What you actually pay to incorporate in Alberta at each service level in 2026, and which one fits a business like yours.
Alberta incorporation cost ranges from about $400 to $600 for a bare-bones DIY filing through a registry agent, to roughly $500 all-in for a mid-tier full-service package that bundles the Nuans® report, minute book, and CRA registrations, up to $1,200 to $1,800 or more if you hire a corporate lawyer.
The $275 government fee is the same no matter which route you pick. What changes is how much of the surrounding work (name search, minute book, share structure, ongoing compliance) gets done for you versus left for you to figure out.
One flat price, Nuans®, minute book, and CRA registration included.
Most articles on this stop at the government fee and call it done. That number is real, but it’s rarely what anyone actually pays. Here’s what each path costs in practice, and what you get (and don’t get) at each price point.
The Three Ways to Incorporate in Alberta
| DIY (registry agent) | Full-service package | Corporate lawyer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical total cost | $400 to $600 | Roughly $500 (flat package price) | $1,200 to $1,800+ |
| Government fee ($275) | Included | Included | Included |
| Nuans® name search | You order separately ($15 to $60) | Included | Included |
| Minute book | Not included, often $75 to $150 extra | Included | Included |
| Business Number / CRA setup | You register yourself, or pay extra | Usually included | Usually included |
| Custom share structure advice | No | Limited | Yes |
| Legal review of your specific situation | No | Limited | Yes |
| Best for | Simple, single-owner corporations with no complexity | Most small businesses that want speed and a complete package without lawyer fees | Multiple shareholders, complex share classes, or higher-liability businesses |
If you’re incorporating in Alberta as a straightforward single-owner business, the middle tier tends to be the sweet spot: you get the same completeness a lawyer would provide (Nuans®, minute book, BN registration) without paying lawyer rates for a filing that doesn’t actually need customized legal advice.
Option 1: DIY Through a Registry Agent
This is the cheapest route, and the one most “how to incorporate” articles describe without mentioning the gaps.
What’s included:
- $275 government fee
- Certificate of Incorporation and Articles of Incorporation
What’s usually NOT included, and what it costs to add:
- Nuans® name search: $15 to $60 (skip this by using a numbered company)
- Minute book: often $75 to $150 extra, or you build one yourself
- Business Number and CRA program account registration: free if you do it yourself directly with CRA, or a separate fee if you pay someone to do it
- Agent for Service: Alberta has required every corporation to name an Agent for Service (an Alberta resident who accepts legal notices on the corporation’s behalf) since March 2021. If none of your directors qualify, this is an added cost.
Real total: Once you add the pieces DIY packages leave out, the honest total lands around $400 to $600, not the $275 headline number, and not the $50 “ready in minutes” ads that don’t include the government fee at all.
Where this makes sense: a single owner, no partners, no complex share structure, comfortable building their own minute book and handling CRA registrations directly.
Option 2: A Full-Service Incorporation Package
This is the middle tier: a flat price that bundles the government fee, Nuans® report, minute book, and CRA registrations into one order, without hiring a lawyer directly.
What’s typically included:
- Government fee and Nuans® search
- Electronic minute book with Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and share certificates
- CRA Business Number registration
- Often GST/HST, payroll, and import/export account setup as add-ons or inclusions
What you don’t get: customized legal advice on your specific share structure, shareholder agreements, or complex ownership arrangements. For a straightforward incorporation, most owners don’t need this anyway.
Where this makes sense: the large majority of small businesses incorporating in Alberta. You get a complete, properly documented corporation (not just a certificate with nothing behind it) at roughly a third of what a lawyer would charge for the same paperwork.
Option 3: A Corporate Lawyer
Typical cost: $1,200 to $1,800, sometimes more depending on complexity.
What you get that the other two tiers don’t:
- Custom-drafted Articles of Incorporation reflecting your specific share structure, not a template
- Advice on multiple share classes, voting vs. non-voting shares, and transfer restrictions
- A shareholder agreement if you have co-owners
- Guidance on whether provincial or federal incorporation, or a holding company structure, actually fits your situation
Where this makes sense: multiple shareholders, family business succession planning, a higher-liability industry, or any situation where getting the share structure wrong could cost far more later than the legal fee costs now. If you’re not sure whether this applies to you, that uncertainty is itself a signal worth a lawyer’s time.
The Cost Nobody Mentions: Staying Compliant After Day One
Every incorporation cost comparison focuses on the one-time setup fee and ignores what happens the following year. Every Alberta corporation must file an annual return, and (unlike Ontario, where it’s free) Alberta charges a government fee plus a registry agent fee for this every single year. See our annual return filing services for what that actually costs by province, since it’s a recurring line item that changes the real multi-year cost of each option above.
Full-service packages and lawyer packages often include the first year of this at no extra charge; DIY filings almost never do.
Which Option Should You Choose?
- Choose DIY if you’re a single owner, comfortable with paperwork, and your corporation has no complexity beyond “one person, one class of shares.”
- Choose a full-service package if you want a complete, properly documented corporation (minute book included, not an afterthought) without paying for legal advice you don’t need.
- Choose a lawyer if you have co-owners, a complex share structure, or you’re incorporating specifically to prepare for a future sale, investment round, or estate plan.
Whichever route fits, the process itself is the same: choosing a name, filing Articles of Incorporation, and setting up your CRA accounts. Our complete guide to how to incorporate a business in Alberta walks through every step in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real cost to incorporate in Alberta?
Budget $400 to $600 for a DIY filing through a registry agent once you add the Nuans® report and minute book, around $500 for a full-service package that bundles everything, or $1,200 to $1,800+ for a corporate lawyer.
Is the cheapest option actually cheaper?
Often not by much once you account for what’s missing. A $50 to $150 advertised DIY price rarely includes the $275 government fee, the Nuans® search, or a minute book; add those back and the gap between DIY and a full-service package narrows considerably.
Do I need a lawyer to incorporate in Alberta?
No. Most straightforward, single-owner incorporations don’t require one. A lawyer becomes worth the added cost when you have multiple shareholders, complex share classes, or a specific legal question a template can’t answer.
Does the incorporation cost include ongoing fees?
No. The one-time incorporation cost is separate from your annual return filing (required every year) and your corporate tax filing obligations with the CRA. Budget for both when comparing total cost of ownership, not just the setup fee.
Is a numbered company cheaper than a named one?
Yes, slightly. A numbered company skips the Nuans® name search fee entirely, since Corporate Registry assigns the name directly.
Ready to Incorporate?
The Alberta Incorporation Package bundles the government fee, Nuans® report, minute book, and CRA registration into one flat price, without the wait or cost of a corporate lawyer.
This guide is for general informational purposes and isn’t a substitute for advice from a lawyer or accountant familiar with your specific situation. Prices reflect typical market rates as of 2026 and can vary by provider; confirm current pricing before ordering.