MinuteKeep vs Ownr: The Real Comparison for Canadian Corporations

If you're running a Canadian corporation, you've probably heard of Ownr. It's popular. It's got a clean website. But is it the best option for your ongoing corporate compliance needs?

The short answer: not for minute books.

Ownr is good at one thing—cheap initial incorporation. But once your corporation is set up, you're locked into a renewal cycle that gets expensive fast. MinuteKeep, on the other hand, solves a completely different problem: generating compliant minute books that actually work with Canada's corporate requirements.

This isn't a hit piece. We use Ownr for incorporation ourselves. But after talking to dozens of Canadian business owners, we saw a gap. This post walks you through both, honestly.

What Ownr Does Well

Ownr is solid at incorporation. Here's what they nail:

• Low upfront cost: Initial incorporation runs around $79–$119 depending on province and add-ons. That's competitive.
• Simple process: You fill out a form, they handle the paperwork with provincial authorities. It works.
• Multi-province support: You can incorporate federally or in specific provinces through their platform.
• Registered agent service: They'll accept legal documents on your behalf.

If your only need is "I need to incorporate a corporation quickly," Ownr is fine. They'll get it done.

Where Ownr Falls Short (And It Matters)

Here's what nobody talks about:

1. Renewal Pricing Is Brutal

Ownr's renewal costs are $199 per year, every year.

Think about that. Your initial incorporation cost was ~$100. But now you're paying $199 annually just to keep your Ownr account active. Most corporations don't actually need Ownr after incorporation—you'd use a lawyer or accountant for ongoing compliance. So you're paying Ownr for... what, exactly?

MinuteKeep's pricing: from $29/year. One time purchase, generate unlimited resolutions.

2. Minute Book Features Are Limited

Ownr positions itself as an all-in-one platform, but their minute book functionality is underwhelming:

• Generic templates: Not jurisdiction-specific. Canadian corporations have different requirements by province and federal incorporation. One template doesn't fit all.
• Limited resolution types: If you need a custom resolution that doesn't fit their templates, you're stuck writing it yourself or paying a lawyer.
• PDF only: No Word export means you can't edit, customize, or integrate with your own systems.
• No email delivery: You get a PDF file. That's it. No way to send it directly to shareholders or store it in your corporate records system.

3. Customer Support Is Weak

Ownr's support is email-only. For a critical compliance issue (like a rejected annual filing), you might wait 24–48 hours for a response.

4. You're Paying for Something You Don't Use

After incorporation, most business owners use Ownr's services minimally. You incorporate once. Then what? You're paying $199/year for a platform you check twice a year.

How MinuteKeep Compares

MinuteKeep wasn't built as an incorporation platform. It was built to solve one specific problem: generating compliant minute books that Canadian corporations actually need.

Here's what's different:

Pricing That Makes Sense

• Free: Generate your first corporate resolution with no credit card.
• $29/year: Unlimited resolutions, templates, exports, and email delivery.

That's it. No hidden renewal fees. No yearly bills for a feature you forgot existed.

Jurisdiction-Specific Templates

MinuteKeep includes templates built for:

• Federal incorporation
• Ontario corporations
• British Columbia corporations
• Alberta corporations
• Québec corporations (with French-language options)
• Other provinces

Each template reflects actual corporate law requirements for that jurisdiction. Your resolutions are compliant from the start.

Multiple Export Formats

• PDF: For printing and shareholder records.
• Word (.docx): Edit, customize, brand with your company colors.
• Email delivery: Send directly to shareholders or save to your corporate records.

Features Built for Real Use

• Custom resolutions: Need something beyond templates? Build it from scratch.
• Shareholder records: Keep track of who approved what and when.
• Multiple director/officer support: Assign roles and permissions as your team grows.
• Audit trail: Complete history of who generated what resolution and when.

Pricing Comparison: Ownr vs MinuteKeep

Who Should Use Each

Use Ownr If:

• You need to incorporate a new corporation and want a simple, fast process.
• You want registered agent services.
• You're incorporating in a province where you're unfamiliar with requirements.

Stop using Ownr after incorporation. Their annual fee doesn't make sense for ongoing compliance.

Use MinuteKeep If:

• You have an existing Canadian corporation.
• You need to generate resolutions regularly (annual meetings, director changes, loan authorizations, etc.).
• You want affordable compliance without yearly subscription creep.
• You need jurisdiction-specific templates.
• You want to store, export, and share minute books in multiple formats.

The ideal workflow: Use Ownr to incorporate. Use MinuteKeep for everything after.

The Real Issue: Compliance Doesn't Stop at Incorporation

Ownr's business model treats incorporation as a one-time event. But for Canadian corporations, compliance is continuous:

• Annual meetings: You need board resolutions.
• Director/officer changes: Every change needs to be documented.
• Loan authorizations: Banks want minute book evidence.
• Share transfers: Documentation required.
• Policy updates: Board resolutions needed.

Ownr handles the initial bureaucracy, but then leaves you hanging. They charge $199/year to maintain access, but you're not actually using them. You're using your accountant, your lawyer, or—if you're smart—a focused tool like MinuteKeep that does one thing exceptionally well.

The Bigger Picture

This is why specialized tools win. Ownr tried to be everything (incorporation, renewal, minute books, registered agent). But they optimize for volume—cheap incorporation to acquire customers—and then lock you into a renewal cycle.

MinuteKeep does one thing: generates compliant minute books efficiently and affordably. That's it. No bloat. No upselling.

For a $500 Canadian corporation, paying $199/year for Ownr renewal doesn't make sense. Paying $29/year for MinuteKeep to handle resolutions? That makes sense.

Ready to Generate Your First Resolution?

Stop paying Ownr for compliance features you don't use.

Generate your first corporate resolution free — no credit card required

Full minute books start at $29/year. That's less than a coffee per month.

FAQ

Q: Can I use MinuteKeep if I incorporated with Ownr?

A: Yes. MinuteKeep generates compliant minute books for any Canadian corporation, regardless of how it was incorporated.

Q: Does MinuteKeep handle incorporation?

A: No. Use Ownr or your lawyer for incorporation. Use MinuteKeep for everything after.

Q: Is MinuteKeep's $29/year a subscription?

A: No. It's a one-time purchase that includes unlimited resolutions, templates, and exports.

Q: What if I need a custom resolution that doesn't match a template?

A: MinuteKeep's builder lets you create custom resolutions from scratch. You're not locked into templates.

Q: Can I export resolutions as Word documents?

A: Yes. PDF, Word (.docx), and email delivery are all included.

Q: Is this compliant with Canadian corporate law?

A: Yes. Templates are jurisdiction-specific and built to match provincial and federal requirements. When in doubt, have your accountant or lawyer review—but MinuteKeep handles the heavy lifting.

Q: What if I only have one director?

A: MinuteKeep supports single-director and multi-director corporations equally well.