Going out on your own
How to start a planning consultancy in Ontario
Urban planners shape how land is used — zoning, development approvals, official plans, and growth policy. The recognized credential is the Registered Professional Planner (RPP), a protected designation from the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI).
Urban Planner at a glance
- Credential
- RPP designation (protected title) from OPPI — not required to practise, but the standard
- Path in
- Accredited planning degree → 1–2 yrs supervised experience + mentorship → exams
- Regulated by
- Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) / Professional Standards Board
- Insurance baseline
- Professional liability (E&O) for a planning consultancy
- Professional body
- Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI)
The steps to start your practice
- 1
Stand up your planning consultancy
Planning is unregulated as a practice, so there is no firm licence — but clients (developers, municipalities) expect RPP-designated planners and professional liability (E&O) insurance. Incorporate, set up your accounts, and carry E&O.
Full guide: Insurance - 2
Incorporate (or form a professional corporation)
Most professionals incorporate to limit liability and for tax efficiency. Several regulated professions (architects, engineers) can form a professional corporation with a Certificate of Authorization — confirm the right entity type with your regulator before filing.
Full guide: Incorporation - 3
Set up your CRA accounts
Register for a Business Number, HST/GST (mandatory above $30,000 in revenue), payroll if you will hire, and corporate income tax. Professional service fees are HST-taxable.
Full guide: CRA Registration - 4
Carry professional liability (E&O) insurance
Errors & omissions insurance is the core coverage for a professional practice — and a firm-authorization condition for regulated professions. It protects against claims arising from your professional advice, designs, or certifications.
Full guide: Insurance - 5
Stand up your practice operations
Business banking, professional accounting, engagement letters and contracts, and the project and document workflows a practice runs on. This is the back office that keeps you paid and protected.
Full guide: Operational Setup
Your launch checklist
The whole page in one list.
- Stand up your planning consultancy
- Incorporate (or form a professional corporation)
- Set up your CRA accounts
- Carry professional liability (E&O) insurance
- Stand up your practice operations
Let AEC Stack handle the business side
Incorporation, CRA, insurance, and the operations to run a practice, set up so you can focus on the professional work.
Start your practice