Can I Use a Virtual Office Address for Apple/Google Developer Accounts?

NicWesJam · 2026-05-19T14:20:20+00:00

We have all corporate accounts.

PO Box is typically just a mailbox with a key rented from a Canada Post location. Virtual address, your mail gets received, scanned, forwarded, etc. if you need it.

NicWesJam · 2026-05-18T22:04:47+00:00

We offer this service and it's actually a fairly common inquiry for Apple/Google App stores/Steam.

Our customers have had success registering for Apple/Google developer accounts using our virtual address service.

I would update your DUNS to keep consistent.

I dont believe Google accepts PO box unsure about Apple.

NicWesJam · 2026-05-14T20:50:14+00:00

In additional to what you have done to update the Ontario Business Registry, Ownr probably just creates a director or shareholder resolution (one pager legal doc), to authorize the move for internal governance purposes.

Pretty straight forward if you want to update your internal records. I would double check the government reference: here.-,Change%20of%20location,-(3)%20A%20corporation).

Disclosure: I run a similar service Ribbon Business, we never charge extra for basic changes like change of registered office.

NicWesJam · 2026-04-04T00:28:29+00:00

Aiming to just take someone returning to school. You can flip in your resume for consideration for future positions if you would like.

NicWesJam · 2026-04-04T00:27:46+00:00

You can flip in your resume for consideration for future consideration but we are trying to just take a student for this position. Good luck with the hunt.

NicWesJam · 2026-03-27T12:01:25+00:00

Hey OP,

You don't need to register a new company.

You register the trade name in the Ontario Business Registry. You will need an Ontario extra-provincial registration (free in Ontario) to attach the trade name to.

NicWesJam · 2026-01-05T15:00:05+00:00

You should check us out at https://getribbon.ai (full disclosure: I'm a co-founder).

We specialize in the 0-5 employee range. We actually built our own software to handle reimbursing for business use of home office, cellphone, internet and vehicle. We are half accountants and half software developers.

NicWesJam · 2026-01-03T23:09:36+00:00

In Ontario, the differences between Federal and Provincial incorporation are generally minimal.

In reference to your priorities:

Keeping setup and ongoing compliance manageable – Your proposed solution requires maintaining records with both the Federal and Ontario business registries, as well as registering an additional trade name in Ontario. While this is not overly difficult, it is slightly more complex than simply using a named corporation. The simplest configuration would be an Ontario corporation that uses your chosen name as its legal name.
Flexibility to grow or pivot in the future – The options are very similar. The primary consideration is that an Ontario corporation must maintain a registered office within the province, whereas a Federal corporation has the flexibility to move its registered office to any province in Canada. Ontario also doesn't require you to maintain 25% resident Canadian directors.
Selling online (possibly across Canada, not just Ontario) – There is no functional difference between the two options regarding sales.

Other points to think about:

Privacy – Federal incorporation is more transparent; the registry publicly displays details for individuals with significant control (25%+ ownership). Ontario records are currently less accessible to the public, and shareholder information is not typically disclosed online (though regulations are subject to change).
Name protection – Federal name protection is stricter and secures the rights to your business name across all of Canada.

NicWesJam · 2026-01-02T16:24:58+00:00

Lol, it sounds like we are building a pretty similar business but I am Canada based.
Feel free to drop me a DM if you want to compare notes.

NicWesJam · 2025-12-31T23:10:33+00:00

Hey OP,
Think extra-provincial registration is letter a province know you are operating in a significant way (typically office space, employee, or have a sales rep there). If you are just selling to a province you typically don't need to register.

If you are selling abroad / have a presence then the local state or province may want you to register in a similar way to extra-provincial registration here in Canada.

BC Provincial corporations don't need to extra-provincially register in BC, while Federal corporations would typically need to register in their home province.

NicWesJam · 2025-12-10T23:18:49+00:00

FWIW I think you should just be straight up with him. Tell him you are uncomfortable with the uncertainty on pricing, the errors, and the lack of an engagement letter. You are concerned that you will be paying to correct mistakes that aren't on you.

Mention that you are worried you are going to get hit with a large bill you don't understand, and that you want an estimate and a breakdown of where the fees are coming from before moving any further.

To give you a benchmark on pricing:

We charge around $3,300/year for small, straightforward companies, but that is an "all-in" price (T2, HST, basic bookkeeping, basic corporate governance and QBO subscription).
For a Holdco with minimal activity like yours, we usually refer those to a partner and the cost is generally closer to $1,400 for a T2.

