Bill 96 Compliance Audit: How to Prepare Your Business in 2026

Bill 96 has strengthened the language obligations of businesses operating in Quebec. Before committing to costly fixes, a Bill 96 compliance audit tells you exactly where you stand: what is compliant, what is not, and where to start.

In brief — A Bill 96 compliance audit is a language snapshot of your business: website, online store, communications, advertising, HR documents, contracts and invoices. It produces a compliance score, a list of non-conformities ranked by severity, and a prioritized action plan. Most of it is done remotely, from your URLs and the documents you provide. It is a documentary and linguistic exercise — the official interpretation of your obligations rests with the OQLF or your legal advisor.

Why audit before you fix

Many businesses react under pressure: they translate at random, without knowing what is actually required or what comes first. The result is misdirected spending and lingering blind spots.

An audit flips the logic. It first gives you a clear picture of your exposure, then an ordered roadmap. You fix what matters, in the right order, on a controlled budget.

What a Bill 96 compliance audit checks

A serious language audit covers every touchpoint with the Quebec public and employees:

• Website and online store: French version, equivalent access to French, forms, checkout, legal notices, metadata.
• Advertising and social media: ads targeting Quebec, predominance of French, landing pages, public profiles.
• Business identity: name in the Enterprise Register, email signatures, social media bios.
• Legal and commercial documents: customer contracts, terms and conditions, invoices.
• Human resources: job postings, employee handbook, internal policies, training.
• Labeling and manuals: packaging, spec sheets and user guides.

Each point is assessed and ranked: critical, major or minor, to prioritize the fixes.

Remote auditing: an advantage, not a limitation

Almost all obligations can be audited remotely. From your web addresses and the files you share, a provider can review your digital presence, documents and communications with no travel involved. Only physical in-store signage requires an on-site check — for which a simple self-assessment checklist is usually enough.

This is what makes the audit fast and cost-effective: no travel costs, a launch within days, and a video-call debrief.

How to prepare your business

To make an audit useful and fast, gather in advance:

1. The URLs of your website, store and social media.
2. Read access (or screenshots) to your advertising accounts.
3. Sample documents: one template contract, two or three invoices, the employee handbook, recent job postings.
4. Packaging photos if you sell physical products.
5. Your number of employees in Quebec and any deadline (OQLF notice, inspection, launch).

Businesses employing 25 or more people in Quebec for six months have enhanced obligations, including registration with the OQLF. Confirm your specific situation with the OQLF.

From audit to correction

A good audit does not stop at the diagnosis. It leads to an action plan and, where relevant, to the translation of priority items by certified translators. That is the value of entrusting the audit and the execution to a single partner: you move from findings to compliance without friction.

Asiatis offers this end-to-end service — see our Quebec Francization Audit (Bill 96 / OQLF) page — and handles the translation for francization of the documents you need in French. For the broader framework, see our Bill 96 compliance guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Bill 96 compliance audit recognized by the OQLF?

The OQLF does not grant a label to private audits. However, the report is documented evidence of your compliance effort, useful to structure your fixes and demonstrate good faith in the event of an inspection.

How long does an audit take?

Typically 2 to 3 business days for a surface diagnostic, and 5 to 10 business days for a full audit, depending on the volume of documents provided.

Does the audit guarantee my compliance?

No. An audit identifies gaps and lets you correct linguistic content, but final compliance and the francization certificate are the OQLF's responsibility.

Do you have to be a large company to be concerned?

No. Obligations apply broadly to businesses operating in Quebec; the 25-employee threshold mainly triggers additional administrative obligations with the OQLF.