Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton — accounting firm serving Montreal. Service available in English, French.
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Start & Grow a Business in Montreal
The official organizations, verified professionals and local businesses you need — grouped by stage, from starting up to growing.
Quick answer
Starting a business in Quebec generally means choosing a legal structure, registering the business with the enterprise registrar, obtaining the tax numbers you need, and getting the permits tied to your activity and your address. Requirements vary depending on your situation; consider speaking with a qualified professional.
By need
Start a Business The steps to starting a business in Quebec, from idea to launch, with the official body and the professional that matter at each step. Business Legal Incorporation, contracts, employment law, commercial leases and intellectual property — and the verified firms that document those areas. Accounting & Tax Bookkeeping, financial statements, GST/QST and corporate tax — and the verified accountants in the directory. Business Funding Loans, venture capital, labour-sponsored funds and public programs — with the official bodies that administer them. No funding is guaranteed. Business Insurance General liability, professional liability, commercial property and sector-specific cover. Marketing & Visibility Branding, search, advertising, print and photography — and the verified agencies in Montreal. Website & Technology Website, online commerce, business telecom and security — and the verified providers in the directory. Commercial Real Estate Retail, office and industrial space, and commercial leasing — with the brokers in the directory. Hiring & HR First hire, labour standards, health and safety, and international recruitment. Business Development Strategy, customer acquisition, partnerships, exporting and process improvement. Resources & Organizations The directory of official organizations, guides and tools for Montreal businesses.
The startup journey
21 steps from idea to launch. Each step leads to the official body and the professional involved.
By industry
What actually differs between sectors: the permits, the regulator and the risks.
Official organizations
Published contact details and the role of each body. MTLPages is not affiliated with any of them.
Chambre des notaires du Québec Professional order of Quebec notaries. Ordre des CPA du Québec Professional order of Quebec chartered professional accountants. CNESST Administers labour standards, pay equity, occupational health and safety and employment injury compensation. Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) Maintains Quebec's enterprise register: registration, incorporation and annual filings. Revenu Québec Administers Quebec tax legislation, including personal and corporate income tax and QST. Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) Regulates construction quality and issues contractor licences. Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) Administers collective agreements and workforce management in the construction industry. Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) Regulates Quebec's financial markets: securities, insurance, deposit institutions and the distribution of financial products. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Administers federal tax legislation, income tax and GST/HST. Corporations Canada Incorporates and regulates federally incorporated companies in Canada. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Federal regional development agency. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Federal bank dedicated to entrepreneurs.
Verified professionals
Directory businesses that serve other businesses.
Richter LLP
Richter LLP — accounting firm serving Montreal. Service available in English, French.
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Demers Beaulne
Demers Beaulne — accounting firm serving Montreal. Service available in French, English.
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KPMG Montréal
KPMG Montréal — accounting firm serving Montreal. Service available in English, French.
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MNP LLP
MNP LLP — accounting firm serving Montreal. Service available in English, French.
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Georgia Pappis
Georgia Pappis — law firm serving Montreal. Service available in Greek, English, French.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start a business in Montreal?
Generally: choose a legal structure, register the business with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, obtain the tax numbers you need from Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency, then the permits tied to your activity and your address. Requirements vary depending on your situation.
Do I need to incorporate?
No, it is not mandatory. Sole proprietorship, partnership and incorporation carry different liability and tax consequences. A lawyer or accountant can help you compare them for your situation.
What permits do I need?
It depends on your activity and your address. Municipal permits come from the City of Montreal; food from MAPAQ; alcohol from the RACJ; construction from the RBQ; and some activities require an environmental authorization.
Do I need a lawyer or an accountant?
MTLPages does not give legal, tax or financial advice. Many owners consult an accountant on structure and tax, and a lawyer or notary on incorporation and contracts. The verified firms in the directory are linked from the sections above.
Where can I find funding?
Several public bodies and financial institutions support Quebec businesses, including BDC, Investissement Québec, PME MTL, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Fondaction and Futurpreneur. No funding is guaranteed and each body applies its own criteria.
A question about your business project?
Tell us what you need — starting and growing a business.
MTLPages is a business directory. We pass your request to our team; we are not the service provider and we do not guarantee a response. You can also contact a business directly from its listing.