Ownr Review (2026): is it legit, and is it worth it?
Ownr lets you incorporate a Canadian business online, with your documents typically within a few business days, 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.
No code to enter. Ownr takes another $300 off its regular price when you open a new RBC business bank account. Government fees are included; it renews at $199 a year.
See the full Ownr offerDisclosure: some links may be affiliate links. If you use them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Ownr’s same Articles of Incorporation cost a fraction of a lawyer’s rate. A federal incorporation is $499 in year one, Ownr’s government and filing fees included; our 20% partner link brings that to about $399, and Ownr’s $300 RBC saving nets out around $99. Ontario and Alberta incorporations cost $100 more, British Columbia and Quebec $200 more.
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 connects to RBC business banking, with $300 off when you open a new RBC account.
Is Ownr legit?
Yes. Ownr is a legitimate Canadian platform owned by Royal Bank of Canada: it is an RBCx company, run by RBCx Portfolio Inc., a wholly owned RBC subsidiary, and Ownr says it has registered more than 265,000 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 sells yearly plans, and the year-one price includes its one-time government and filing fees: on the Online Minute Book Plan it is $499 for a federal incorporation, $599 in Ontario or Alberta and $699 in British Columbia or Quebec, then $199 a year. The Managed Corporation Plan is $499 more in year one and renews at $599 a year. Through our partner link you get 20% off, which brings the $499 federal incorporation to about $399, and Ownr takes another $300 off when you open a new RBC business bank account, so a federal year one nets out around $99. 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.
Open a new RBC business account within 60 days and Ownr takes $300 off your incorporation, 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
Yearly plans; the year-one price includes Ownr’s one-time government and filing fees, so it varies by jurisdiction.
Best for freelancers and side-hustles.
Federal price with Ownr's government and filing fees included ($599 in Ontario or Alberta, $699 in British Columbia or Quebec). The essentials to incorporate and stay compliant.
Everything in Minute Book plus GST/HST, unlimited changes, and priority support. Federal price with fees included ($1,098 in Ontario or Alberta, $1,198 in British Columbia; coming soon in Quebec).
Note: Plans are billed yearly. Ownr's year-one price includes its one-time government and filing fees, so it varies by jurisdiction: on the Online Minute Book Plan, $499 federal, $599 in Ontario or Alberta and $699 in British Columbia or Quebec. Opening a new RBC business account within 60 days takes $300 off year one ($49 off a sole proprietorship).
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 and choose a plan; the year-one price includes Ownr's government and filing fees. Opt in to a new RBC business account here to take $300 off instantly, or claim it later.
Receive your Certificate of Incorporation and your digital Minute Book in your Ownr account, typically within a few business days.
If you skipped the checkout discount, get a new RBC business account approved within 60 days, then click "Refund Me" in your Ownr dashboard. Keep the account open for a year.
The Venn alternative, and the bank account you need next
Ownr is the most complete incorporation service in Canada, but it is no longer the only sensible route. Venn, the business banking platform, now bundles incorporation with its no-fee account, and because its welcome bonus offsets most of the filing fee it can work out cheaper if you were going to open a Venn account anyway. Here is the honest comparison, followed by the step every new corporation faces next.
Most complete
Lowest net costA corporation needs its own account before it can invoice, pay itself, or collect the welcome bonuses above. If you want Ownr’s $300 RBC saving, open the RBC account through Ownr within 60 days. If you would rather skip the branch entirely, Venn's account has no monthly fees, CAD and USD accounts, and low FX rates, and opening one takes minutes.
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.
12 questions people ask about Ownr
Incorporate for about $99 in year one, not $1,500.
For a standard incorporation, Ownr produces the same legal documents a lawyer would, typically within a few business days. With our 20% partner discount and the $300 saving with a new RBC business account, it is our default recommendation for most new founders.
Ownr
20% Off + Save $300 With RBC