Starting a business in Canada can be overwhelming, especially for new entrepreneurs, because the processes of registering and incorporating a business are often tiring, time-consuming, and costly. Fortunately, Ownr provides a solution to these challenges.
Ownr is a Canadian online platform that streamlines the processes of registering, incorporating, and building businesses across Canada. This platform significantly simplifies the incorporation process, enabling you to start your businesses quickly and easily.
With Ownr, you can register your businesses in just a few simple steps, eliminating the need for expensive legal consultations or accounting services. You simply respond to a series of questions about your business, and Ownr handles the rest.
In this Ownr review, we will delve deeper into its features, pricing, pros, cons, and perks to help you determine if it aligns with your requirements. Let’s explore what Ownr has to offer!
Our Take on Ownr Review
- More affordable
- It saves time
- It offers great tools and information
- The entire process is available online
- You can get up to $300 back on your Ownr fees
- It offers a number of other perks
- Only accessible to residents of BC, Alberta and Ontario
- Only supports sole proprietors and corporations
- Limited legal advice
What is Ownr?
Ownr is a Canada-only company owned by RBC Ventures, a Royal Bank of Canada subsidiary. Based in Toronto and available only in Alberta, British Columbia (BC), and Ontario, the company aims to help entrepreneurs and small business owners register and incorporate their businesses in Canada.
Over 85,000 businesses in Canada have been registered using Ownr. In 2020, Ownr acquired Founded Technologies to expand its top-notch services to Canadian entrepreneurs.
Ownr partners with various organizations, such as accounting firms, law firms, entrepreneurship centres, incubators, etc., to offer perks to its users.
Ownr does the hard job of registering or incorporating your business in Canada. You only need to secure a business name, provide your details and leave the rest for Ownr.
Depending on your company structure, Ownr has all the tools to make your business comply with federal and provincial laws.
Benefits of Ownr
- Ownr is more affordable compared to using a lawyer
- It saves time as you can incorporate your business in a few minutes
- It offers great tools and information for incorporating your business, such as a comprehensive guide on starting and running a business in Canada.
- The entire process is available online through the Ownr’s portal
- You can get up to $300 back on your Ownr fees
- It offers several other perks, such as Xero, Telus, H&R Block, etc.
Downsides of Ownr
- Only accessible to residents of BC, Alberta and Ontario
- Only supports sole proprietors and corporations
- Limited legal advice
How to Incorporate Your Business with Ownr
Incorporating your business with Ownr is easy and takes just a few minutes. To incorporate your business, search for an available business name, provide your details and make payment.
After that, Ownr will do all the hard job for you by submitting your application, and you can expect to receive your business document within one working day.
Ownr prepares all corporate formation documents, including Director’s Consent, First Director’s Resolution, Notice of Issuance, Securities Register, etc. Ownr saves you the hassle and cost of using a lawyer to prepare these documents.
The following are the key features of Ownr incorporation services:
- Incorporation & filings with the government
- Registration of company name
- CRA business name registration
- GST/HST program account registration
- Company Organization Documents & Share Issuances
- Maximum of 3 User Accounts
- Access to your incorporation documents through the Ownr platform
RELATED: A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Incorporate a Business in Ontario (2024)
How to Register a Sole Proprietorship with Ownr
To register your sole proprietorship, search for potential business names. When you have reserved your business name, fill out your business details on the Ownr’s online platform, and make payment for sole proprietorship registration.
Ownr will do all the work for you, have your business registered, and send your business license via email within one business day if you reside within Ontario and Alberta. It may take up to 15 business days for BC residents to reserve their business name.
The business license documents will vary depending on your province:
- Ontario: Master Business License
- Alberta: Trade name Declaration
- BC: Statement of Registration of Sole Proprietorship
The following are the key features of Ownr sole proprietorship service:
- Unlimited business name searches
- Business registration documents
- Business registration number
- Storage of business document
- Chat support
- Ownr Perks
RELATED: A Step-By-Step Guide on How to Register a Business in Ontario (2024)
Ownr Perks
Besides the $300 money back, Ownr also offers a series of perks through its partners, such as:
1. Vistaprint: Vistaprint offers 20% off your initial order using your unique Ownr code. This company offers custom marketing products that give your business a professional outlook.
2. TELUS Business: TELUS Business is your one-stop shop for telecommunications products and services. Through Ownr, you will get 10% monthly for activating or renewing your TELUS Business plan.
