An experienced partner runs your project personally, and unusual structures are our field: where you hear “that can't be done”, we look for the lawful route.
Your affairs stay yours
Information about you, your structure, your beneficial owners and your deals reaches neither competitors nor third parties. Banks, registries and regulators receive exactly what the law or the procedure requires, and the contract says so.
Faster and more precise
We build the file around the specific bank's and regulator's requirements before filing. Experience means we get the work right straight away, where some firms need three attempts. A partner replies in writing within 24 hours.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from scoping to the operational hand-over.
Scoping
Activity, ownership structure, tax residency and banking needs
Structure design
Choice of jurisdiction and entity type for the specific objectives
Filing and registration
Document submission, registration and issuance of certificates
Post-incorporation
Account opening, tax registration and bookkeeping
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
- Proposed company name (1–3 options)required
- Beneficial owner ID + proof of addressall UBOs
- Director and shareholder detailsstructured form
- Description of the intended activity1 page
- Source-of-funds declarationfor KYB
- Power of attorney (for remote handling)notarised
- Certificate of incorporationoriginal
- Memorandum and articles of associationsigned
- Share register + share certificatesissued
- Tax / registration numbersregistered
- Registered-address agreement12 months
- Corporate kit (seals, registers)delivered
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Send a written request or book a paid consultation, then we pick the right format.
Consultation
A paid 30-minute video consultation with a partner. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: a partner studies your case and replies in writing within 24 hours.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · a partner replies in writing within 24 hours.
A partner reads the questionnaire, replies in writing at the email you gave within 24 hours, then a written quote follows. Work starts after you accept it.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, a written request is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “Holding company” projects in Canada run 2–4 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 1,800 · depends on jurisdiction. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows once we have scoped the task.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
Yes. A non-resident can own a Canadian corporation outright. The CBCA requires at least 25% of directors to be Canadian residents, but Ontario (since 5 July 2021), BC and Alberta impose no such requirement — which makes them the preferred jurisdictions for 100% non-resident ownership and control. For CBCA structures we supply a nominee resident director. Threshold met — you keep the wheel.
Under the CBCA at least 25% of the board must be Canadian residents — on a three-person board, one resident director covers it. Ontario repealed its requirement on 5 July 2021, and BC and Alberta have none: there the board can be entirely non-resident. For CBCA structures, the nominee resident director comes from us.
A federal CBCA corporation operates in any province under its own name after a standard extra-provincial registration, while provincial ones (Ontario, BC, Alberta) are chartered by a single province and register separately to work elsewhere. CBCA gives mobility and a national name. BC and Alberta mean simple director rules; Ontario is the pick for a regulated financial business.
Usually not — most jurisdictions require a registered address with an agent or office service. We provide it as part of the project for the first 12 months.
Yes. Changes to directors and shareholders are recorded in the register as needed. We handle this as part of ongoing administration.
Holding company in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
