Business · 8 min read · Published September 2026
Starting a business in Ontario: legal checklist
A practical legal checklist for choosing a structure, registering a business, signing contracts, hiring, and protecting information.
Short answer
Starting a business requires decisions about structure, ownership, registration, tax, contracts, employment, privacy, intellectual property, and risk. The best sequence depends on the business, so use this checklist to identify questions for an accountant and lawyer before commitments become expensive to change.
What should be decided before launch?
Write down who owns the business, who can bind it, where it operates, what it sells, and what risks are most likely. Those answers guide registration, insurance, contracts, and governance.
- Sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation
- Ownership percentages and decision-making
- Business name, registrations, permits, and tax accounts
- Customer terms, supplier agreements, and insurance
What people and information risks matter?
A business can create obligations through employees, contractors, customers, marketing, data, and software before it earns revenue. Put responsibilities and ownership in writing.
- Employment or contractor agreements
- Confidentiality and intellectual-property ownership
- Privacy notices and handling of customer information
- Website terms, refund policies, and records retention
Common questions
Should I incorporate before earning revenue?
Incorporation can help with structure and governance but does not remove every personal risk or obligation. Compare the costs, tax advice, ownership plans, and liability concerns first.
Do I need a lawyer for a small business?
Not every task requires a lawyer, but early advice can be useful for ownership, leases, contracts, employment, regulated activities, and intellectual property.
Official sources to check
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