You have registered your business, found your first clients and maybe even printed business cards. Now comes the question every new entrepreneur faces: what do I actually need online? Customers in Quebec search on Google, check reviews, look at your website on their phone and expect to reach you easily, in French. If they cannot find you, or what they find looks unfinished, they move on to the next result.
This online presence checklist for Quebec businesses walks you through the essentials, in a practical order. You do not need to do everything on day one, but getting the foundations right early saves time, money and headaches later.
1. Secure your domain name (.ca or .com)
Your domain name is your address on the web. It appears on your website, your email, your invoices and your vehicle lettering, so choose it carefully.
- Keep it short and easy to spell, in French and English if you serve both.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers when possible; they are easy to forget when said out loud.
- Consider a .ca domain. It signals to customers that you are a Canadian business. To register a .ca, you must meet the Canadian Presence Requirements set by CIRA, the organization that manages the .ca domain. Eligible registrants include, for example, Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and corporations incorporated in Canada, among other categories. Your registrar will ask you to select the category that applies to you.
- Register it in your own name or your company’s name, not in the name of your web designer or a friend. You should always control your domain.
- Consider securing related versions, such as the .com or a French and English variation, if they are available and relevant.
- Turn on auto-renewal so your domain never expires by accident.
2. Set up a professional email address
An address like info@yourbusiness.ca looks far more credible than a free webmail address, and it reinforces your brand every time you send a message.
- Create addresses for key roles (for example info@, sales@ or your name@).
- Use a reliable business email provider connected to your domain.
- Set up an email signature with your name, title, phone number and website.
- Ask your provider or web agency to configure email authentication records so your messages are less likely to land in spam.
3. Build a website that works for customers
Social media profiles are useful, but you do not own them and their rules can change. Your website is the one place you fully control. For most new Quebec businesses, a solid website should include:
- A clear home page explaining what you do, who you serve and how to contact you.
- Service or product pages, ideally one page per main service.
- An about page that builds trust.
- A contact page with your phone number, email, contact form and, if relevant, your address and hours.
- Mobile-friendly design and fast loading, since many visitors will be on a phone.
- Basic SEO: descriptive page titles, clear headings and helpful content.
- A legal and privacy section with your privacy policy.
If you plan to sell online, think about payments, shipping and sales taxes from the start. Not sure about budget? Our guide on small business website costs explains what affects price. When you are ready, our team can help with website design and development.
4. Respect Quebec’s French-language requirements
In Quebec, the Charter of the French Language applies to how businesses communicate with the public, including on websites, in commercial publications and in many customer-facing materials. In general terms, your website should be available in French, and if you also offer other languages, French must not be given a lesser place. The rules were strengthened in recent years, so it is worth checking the details for your situation.
We cover the essentials in our article on Quebec French-language rules for business websites. If you also want to serve English-speaking or other communities, a properly structured bilingual or multilingual website helps you do so while keeping French front and centre. For specific legal questions, consult the Office québécois de la langue française or a legal professional.
5. Publish a privacy policy and follow Law 25
Quebec’s Law 25 modernized the province’s private-sector privacy rules. If your website collects personal information, through a contact form, a newsletter sign-up, online orders or analytics tools, you have obligations. At a high level, businesses are expected to:
- Designate a person in charge of the protection of personal information (by default, the person with the highest authority in the business) and publish their title and contact details on the website.
- Publish a clear privacy policy in plain language.
- Inform people about what you collect, why, and how they can exercise their rights.
- Be transparent about cookies and tracking technologies, and give people a way to refuse non-essential ones.
- Protect the information you hold and have a process for handling confidentiality incidents.
Our Law 25 website privacy checklist breaks this down step by step. Because every business is different, consider getting advice from a privacy or legal professional.
6. Create and verify your Google Business Profile
If you serve customers in a specific area, or have a physical location, your Google Business Profile is one of the most valuable free tools available. It helps you appear in Google Maps and local search results.
- Claim and verify your profile.
- Choose the most accurate primary category.
- Add your hours, phone number, website and service areas.
- Upload real photos of your business, team or work.
- Keep your name, address and phone number consistent everywhere online.
For a full walkthrough, see our Google Business Profile guide for Canada. Optimizing it is a core part of local SEO.
7. Claim your social media profiles
You do not need to be active everywhere. Pick the platforms where your customers actually spend time, and do them well.
- Reserve your business name on the main platforms, even ones you will not use right away.
- Use the same logo, description and contact details across all profiles.
- Link to your website from every profile.
- Post in French, and add English if it fits your audience.
- Plan a realistic posting rhythm rather than starting strong and going silent.
8. Start collecting reviews, the honest way
Reviews influence both customer decisions and local visibility. Build them from day one:
- Ask satisfied customers for a review shortly after a job or purchase.
- Make it easy with a direct link to your Google review page.
- Reply to every review, positive or negative, politely and professionally.
- Never buy reviews, write fake ones or offer rewards in exchange for positive reviews. It breaks platform rules and damages trust.
9. Set up analytics and Search Console
You cannot improve what you do not measure. Install tools to understand where visitors come from and what they do on your site.
- Website analytics to track visits, popular pages and contact form submissions.
- Google Search Console to see how your site appears in Google search and spot technical problems.
- Conversion tracking for calls, forms or sales, especially if you plan to run ads.
- Cookie consent configured where required, in line with Law 25.
10. Plan for maintenance and growth
An online presence is not a one-time project. Keep your website updated and secure, refresh content, and review your Google Business Profile regularly. As you grow, you might add SEO content, online advertising or an online store.
Your quick checklist
- Domain name registered in your name, auto-renewal on
- Professional email on your domain
- Mobile-friendly website with clear service and contact pages
- French content that respects Quebec’s language rules
- Privacy policy and Law 25 basics in place
- Verified Google Business Profile
- Consistent social media profiles
- Review collection process
- Analytics and Search Console installed
- Maintenance plan
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a .ca domain for a Quebec business?
It is not mandatory, but a .ca signals that you are Canadian and is a popular choice. You must meet CIRA’s Canadian Presence Requirements to register one.
Can my website be in English only if my customers speak English?
Quebec businesses are generally required to make their website available in French. You can add English or other languages, but French should have at least an equal place. Check the specific rules or consult a professional for your situation.
Do small businesses really need a privacy policy?
If your website collects personal information, even through a simple contact form, Law 25 applies. A clear privacy policy is a key part of meeting your obligations.
What should I do first if my budget is tight?
Secure your domain and email, create a verified Google Business Profile, and launch a simple but professional website in French. You can add more later.
Get your online presence right from the start
Loubane helps new and growing businesses across Montreal and Quebec set up a complete online presence, from domain and website to Google Business Profile and SEO. Contact us or call or WhatsApp 438-933-7601, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
