Do you want to start a business in Canada? Here’s everything you need to know about registeringyour business name.
Do You Need to Register Your Business Name?
Almost all businesses in Canada must register their business name in their respective provinces or territories except for sole proprietorships that use only the owner’s legal name with no additions. All other forms of business ownership, including partnerships, must register their business names. Business registration is a legal requirement, not a choice. As per below, Newfoundland and Labrador are the exceptions to this general rule; in those provinces, you do not have to register the name of sole proprietorships or partnerships at all.
Form of Ownership Must Register Business Name?
Corporation Yes
Partnership Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sole proprietorship using owner’s legal name No
Sole proprietorship using another name Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Using Your Legal Name as a Business Name
If your business is a sole proprietorship and you wish to operate under your own name, the name must be your exact legal name - you cannot add anything to the name, such as “Inc.” or “Co.” or “& Partners”, nor can you add anything that would give potential customers/clients a clue about what you do.
If, for example, you decide to call your business something such as “John Smith’s Consulting Services”, you have to register my business name, even if you are running it as a sole proprietorship.
Is It a Good Idea to Use Your Name as a Business Name?
Even though it is not a requirement, as a sole proprietorship you may wish to register a business name rather than operate under your legal name, for example:
If by yourself you are providing a unique service, as do consultants, authors, musicians, artists, etc. using your own name makes sense. If your business is in another industry such as manufacturing and you intend to eventually expand the business by incorporating and/or taking on partners and employees then probably not. If you have a common name such as “Bob Smith” and you are hoping for clients to easily find you on the web, using your own name is probably not a good idea. If your name is long, has difficult spelling, or is not easy to remember you may wish to use a different name.
How to Register a Business Name
In Canada, once you’ve chosen a form of business ownership, such as a sole proprietorship, you register your business by going through the process of registering your business with the appropriate provincial authority.
Want to register a business in Ontario? You need to register your business with the Companies Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.
If you are starting a business in Nova Scotia, you need to register your business with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If you are starting a business in BC, you need to register your business with the Corporate Registry.
In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search.
From that point, the procedure you have to go through to register a business name depends on what form of business ownership you’ve chosen for your new business. (For information on the different forms of business in Canada, see choose a form of business.)
The basic procedure to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership is to conduct a business name search, fill out the appropriate business registration form, and pay your fee. The Business Registration section of this website has links to all the different provincial registries to speed up this process for you.
Business Registration for Corporations
The procedure to register a business name for a corporation or cooperative is more involved. Besides conducting a name search and getting a NUANS report if you wish to set up a named corporation, you will also have to prepare Articles of Incorporation, a cover letter and an incorporation application to go along with your fee.
Business Registration in Each Province
Because business registration is governed by the provinces (with the exception of federal incorporation), the details of the procedure to register a business name will differ from place to place.
Back to > Steps to Starting a Business
How to Register a Business in Nova Scotia
Register a Business in the Province of British Columbia
Starting a Business: How to Choose a Business Name in Canada
Business Registration in Alberta
Business Registration in Ontario
Business Corporation Registration in Quebec
Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Comparison of Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
How to Incorporate Your Business in Canada
What You Need to Know About Incorporation in Canada
Facts About Starting a Business in Canada
Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name in Canada?
Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?
How to Start a Non-Resident Business in Canada
Learn How to Get a Tax ID Number in Canada
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Do you want to start a business in Canada? Here’s everything you need to know about registeringyour business name.
Do You Need to Register Your Business Name?
Almost all businesses in Canada must register their business name in their respective provinces or territories except for sole proprietorships that use only the owner’s legal name with no additions. All other forms of business ownership, including partnerships, must register their business names. Business registration is a legal requirement, not a choice. As per below, Newfoundland and Labrador are the exceptions to this general rule; in those provinces, you do not have to register the name of sole proprietorships or partnerships at all.
Form of Ownership Must Register Business Name?
Corporation Yes
Partnership Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sole proprietorship using owner’s legal name No
Sole proprietorship using another name Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Using Your Legal Name as a Business Name
If your business is a sole proprietorship and you wish to operate under your own name, the name must be your exact legal name - you cannot add anything to the name, such as “Inc.” or “Co.” or “& Partners”, nor can you add anything that would give potential customers/clients a clue about what you do.
