Options for your ownership structure
Explore sole proprietorships, partnerships and operating names for existing businesses.
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BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION IN CANADA
Register a name for your sole proprietorship, partnership or existing corporation, in the right province, with your owner and business details prepared.
SIX BUSINESS REGISTRATION SERVICES
Start with your ownership structure and intended business name. Partnership types have different liability and eligibility rules, so confirm the right structure before applying.
Register for one owner, a partnership or an existing business.
For an individual starting a business
Register a business name for one owner.
Get support registering a sole proprietorship under your chosen business name. Prepare the owner’s details, business activities and required addresses. A sole proprietorship is not a corporation, and the owner remains personally responsible for its debts and obligations.
For partners starting a business together
Register the name your partnership will use.
Request general partnership registration with the required partner and business details. Understand each partner’s liability and agree on how the business will be managed. A written partnership agreement can address responsibilities, profit sharing and changes in ownership.
For a business using another name
Put your operating name on the registry.
Register a trade or operating name for the applicable owner or business entity. For a corporation, this does not change its legal corporate name or create another corporation. Confirm the name requirements and registration rules in the jurisdiction where it will be used.
For Ontario business name registrations
Find Ontario’s current registration options.
Explore Ontario Business Name Registration, formerly known as a Master Business Licence. Choose the service suited to your ownership structure or operating name. The registration records business details but does not replace any activity-specific licence or permit.
For general and limited partners
Register the appropriate partnership structure.
Request support for a limited partnership with general and limited partners. Their roles and liability differ under the applicable provincial law. Prepare the required declaration and partner details, and obtain advice on the partnership agreement and limits on a limited partner’s involvement.
For partnerships meeting provincial eligibility rules
Confirm eligibility before registering an LLP.
Explore LLP registration under the rules of your province. In Ontario, this structure is restricted to eligible regulated professions and requires compliance with applicable professional rules. LLP status does not eliminate every partner’s liability or replace required professional insurance.
Not sure which service fits? Tell us who owns the business, where it will operate and the name you plan to use.
Discuss your registration ↗REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS NAME IN CANADA
Business name registration records the name you operate under with the province where you do business, and links it to the owners or corporation behind it.
A name registration does not incorporate your business or grant trademark rights. Ontario’s Master Business Licence is now called a Business Name Registration; other jurisdictions use their own requirements and terminology.
WHY CHOOSE NUANS PRE-SEARCH
Business name requirements vary by ownership structure and jurisdiction. NUANS Pre-Search brings registration services together so you can choose a relevant option and prepare the details your application needs.
Questions? Speak with our teamExplore sole proprietorships, partnerships and operating names for existing businesses.
Prepare the proposed name, business activities, addresses and required owner or partner information.
Ask our team about registration requirements, supporting details or an application in progress.
HOW YOUR BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION WORKS
Choose the registration, provide your business details and review the issued record and any additional requirements for operating.
Select the service that matches your owners, business structure and province or territory of operation.
View registration services ↗Provide the proposed name, business activities, addresses and owner or partner details. Complete any name search or approval required by the selected jurisdiction.
Name search requirements vary by jurisdictionCheck the registered details and retain the issued documents. Confirm any CRA accounts, operating permits and future renewal obligations that apply.
Registration and operating permits are separate requirements
WHAT YOU NEED TO REGISTER A BUSINESS NAME
Gather these essentials before applying. The registry may require additional information based on the structure, location and business activities.
Proposed business name
The name you want to use, alternatives and any required name search or approval details.
Structure & jurisdiction
Your ownership structure and the provinces or territories where the business will operate.
Owners & partners
Required legal names, addresses and, for an existing corporation, its identifying information.
Activities & addresses
A description of the business, its operating address and the contact details required by the registry.
CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE
See what customers across Canada say about working with us, then talk to our team about your plans.
Read what business owners, founders and organizations say about working with NP, then speak with our team about the right service for you.
CANADIAN BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION GUIDE
Ownership, liability and name protection are different decisions. Understand what your registration does before you apply.
A sole proprietorship or general partnership registration does not create the same separate legal entity as incorporation. Owners remain responsible for obligations under the rules that apply to their structure.
If you need a corporation, use an incorporation service. An existing corporation can also register an operating name without changing its legal corporate name.
Explore incorporation options ↗A sole proprietorship has one individual owner. A general partnership involves partners carrying on business together, with personal liability implications that should be understood before registration.
Partners should agree on contributions, management, profit sharing and what happens when someone leaves. Registering a name does not replace a partnership agreement.
Explore general partnership registration ↗Registering a business name does not automatically give you exclusive rights to that name. Similar business names and existing trademarks may affect whether you can safely use a proposed name.
Check relevant business and trademark records before committing to signage or branding. A search helps identify potential conflicts but is not a guarantee of legal clearance.
Explore name search services ↗A business name registration records your name and ownership details. It does not replace licences, permits, professional authorizations or CRA program accounts required for your activities.
Keep registered information current and renew or cancel the registration when required. Check local and provincial requirements as your business changes or expands.
Explore CRA account support ↗FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Direct answers about ownership, provincial registration, partnership eligibility, name protection and ongoing responsibilities.
Tell our team your business structure, intended name and the province or territory where you plan to operate.
Contact our team ↗Most businesses must register a name used to carry on business under the applicable provincial or territorial rules. A sole proprietor using only their own legal name may be exempt in some jurisdictions, but should confirm the local requirements.
No, business name registration does not incorporate your business or provide corporate limited liability. A sole proprietor remains personally responsible for business obligations, and partners’ liability depends on the partnership type and governing law.
You generally need the proposed name, business activities, ownership structure, addresses and required owner or partner details. An existing corporation may need its legal name and corporation number, while some jurisdictions require a name search or approval.
No, registering a business name does not automatically grant exclusive nationwide rights or trademark protection. Check for conflicting business names and trademarks, and consider separate trademark protection for your brand.
A corporation can generally use a registered trade or operating name, subject to the jurisdiction’s rules. The corporation remains the legal entity behind that name and must identify itself as required on contracts and other business documents.
Ontario now uses the term Business Name Registration for the registration formerly called a Master Business Licence. It is a registry record, not a substitute for municipal permits, professional authorization or other licences your activities require.
A general partnership involves partners with personal liability for partnership obligations under the applicable law, while a limited partnership has at least one general partner and one limited partner. A limited partner’s liability protection depends on meeting statutory conditions, including rules about participation in control.
Ontario LLPs are restricted to eligible regulated professions whose governing legislation permits practice through an LLP. Partners must meet the applicable professional requirements, and LLP registration does not remove liability for their own misconduct or other obligations imposed by law.
No, do not assume that business name registration completes GST/HST, payroll or other CRA program account registrations. Check which tax accounts your activities require and whether any account was actually created through an integrated registration process.
Registration requirements depend on where and how your business carries on activities, so one provincial registration should not be assumed to cover all of Canada. Check each relevant registry’s rules before expanding, including name approval and local registration requirements.
Keep registry details current, renew or cancel the registration when required and maintain applicable tax accounts, licences and permits. Failure to meet registration obligations can lead to penalties or other legal consequences under the relevant provincial or territorial law.