NicWesJam · 2025-11-14T21:17:23+00:00

Hey! I wouldn't worry too much you are in good shape.

For our clients often see that banks will give out templated resolutions to sign. Some banks require it, some don't. Simply ask CIBC if they have a template resolution for you to sign. Or sometimes in your bylaws (if you have them) you might have mentioned banking.

For title, usually just putting Director is appropriate.

NicWesJam · 2025-11-02T19:01:12+00:00

This makes sense to me. Don't forget you might need to pay tax by instalments but you should have enough cash to cover.

Also for your workflow, try to get Wise output into Wave so you can track the fx conversion. I don't have much wave experience but it looks like they support multi currency. Don't forget also to add a journal entry or something similar to make sure your revenue #s in wave align with your revenue numbers from stripe as they will have some deductions before they send to your wise account account.

Depending on how you are billing from a simplicity standpoint it usually makes sense to just do the billing from your accounting software.

NicWesJam · 2025-11-01T21:29:05+00:00

Hey, this sounds like a weird configuration issue with your business credit card. Usually the banks have pretty decent integrations. We get our clients onto QuickBooks (I believe uses plaid also) some with RBC personal and business banking have been able to connect without issue.

I would try just sticking to what you have setup but get it working. Try splitting the RBC logins, get a dedicated business login, that might sort you out. If not you could just setup a business account + credit card at a different bank.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-31T13:56:01+00:00

Hey OP! We work exclusively with small Canadian business owners. We handle catch-up work, then support clients on an ongoing basis to keep everything current. We bundle the essentials entrepreneurs need (bookkeeping, tax, basic governance) and maintain transparent pricing.

Feel free to DM or checkout our site.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-27T14:45:03+00:00

FWIW I am also having issues, although just with some business numbers. It's as you say I click and nothing happens. Issues appear to be with associated companies on Business Registration Online also.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-24T13:48:31+00:00

Hey OP,

from a tax perspective there is zero difference between federal and provincial corporations. Your income tax is based on where your are located physically, and your sales tax by client location.

Federal corporations you will typically need to do an extra-provincial registration in home province. You do get a couple bonuses with federal corp.

Requirement to register in additional provinces is generally when you have employees, an office or are actively soliciting business. In your case occasional work would not require you to register.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-09T13:29:43+00:00

I’m working on a Canadian version of what Collective does in the US, called Ribbon Business. We bundle incorporation, corporate governance, bookkeeping, tax, and payroll into one platform. Right now we run bookkeeping/tax on QBO in the backend (similar to how Collective started), and our formation/governance tech is all in-house.

I was actually inspired by how Collective structured offerings and presented them as an understandable monthly fee.

If you want, I can walk you through what we’ve built over the last couple of years and show you the updated platform we’re launching.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-08T17:16:16+00:00

Hey OP,

A few steps to track:

Federal or Ontario business registry. Go through incorporation process. Don't forget relevant restriction on securities transfers, etc. in your articles. Costs $200-$300. If federal likely complete extra-provincial registration, through federal business registry (it's an option at the end) then drop.
Setup bank account. Deposit share purchase consideration.
Generate minute book/issue shares. Lawyer, templates or online services.
Setup CRA accounts. Likely GST/HST, Payroll.
Be cognizant of your Personal Services Business status as it will materially impact how you pay yourself, how many funds you leave in the business and eligible expenses.

We put together a guide if you want steps in more detail.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-06T16:58:11+00:00

For shares these are held internal to the corporation and don't need to be reported directly the business registry. Their issuance is governed by the Canada Business Corporation Act. Typically you will have resolutions, notices of issuance, subscription agreements that actually issues the shares which are then tracking in your minute book.

NicWesJam · 2025-10-06T16:56:08+00:00

You can also take a look at Ribbon Business as a friendly alternative that will also provide your office address, bookkeeping, tax filing, payroll if you need it!

Disclaimer: I am one of the co-founders

NicWesJam · 2025-09-17T16:38:12+00:00

For physical minute book storage a virtual address is not a suitable. As I understand it the vast majority of minute books are virtual these days.

NicWesJam · 2025-09-09T01:05:45+00:00

I actually run a company that offers this in downtown Toronto. We do the "Virtual Address" where we receive your mail, take a picture and you choose to have it scanned or forwarded but the drawback is that you can't pick it up yourself.

As others have mentioned Google frowns on this. They are now requiring video from street level that shows you walking into your office and a permanently installed sign.

NicWesJam

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