Registering a business in Quebec — REQ guide
Step-by-step Quebec business registration with Registraire des entreprises
Any business operating in Quebec must register with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ), obtaining a NEQ (Numéro d'entreprise du Québec). This applies to sole proprietorships using a name other than the owner's, partnerships, corporations, NPOs and cooperatives. This guide walks through the REQ registration process, NEQ usage, French language requirements and annual obligations.
Who must register with REQ
Mandatory for: sole proprietorships using a name other than owner's legal name, partnerships, all corporations (federal incorporated must extra-provincially register), non-profit organisations, cooperatives. Exempt: sole proprietorships operating under owner's own name only. Federal corps need REQ registration if they have a physical Quebec presence.
NEQ — Numéro d'entreprise du Québec
10-digit unique business number assigned by REQ. Different from the federal Business Number (BN) issued by CRA. Used for all REQ filings, Revenu Québec submissions, communications with Quebec government. Public — searchable in REQ public registry.
REQ registration process
Online via REQ services en ligne (clicSÉQUR Entreprises required). Sole prop: $36 + name reservation $20-50. Inc: $327 (provincial LSAQ) + name reservation. Federal corp extra-provincial registration: $50. Documents: business name, owner/director info, business address, activity description.
French language requirements (Bill 96, OQLF)
Bill 96 (2022) strengthens French as the language of business. Business name should be in French (with translations allowed). Communications with public must be in French (or French at least equal prominence). Contract templates: French version required for Quebec consumers. OQLF (Office québécois de la langue française) certification recommended for businesses with 25+ employees.
Annual obligations
Annual filing (Déclaration de mise à jour annuelle) with REQ confirming/updating business info: officers, directors, shareholders (for corps), address. Filing fee: $98 (corp), $36 (other). Due once per year on the anniversary of registration. Late filing penalty: $25-2500 depending on lateness.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need REQ if I'm a federal corp?
Yes if you have a physical presence in Quebec (office, employees, regular business). Federal corp extra-provincial registration with REQ: $50.
NEQ vs BN — what's the difference?
BN is federal (CRA), 9-digit number for tax/payroll/GST. NEQ is Quebec (REQ), 10-digit number for Quebec-specific filings, public business registry.
French language requirements?
Bill 96 + Charter of the French Language: business name in French preferred (translations allowed), public communications must be in French (or equal prominence), employment documents in French if Quebec employees.
Annual filing deadline?
Anniversary of original registration (so if you registered 15 March 2023, deadline 15 March every subsequent year). Late penalty: $25-2500.
What's OQLF certification?
Office québécois de la langue française francisation certificate — for businesses with 25+ employees in Quebec, demonstrating French as primary internal communication language. Voluntary but useful for public contracts.
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