Identify the legal owner
Confirm whether an individual, partnership or existing corporation will operate under the name.
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YOUR GUIDE TO ONTARIO BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION
Learn what a Master Business Licence is, whether your Ontario business needs one and how to get the registration now called Business Name Registration. When you’re ready, visit our registration page to apply.
WHAT IS AN ONTARIO MASTER BUSINESS LICENCE?
Ontario’s Business Name Registration is the current record commonly called a Master Business Licence or MBL. It identifies the person or entity operating under a registered name; it does not incorporate a company.
You may need this registration to operate under a name different from your legal name or your corporation’s legal name. This guide explains the basics; our Register a Business Name page is where you choose a service and begin your application.
FROM UNDERSTANDING TO REGISTRATION
First, identify who owns the business and the name it will use. Then visit our Register a Business Name page to choose the relevant registration option, review the requirements and provide your details.
Questions? Speak with our teamConfirm whether an individual, partnership or existing corporation will operate under the name.
Gather the proposed name, business activities, addresses and required owner or partner information.
Use our Register a Business Name page to compare the relevant options and start your application.
HOW TO GET AN ONTARIO MASTER BUSINESS LICENCE
Ontario now calls this a Business Name Registration. Follow these steps to move from understanding the requirement to applying for the appropriate registration.
Compare your proposed operating name with the legal name of its owner. Check Ontario’s registration rules for your ownership structure.
Go to business name registration ↗On our Register a Business Name page, select the service that matches your ownership structure. Review the application requirements and prepare your business details.
Choose the service on our business name registration pageComplete the selected application and review the registration documents when issued. Keep the record accessible and note its renewal and update requirements.
Business registration is separate from tax and operating permits
WHAT YOU NEED FOR ONTARIO BUSINESS REGISTRATION
Have these essentials ready before continuing to the registration page. The selected application will identify any additional requirements for your business structure.
Proposed business name
The exact name you intend to use, with spelling checked and potential conflicts reviewed.
Owner & structure
Legal owner or partner names, the chosen structure and any existing entity registration details.
Activities & addresses
A description of the business activity, principal business address and required owner or partner addresses.
Contact & supporting records
An official email address, authorized contact and any existing business registration details required for the filing.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR ONTARIO MASTER BUSINESS LICENCE
Use this guide to understand the registration’s purpose, limits and ongoing responsibilities before choosing a service.
The term Master Business Licence is still widely used for Ontario Business Name Registration. Registering a name records who operates the business; incorporation creates a separate corporate legal entity through a different process.
A name registration alone does not provide limited liability or replace municipal and industry permits. Choose the structure based on ownership and responsibility for business obligations.
Compare business name registration options ↗A trade name, operating name or DBA lets an existing owner or entity identify its business under another registered name. It does not create a separate legal owner or change the structure behind the business.
Name registration is not trademark registration. Review existing names and trademarks before using a proposed name, and consider separate trademark protection where appropriate.
Register an operating name ↗An Ontario sole proprietor generally needs to register when using a name other than their own legal name. A corporation generally needs a business name registration when operating under a name other than its legal corporate name.
Partnerships have their own name-registration rules. Identify the legal owner first, then use the registration page to select the service that fits; an MBL is not a separate ownership structure.
Find your registration option ↗Ontario Business Name Registrations for sole proprietorships, partnerships and trade names are generally valid for five years. Check the expiry date on your record and renew when required.
Report changes to registered details and cancel the registration when appropriate. A change of owner or legal structure may require a new registration, so confirm the applicable filing before updating the record.
Visit the business name registration page ↗FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Understand what an Ontario MBL is, who needs one, how to apply and what to do after registration.
Ready to apply? Visit our Register a Business Name page to choose the option that matches your ownership structure.
Go to the registration page ↗An Ontario Master Business Licence, often called an MBL, is now referred to as a Business Name Registration. It records a business name and its registrant; it is not a certificate of incorporation or a licence for every business activity.
A sole proprietor generally needs registration when operating under a name other than their own legal name, and a corporation generally needs it when using a name other than its corporate name. Partnerships and other eligible entities have their own name-registration requirements under Ontario law.
No, business name registration alone does not provide limited liability or create a separate corporation. A sole proprietor remains personally responsible for business obligations, and partnership liability depends on the structure and applicable law.
Prepare the proposed name, business activity, principal business address, legal owner or partner details and official contact information. The selected application may request additional information for your ownership structure.
No, Ontario trade name registration is not trademark registration and does not itself provide exclusive trademark rights. Check for conflicting business names and trademarks before using the name, even if the registry accepts the filing.
Apply for the appropriate Ontario Business Name Registration, which is the current name for the Master Business Licence. To apply through NUANS Pre-Search, visit our Register a Business Name page, select the relevant service and provide the requested business details.
No, an MBL records a business name and its registrant rather than authorizing every business activity. Municipal permits, professional approvals and industry-specific licences may still be required.
No, an Ontario Business Identification Number identifies the provincial business registration, while a CRA business number identifies a business for federal tax program purposes. Do not use them interchangeably, and confirm which number a form or institution requests.
No, a business name registration does not automatically establish every tax or workplace coverage account your business may need. Review CRA GST/HST and payroll requirements, Ontario WSIB coverage, and municipal or industry permits separately.
Operating without a required registration can breach Ontario’s Business Names Act and expose the registrant to penalties. It can also affect the ability to maintain a court proceeding connected with the business without the court’s permission.
Renew the registration when required, report changes to registered particulars and cancel the record when appropriate. Changes in ownership or legal structure may require a new registration rather than a simple update, so check the filing requirements before proceeding.