If, for example, you decide to call your business something such as “John Smith’s Consulting Services”, you have to register my business name, even if you are running it as a sole proprietorship.
Is It a Good Idea to Use Your Name as a Business Name?
Even though it is not a requirement, as a sole proprietorship you may wish to register a business name rather than operate under your legal name, for example:
If by yourself you are providing a unique service, as do consultants, authors, musicians, artists, etc. using your own name makes sense. If your business is in another industry such as manufacturing and you intend to eventually expand the business by incorporating and/or taking on partners and employees then probably not. If you have a common name such as “Bob Smith” and you are hoping for clients to easily find you on the web, using your own name is probably not a good idea. If your name is long, has difficult spelling, or is not easy to remember you may wish to use a different name.
How to Register a Business Name
In Canada, once you’ve chosen a form of business ownership, such as a sole proprietorship, you register your business by going through the process of registering your business with the appropriate provincial authority.
Want to register a business in Ontario? You need to register your business with the Companies Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.
If you are starting a business in Nova Scotia, you need to register your business with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If you are starting a business in BC, you need to register your business with the Corporate Registry.
In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search.
From that point, the procedure you have to go through to register a business name depends on what form of business ownership you’ve chosen for your new business. (For information on the different forms of business in Canada, see choose a form of business.)
The basic procedure to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership is to conduct a business name search, fill out the appropriate business registration form, and pay your fee. The Business Registration section of this website has links to all the different provincial registries to speed up this process for you.
Business Registration for Corporations
The procedure to register a business name for a corporation or cooperative is more involved. Besides conducting a name search and getting a NUANS report if you wish to set up a named corporation, you will also have to prepare Articles of Incorporation, a cover letter and an incorporation application to go along with your fee.
Business Registration in Each Province
Because business registration is governed by the provinces (with the exception of federal incorporation), the details of the procedure to register a business name will differ from place to place.
Back to > Steps to Starting a Business
How to Register a Business in Nova Scotia
Register a Business in the Province of British Columbia
Starting a Business: How to Choose a Business Name in Canada
Business Registration in Alberta
Business Registration in Ontario
Business Corporation Registration in Quebec
Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Comparison of Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
How to Incorporate Your Business in Canada
What You Need to Know About Incorporation in Canada
Facts About Starting a Business in Canada
Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name in Canada?
Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?
How to Start a Non-Resident Business in Canada
Learn How to Get a Tax ID Number in Canada
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
Do you want to start a business in Canada? Here’s everything you need to know about registeringyour business name.
Do You Need to Register Your Business Name?
Almost all businesses in Canada must register their business name in their respective provinces or territories except for sole proprietorships that use only the owner’s legal name with no additions. All other forms of business ownership, including partnerships, must register their business names. Business registration is a legal requirement, not a choice. As per below, Newfoundland and Labrador are the exceptions to this general rule; in those provinces, you do not have to register the name of sole proprietorships or partnerships at all.
Form of Ownership Must Register Business Name?
Corporation Yes
Partnership Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sole proprietorship using owner’s legal name No
Sole proprietorship using another name Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Using Your Legal Name as a Business Name
If your business is a sole proprietorship and you wish to operate under your own name, the name must be your exact legal name - you cannot add anything to the name, such as “Inc.” or “Co.” or “& Partners”, nor can you add anything that would give potential customers/clients a clue about what you do.
If, for example, you decide to call your business something such as “John Smith’s Consulting Services”, you have to register my business name, even if you are running it as a sole proprietorship.
Is It a Good Idea to Use Your Name as a Business Name?
Even though it is not a requirement, as a sole proprietorship you may wish to register a business name rather than operate under your legal name, for example:
If by yourself you are providing a unique service, as do consultants, authors, musicians, artists, etc. using your own name makes sense. If your business is in another industry such as manufacturing and you intend to eventually expand the business by incorporating and/or taking on partners and employees then probably not. If you have a common name such as “Bob Smith” and you are hoping for clients to easily find you on the web, using your own name is probably not a good idea. If your name is long, has difficult spelling, or is not easy to remember you may wish to use a different name.
