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How do I register my sole proprietorship (self-employed) with the Registraire des entreprises?

✓ Verified answer Written from official pages, with checked citations and a verification date.

General information, not advice. According to Québec.ca, an individual who operates a sole proprietorship (often called a "self-employed worker") must register in the enterprise register within 60 days of starting activities if the business is operated under a name that does not include the person's surname and first name. If the business name includes your surname and first name, registration is optional. You register by filing a registration declaration for a natural person, for a fee of $41 at the regular rate (rates read in 2026). The Registraire then assigns a Québec enterprise number (NEQ), and the business must meet annual obligations.

Official page: Register a natural person operating a sole proprietorship (Québec.ca) ↗

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Key facts
Who must register
The individual who operates a sole proprietorship in Québec under a name that does not include their surname and first name. Optional if the name includes their surname and first name (except for a tobacco retail point of sale or an artificial tanning salon).
Time limit to register
60 days after the start of activities; 30 days for a tobacco retail point of sale or an artificial tanning salon.
Registration fees (rates read in 2026)
$41 at the regular rate, $61.50 at the priority rate (registration declaration or re-registration request). Check the fees page for up-to-date amounts.
Annual update
Required every year for any registered business. The fees page lists $41 at the regular rate (including the annual registration fees), $61.50 at the priority rate. So-called "jumelées" (paired) businesses pay the annual fees with their income tax return.
Other declarations
Current update: 30 days after a change (no fee at the regular rate, $20.50 at the priority rate). Cancellation: no fee at the regular rate, $20.50 at the priority rate.
If you do not register when required
Offence: fine of $1,000 to $10,000 for an individual, and possible suspension of the right to act before the courts.
Steps
  1. Check whether you must register: you must do so within 60 days of starting your activities if you operate your business under a name that does not include your surname and first name. For a tobacco retail point of sale or an artificial tanning salon, the time limit is 30 days, even if the name includes your surname and first name.
  2. If your business uses your surname and first name (for example "Jean Tremblay, notaire"), registration is optional. You can still register on a voluntary basis.
  3. File the registration declaration for a natural person, from the official Québec.ca page. If you have already operated a sole proprietorship, choose the "réimmatriculation" (re-registration) option: you must reuse the NEQ previously assigned to you.
  4. Pay the fees: at the regular rate, the registration declaration or re-registration request costs $41 ($61.50 at the priority rate). You can pay by credit card at the very end of the request. With another payment method, you print a payment slip; the payment must reach the Registraire within 10 working days after the request is sent, because the request is processed only after payment is received.
  5. The Registraire assigns you a Québec enterprise number (NEQ), which starts with "22" and is assigned to the person, not to the business. An individual cannot have more than one NEQ.
  6. After registration, file the annual updating declaration every year during the set period, even if nothing has changed. After a change during the year, you have 30 days to file a current updating declaration.
  7. If you stop your activities, file a declaration of cancellation (radiation).
General information drawn from official sources. It does not replace legal, medical or financial advice. For your situation, contact the organization concerned or a professional.
Sources

Checked on October 5, 2026. Rules, deadlines and fees can change: always confirm on the official page above. Demande au Québec is an independent website, not a government site.

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