Ownr Review (2026): is it legit, and is it worth it?
Ownr lets you incorporate a Canadian business online in about 15 minutes, for a fraction of a law firm’s fee. We have pointed dozens of clients to it for their incorporations, and the process has been consistently smooth. Here is what it costs, how it works, and where it falls short.
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Ownr’s same Articles of Incorporation cost a fraction of a lawyer’s rate. A standard incorporation runs about $499 in year one; our 15% partner link brings that to about $424, and the $300 RBC cash back nets out around $124. Government fees vary by province.
Solopreneurs, Consultants, E-commerce sellers, and simple corporations.
Complex share structures, family trusts, or multi-class shares requiring custom legal drafting.
Ownr is the default recommendation for 95% of our new clients. It is cheaper, faster, and integrates directly with RBC for instant business banking.
Is Ownr legit?
Yes. Ownr is a legitimate Canadian platform owned by RBC Ventures (a division of the Royal Bank of Canada) that has registered and incorporated tens of thousands of businesses. It files the same Articles of Incorporation with the federal or provincial government that a lawyer would, so your corporation is fully legally valid. We have recommended Ownr to dozens of clients incorporating their businesses, and the documents, digital minute book, and CRA registration come out complete and accurate. Ownr charges an annual plan plus separate government filing fees, not a one-time fee: the Online Minute Book Plan is $199 a year with the first year free, and the Managed Corporation Plan is $599 a year ($499 the first year). Government filing fees are separate and vary by province (about $499 in Ontario). Through our partner link you get 15% off, which brings a standard incorporation from about $499 to about $424, and Ownr's separate RBC offer returns up to $300 when you open an RBC business account, so year one nets out around $124. The honest caveat: Ownr is built for standard incorporations, so complex share structures, family trusts, and tax-planning setups still need a lawyer.
The features that make Ownr worth it
Everything you need to incorporate, stay compliant, and manage your corporate records, without a lawyer on retainer.
Ownr generates your Articles of Incorporation, by-laws, and CRA business number, or registers a sole prop or trade name, in an afternoon.
Your articles, by-laws, resolutions, registers, and share certificates are created and stored as a secure digital minute book.
Ownr prepares annual return filings, director and shareholder resolutions, and auditor waivers so you stay compliant without a lawyer.
A capitalization table tracks share classes, issuances, transfers, and dilution as ownership changes.
Change a director, address, or share structure and Ownr files the forms, drafts the resolutions, and collects eSignatures automatically.
A library of common business contracts, service agreements, and contractor and partnership templates, ready to customize.
Ownr turns dense legal documents into clear summaries so you understand what you are signing.
Incorporate through the RBC partner path for cash back and account perks, with a clean handoff to your accountant.
Where Ownr wins, and where it does not
Ownr vs hiring a lawyer to incorporate
For a standard incorporation, the documents are identical. The difference is cost, speed, and what happens after you incorporate.
When a lawyer is still worth it: complex multi-class share structures, family trusts, estate freezes, shareholder agreements, or anything needing custom legal drafting. For a straightforward incorporation, including a basic holding company, Ownr does the same job for a fraction of the cost.
What Ownr actually costs in 2026
Annual plans (the first year of the Minute Book Plan is free) plus separate government filing fees that vary by province.
Best for freelancers and side-hustles.
First year free. The essentials to incorporate and stay compliant.
Everything in Minute Book plus GST/HST, unlimited changes, and priority support. First year $499.
Note: Plans are billed yearly and government filing fees are separate, varying by province (about $499 in Ontario). The first year of the Online Minute Book Plan is free, and the $300 RBC cash back significantly reduces the net cost of incorporating.
From name search to minute book in six steps
Run a free name search directly on Ownr to see if your business name is available.
Choose between Sole Proprietorship (simpler) or Incorporation (liability protection + tax deferral).
Enter your business address and director details. Ownr auto-generates the Articles of Incorporation.
Digitally sign the documents. Choose a plan (Minute Book is free the first year) and pay the government filing fee. The RBC rebate applies later.
Instantly receive your Certificate of Incorporation and access your digital Minute Book.
Click the link in your dashboard to open your RBC account and trigger the cash back refund.
Just incorporated? Your books come next.
Ownr registers the corporation, but a new company still needs clean bookkeeping, payroll, and a proactive tax plan. That is what we handle for Canadian founders, on fixed monthly pricing.
What our clients found
We have pointed dozens of Canadian founders to Ownr for their incorporations across Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Every one saved four figures against a law-firm quote, and most had their corporation and digital minute book set up the same day. The documents, CRA registration, and RBC account linking came out clean each time. Pricing verified July 2026.
9 questions people ask about Ownr
Incorporate for about $124 in year one, not $1,500.
For a standard incorporation, Ownr produces the same legal documents a lawyer would, in about 15 minutes. With the Minute Book Plan free the first year, our 15% partner discount on the Ownr fee, and the $300 RBC cash back, it is our default recommendation for most new founders.
Ownr
15% Off + $300 RBC Cash Back