To launch a startup website for Canada or Australia, you need four things in place: a domain and URL structure for the new market, localised content (including French if you serve Quebec), consent-ready sign-up forms that meet local anti-spam rules, and pricing pages that follow local display requirements. Get these right before you start spending on ads or outbound, and the site will support your market entry rather than slowing it down.

This guide is general information for founders, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on your specific situation, so check details with a lawyer or compliance adviser in each country.

Domains and URL structure

You have three common options: keep one global site, add market folders (for example /ca/ and /au/), or register local domains. Folders on your main domain are often the simplest way to start because they share your existing authority and analytics. Local domains can feel more local but come with eligibility rules.

Sources: the auDA summary of .com.au eligibility and a registrar's summary of CIRA's Canadian Presence Requirements. Check the current official rules before registering.

Whichever route you choose, add hreflang tags so search engines show the right version in each country, and keep analytics set up per market. Our guide to startup conversion tracking covers the measurement side.

Canada: what to plan for

French for Quebec

If you sell to customers in Quebec, French is not optional. In a McCarthy Tétrault article on Bill 96, the law firm notes that under the Charter of the French language, websites must be available in French, and that Bill 96 did not materially change this long-standing requirement. It also points to an increased risk of consumer complaints to the Office québécois de la langue française.

For a SaaS or app startup, that usually means a full French version of the marketing site, plus French versions of key product screens, terms, onboarding emails and support content for Quebec customers. Machine translation can help with drafts, but have a fluent reviewer check product and legal copy. Our guide to website localisation covers the workflow for French, German and Spanish.

CASL: consent for email and SMS

Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation applies to commercial electronic messages sent to recipients in Canada, including from abroad. The CRTC's CASL FAQ sets out three requirements: consent, identification information and an unsubscribe mechanism. Points that affect your website:

• Pre-checked boxes cannot be used to obtain consent.
• Messages must identify the sender, with a mailing address valid for at least 60 days after sending.
• Unsubscribe links must work for at least 60 days and requests must be processed within 10 business days.
• An abandoned cart does not create implied consent, so the CRTC suggests seeking express consent at checkout.

Australia: what to plan for

Total prices including GST

If you sell to Australian consumers, pricing pages need care. The ACCC's guidance on price displays says businesses must display a total price that includes taxes, duties and all unavoidable or pre-selected extra fees, shown as a single figure. It also warns against drip pricing, where extra costs appear later in the purchase. Prices shown only to other businesses do not need to include GST, so B2B SaaS pricing pages are treated differently from consumer offers. Ask your adviser how this applies to your plans.

The Spam Act

Australia's rules follow a similar pattern to Canada's. The ACMA's guidance on avoiding spam says you need consent before sending marketing messages, must identify your business with correct contact details, and must include a clear, functional unsubscribe option. Unsubscribe requests must be honoured within five working days, and the option must work for at least 30 days after sending.

Localising beyond the legal basics

Compliance gets you into the market; local relevance wins customers. Small details make a big difference:

• Currency: show CA$ or A$ prices, or at least a clear conversion note.
• Spelling: Australians use British-style spelling; Canadian English mixes both, so pick a convention and keep it.
• Time zones: list support hours in local time; Australia spans several zones and Canada even more.
• Local proof: feature customers, partners or integrations from that market, with permission.
• Contact details: a local phone number or address, if you have one, builds trust.
• Payments: check that your checkout supports the cards and wallets common in each market.

For fintech startups, the Ledgerly template preview shows how market-specific disclosures and pricing can sit cleanly in a layout.

Market entry website checklist

• URL structure chosen: market folders or eligible local domain
• hreflang tags and per-market analytics set up
• French version planned for Quebec customers, reviewed by a fluent speaker
• Sign-up forms use unticked consent boxes and record consent
• Marketing emails include sender identification and a working unsubscribe
• Unsubscribe processing meets the stricter of CASL and Spam Act timelines
• Australian consumer prices shown as a single GST-inclusive total
• Local currency, time zones and support hours displayed
• Privacy policy and terms reviewed by a lawyer for each market
• Local proof and contact details added where available

Frequently asked questions