How to Register a Business Name
In Canada, once you’ve chosen a form of business ownership, such as a sole proprietorship, you register your business by going through the process of registering your business with the appropriate provincial authority.
Want to register a business in Ontario? You need to register your business with the Companies Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.
If you are starting a business in Nova Scotia, you need to register your business with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If you are starting a business in BC, you need to register your business with the Corporate Registry.
In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search.
From that point, the procedure you have to go through to register a business name depends on what form of business ownership you’ve chosen for your new business. (For information on the different forms of business in Canada, see choose a form of business.)
The basic procedure to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership is to conduct a business name search, fill out the appropriate business registration form, and pay your fee. The Business Registration section of this website has links to all the different provincial registries to speed up this process for you.
Business Registration for Corporations
The procedure to register a business name for a corporation or cooperative is more involved. Besides conducting a name search and getting a NUANS report if you wish to set up a named corporation, you will also have to prepare Articles of Incorporation, a cover letter and an incorporation application to go along with your fee.
Business Registration in Each Province
Because business registration is governed by the provinces (with the exception of federal incorporation), the details of the procedure to register a business name will differ from place to place.
Back to > Steps to Starting a Business
Do you want to start a business in Canada? Here’s everything you need to know about registeringyour business name.
Do You Need to Register Your Business Name?
Almost all businesses in Canada must register their business name in their respective provinces or territories except for sole proprietorships that use only the owner’s legal name with no additions. All other forms of business ownership, including partnerships, must register their business names. Business registration is a legal requirement, not a choice. As per below, Newfoundland and Labrador are the exceptions to this general rule; in those provinces, you do not have to register the name of sole proprietorships or partnerships at all.
Form of Ownership Must Register Business Name?
Corporation Yes
Partnership Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sole proprietorship using owner’s legal name No
Sole proprietorship using another name Yes, except in Newfoundland and Labrador
Using Your Legal Name as a Business Name
If your business is a sole proprietorship and you wish to operate under your own name, the name must be your exact legal name - you cannot add anything to the name, such as “Inc.” or “Co.” or “& Partners”, nor can you add anything that would give potential customers/clients a clue about what you do.
If, for example, you decide to call your business something such as “John Smith’s Consulting Services”, you have to register my business name, even if you are running it as a sole proprietorship.
Is It a Good Idea to Use Your Name as a Business Name?
Even though it is not a requirement, as a sole proprietorship you may wish to register a business name rather than operate under your legal name, for example:
If by yourself you are providing a unique service, as do consultants, authors, musicians, artists, etc. using your own name makes sense. If your business is in another industry such as manufacturing and you intend to eventually expand the business by incorporating and/or taking on partners and employees then probably not. If you have a common name such as “Bob Smith” and you are hoping for clients to easily find you on the web, using your own name is probably not a good idea. If your name is long, has difficult spelling, or is not easy to remember you may wish to use a different name.
How to Register a Business Name
In Canada, once you’ve chosen a form of business ownership, such as a sole proprietorship, you register your business by going through the process of registering your business with the appropriate provincial authority.
Want to register a business in Ontario? You need to register your business with the Companies Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.
If you are starting a business in Nova Scotia, you need to register your business with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If you are starting a business in BC, you need to register your business with the Corporate Registry.
In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search.
From that point, the procedure you have to go through to register a business name depends on what form of business ownership you’ve chosen for your new business. (For information on the different forms of business in Canada, see choose a form of business.)
The basic procedure to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership is to conduct a business name search, fill out the appropriate business registration form, and pay your fee. The Business Registration section of this website has links to all the different provincial registries to speed up this process for you.
Business Registration for Corporations
The procedure to register a business name for a corporation or cooperative is more involved. Besides conducting a name search and getting a NUANS report if you wish to set up a named corporation, you will also have to prepare Articles of Incorporation, a cover letter and an incorporation application to go along with your fee.