3. Heirlume: Get 20% off to protect your business trademark on Heirlume through Ownr. This is cost-effective, especially if you calculate the long-term cost of protecting your business trademark.
4. Xero: Stay on top of your business accounting with 3 months off on your Xero subscription. Xero is a reputable online accounting tool that helps you manage your business account in one place.
5. ShipStation: Get 60-day free shipping through your favourite means by registering or incorporating your business on Ownr.
6. eBay: Get a free 90-day eBay store as an Ownr user to showcase your products or services to over 180 million buyers online.
7. H&R Block: Ownr also saves you 20% on your small business or self-employed tax preparation fees on H&R Block. You can save up to $100 on your tax fees as an incorporated business owner.
How to Sign Up With Ownr
Registering your business with Ownr is a straightforward process. The following steps will help you get started with Ownr:
- Open an account.
- Search for an available business name and reserve it.
- Fill out your business details online.
- Pay the registration fee.
- Wait for your business license (for sole proprietorship) or business documents (for incorporations) via email after Ownr submits your application for processing.
How Much Does Ownr Cost?
Ownr has a one-time fee for incorporation, managed incorporation, and sole proprietorship plans.
The following table shows the annual cost of Ownr, which applies to Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario:
Province | Sole Proprietorship | Full Incorporation + 1 year Online Minute Book (Federal) | Full Incorporation + 1 year Online Minute Book | Managed Corporation Plan |
Ontario | $89 + tax | $499 | $599 | $599/year (+$499 incorporation fee) |
Alberta | $89 + tax | -- | $599 | $599/year (+$499 incorporation fee) |
British Columbia | $89 + tax | -- | $699 | $599/year (+$599 incorporation fee) |
Quebec | $49 | -- | $699 | $699/year (+$599 incorporation fee) |
Is Ownr Legit?
Yes, Ownr is absolutely legit. Besides being a venture of one of Canada’s five biggest banks, Ownr has more than 85,000 registered businesses.
Also, Ownr partners with various organizations such as accounting firms, law firms, entrepreneurship centres, and incubators in Canada.
Moreover, with advanced encryption that manages your information on its website, you have nothing to lose by registering or managing your business through Ownr.
RELATED: How To Register and Open A CRA My Account in 2024
Is Ownr Worth It?
Deciding whether Ownr is worth it depends on various factors tailored to your business requirements and preferences.
Before you use Ownr, assess the platform’s ease of use, affordability, and ability to meet your specific needs for business registration and incorporation and determine if it is worth it.
Look into customer feedback, compare features with other similar services, and consider any additional advantages or perks offered by Ownr.
Ultimately, make a well-informed decision by evaluating how effectively Ownr aligns with your objectives and financial considerations.
Other Alternatives to Ownr in Canada
Two major alternatives to using Ownr to register or incorporate your business in Canada are DIY and lawyer.
However, doing it yourself can be stressful and time-consuming since you must research and follow the applicable business registration or incorporation laws. You may get stuck in the process of Doing it Yourself and seek the help of a lawyer.
While a lawyer can save you the stress of registering or incorporating your business, you should be ready to spend an average of $1,500. This is way more expensive than registering a sole proprietorship or incorporating a business on Ownr.
But remember, Ownr gives you $300 back when you open an account which is more than the cost of registering a sole proprietorship.
While Ownr is better than DIY and Lawyer, I suggest you choose an option that suits your current situation.
Final Thoughts on Ownr Review
Ownr is an innovative online platform that simplifies the incorporation process, making it quick, affordable, and easy for anyone to start their own business.
With over 85,000 registered businesses and in partnership with a wide range of organizations, Ownr is a legit platform providing a user-friendly and intuitive experience for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Canada.
Whether you want to incorporate your business or register a sole proprietorship, Ownr has got you covered. As a result, this Ownr review is positive, and I recommend it to everyone looking to register or incorporate their business in Canada.
FAQs on Ownr Review
How Long Does Ownr Take to Register?
It takes 15 minutes to register your business on Ownr. However, your application will be processed and completed within one business day. The Ownr registration process is more speedy compared to DIY or using a lawyer.
How to Contact Ownr?
The Ownr customer service team can answer your questions Monday – Friday (9.00 am – 5.00 pm EST). You can contact the Ownr customer service team through 1-800-766-6302 (phone), support@ownr.co (email), or the chat button on its website.
Based on experience, Ownr customer service team is friendly and responds to questions quickly.
