Province
Websites for Quebec businesses: French first, Law 25 built in
- Published
- Published
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed
The short answer
A commercial website serving the Quebec public must be available in French under the Charter of the French Language, and Law 25 requires a designated privacy officer and privacy policies from private-sector organizations. Redenn builds bilingual, Law 25-ready sites for Quebec businesses remotely from Brampton, Ontario; we have no Quebec office and we are not a translation firm, so we say clearly what we do and do not cover.
What is different about a business website in Quebec
- LanguageThe Charter of the French Language, as amended by Bill 96, requires businesses serving the Quebec public to make commercial websites and publications available in French. (Office québécois de la langue française)
- PrivacyQuebec Law 25 phased in privacy obligations for private-sector organizations between September 2022 and September 2024, including a designated privacy officer and privacy policies. (Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec)
- TaxQuebec charges 9.975% QST on top of the 5% federal GST; an online store applies both to Quebec customers. Rates change and must be verified. (Canada Revenue Agency)
- PrivacyQuebec is one of the provinces with private-sector privacy legislation recognized as substantially similar to PIPEDA, so provincial law governs most Quebec businesses. (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
- LanguageMontreal is majority French-speaking; the province's small-business base spans manufacturing, hospitality, construction and professional services.
Running a business website in Quebec: what is different
Language comes first. The Charter of the French Language, as amended by Bill 96, requires businesses serving the Quebec public to make commercial websites and publications available in French. A French version is not an optional translation; it is the version the law expects, with English beside it. We build French as a first-class route, not a plugin afterthought.
Law 25 phased in privacy obligations for private-sector organizations between September 2022 and September 2024, including a designated privacy officer and published privacy policies. Quebec's law is treated as substantially similar to PIPEDA, so it is the one that governs. At checkout, a store selling to Quebec customers applies 5% GST plus 9.975% QST; rates change and must be verified.
| Obligation | Who it applies to | What Redenn builds | What stays with you |
|---|---|---|---|
| French website (Charter) | Businesses serving the Quebec public | French routes, hreflang, French forms and navigation | Professional French copy; OQLF questions |
| Law 25 | Private-sector organizations | Privacy policy page, consent mechanics | Naming a privacy officer; legal review |
| 5% GST + 9.975% QST | Sales to Quebec customers | Tax-by-province checkout | Registration and remittance |
| CASL | Newsletters, promotional SMS | Consent, identification, unsubscribe in both languages | Consent records |
Which Redenn products fit Quebec businesses
For a Quebec business the package math includes the second language. A Business site (CA$499, five pages) becomes a ten-page bilingual site, so the honest quote is Business plus five additional standard pages at CA$49 each, or the Growth System from CA$1,299 if chat and CRM are wanted. We place client-supplied French copy; professional French copywriting varies and is quoted by a translator you choose.
Restaurants, salons and clinics fit Starter or Business Plus with booking. Manufacturers and accountants tend toward Business Plus (CA$799) with a bilingual blog. Ecommerce starts from CA$1,499 with GST and QST configured.
Local search in Quebec
Quebec search happens in two languages, and a bilingual site should present French pages to French searches and English pages to English ones with correct hreflang tags, not a language switcher that hides half the content from crawlers. Your Google Business Profile should carry the French business name and description you actually use.
Local Search Foundation (CA$199) sets this up. Ongoing management starts from CA$299/month per location. We do not guarantee rankings in either language.
How we work with Quebec clients
We serve Quebec remotely from Brampton, Ontario, in the same time zone. We work in English; French copy and translation come from you or a translator you choose. We do not give legal advice on the Charter or Law 25; we build to the requirements you and your advisor specify.
We have not published a Quebec portfolio project yet; our Canadian work so far is in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.
Common Quebec business types we build for
Cities in Quebec
Questions from Quebec businesses
Does my Quebec website legally need a French version?
If you serve the Quebec public commercially, yes: the Charter of the French Language requires websites and publications in French. We build French as a full route with its own URLs.
What is Law 25 and does it affect a small business?
Law 25 modernized Quebec's private-sector privacy rules, phased in from September 2022 to September 2024, with a designated privacy officer and privacy policies. It applies to private-sector organizations generally; ask your advisor how it is scoped for you.
Will you translate my site into French?
No. We place French copy you or a translator supply and structure the site so both languages are complete.
What tax does a Quebec online store charge?
5% GST plus 9.975% QST for Quebec customers; other provinces by destination. Verify current rates; they change.
Does Redenn have a Montreal office?
No. We serve Montreal, Quebec City, Laval and Gatineau remotely from Brampton, Ontario.
Sources
- Charter of the French Language: obligations for businesses, Office québécois de la langue française. Accessed 2026-09-24.
- Law 25: protection of personal information in the private sector, Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec. Accessed 2026-09-24.
- GST/HST and provincial sales tax rates, Canada Revenue Agency. Accessed 2026-09-24.
- PIPEDA and substantially similar provincial legislation, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Accessed 2026-09-24.
- Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), Government of Canada. Accessed 2026-09-24.
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