Business Registration in Each Province
Because business registration is governed by the provinces (with the exception of federal incorporation), the details of the procedure to register a business name will differ from place to place.
Back to > Steps to Starting a Business
Using Your Legal Name as a Business Name
If your business is a sole proprietorship and you wish to operate under your own name, the name must be your exact legal name - you cannot add anything to the name, such as “Inc.” or “Co.” or “& Partners”, nor can you add anything that would give potential customers/clients a clue about what you do.
If, for example, you decide to call your business something such as “John Smith’s Consulting Services”, you have to register my business name, even if you are running it as a sole proprietorship.
Is It a Good Idea to Use Your Name as a Business Name?
Even though it is not a requirement, as a sole proprietorship you may wish to register a business name rather than operate under your legal name, for example:
- If by yourself you are providing a unique service, as do consultants, authors, musicians, artists, etc. using your own name makes sense. If your business is in another industry such as manufacturing and you intend to eventually expand the business by incorporating and/or taking on partners and employees then probably not. If you have a common name such as “Bob Smith” and you are hoping for clients to easily find you on the web, using your own name is probably not a good idea. If your name is long, has difficult spelling, or is not easy to remember you may wish to use a different name.
How to Register a Business Name
In Canada, once you’ve chosen a form of business ownership, such as a sole proprietorship, you register your business by going through the process of registering your business with the appropriate provincial authority.
Want to register a business in Ontario? You need to register your business with the Companies Branch of the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.
If you are starting a business in Nova Scotia, you need to register your business with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
If you are starting a business in BC, you need to register your business with the Corporate Registry.
In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search.
From that point, the procedure you have to go through to register a business name depends on what form of business ownership you’ve chosen for your new business. (For information on the different forms of business in Canada, see choose a form of business.)
The basic procedure to register a business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership is to conduct a business name search, fill out the appropriate business registration form, and pay your fee. The Business Registration section of this website has links to all the different provincial registries to speed up this process for you.
Business Registration for Corporations
The procedure to register a business name for a corporation or cooperative is more involved. Besides conducting a name search and getting a NUANS report if you wish to set up a named corporation, you will also have to prepare Articles of Incorporation, a cover letter and an incorporation application to go along with your fee.
Business Registration in Each Province
Because business registration is governed by the provinces (with the exception of federal incorporation), the details of the procedure to register a business name will differ from place to place.
Back to > Steps to Starting a Business
How to Register a Business in Nova Scotia
Register a Business in the Province of British Columbia
Starting a Business: How to Choose a Business Name in Canada
Business Registration in Alberta
Business Registration in Ontario
Business Corporation Registration in Quebec
Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Comparison of Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
How to Incorporate Your Business in Canada
What You Need to Know About Incorporation in Canada
Facts About Starting a Business in Canada
Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name in Canada?
Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?
How to Start a Non-Resident Business in Canada
Learn How to Get a Tax ID Number in Canada
How to Register a Business in Nova Scotia
How to Register a Business in Nova Scotia
Register a Business in the Province of British Columbia
Register a Business in the Province of British Columbia
Starting a Business: How to Choose a Business Name in Canada
Starting a Business: How to Choose a Business Name in Canada
Business Registration in Alberta
Business Registration in Alberta
Business Registration in Ontario
Business Registration in Ontario
Business Corporation Registration in Quebec
Business Corporation Registration in Quebec
Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Comparison of Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
Comparison of Forms of Business Ownership in Canada
How to Incorporate Your Business in Canada
How to Incorporate Your Business in Canada
What You Need to Know About Incorporation in Canada
What You Need to Know About Incorporation in Canada
Facts About Starting a Business in Canada
Facts About Starting a Business in Canada
Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name in Canada?
Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name in Canada?
Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada
Federal vs. Provincial Incorporation in Canada
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate in Canada?
How to Start a Non-Resident Business in Canada
How to Start a Non-Resident Business in Canada
Learn How to Get a Tax ID Number in Canada
Learn How to Get a Tax ID Number in Canada
Home
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About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
Home
Home
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
About Us
Advertise
Careers
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Contact
Terms of Use
EU Privacy
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
