The right search for your purpose
Compare preliminary checks, corporate name reports and trademark search options.
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NUANS & BUSINESS NAME SEARCHES
Order a NUANS report, run a free name check, request name pre-approval or get a trademark search before you incorporate or register a business in Canada.
Eight NUANS & name search services
Start with a preliminary check, order a report or explore name pre-approval. If a federal name was rejected, find help with your response.
Check a name, review similar results or prepare your next application.
For a corporate name filing
Review similar names before you submit.
Order a NUANS report for a transaction that accepts a separately obtained report. Results identify similar business names, corporate names and trademarks. Confirm the required jurisdiction and report type before ordering.
For an automated report request
Get your report through the automated option.
Choose the instant option for an available NUANS jurisdiction and enter your exact proposed name. The automated service delivers the report by email. Check every detail: automatic delivery does not include registry approval.
For names you want to explore
Check your options before ordering a report.
Use a name pre-search to explore a proposed name and potential similarities before a formal filing report. It can help you refine your choice, but does not register the business or guarantee the name will be accepted.
For a registry name review
Explore approval or reservation before filing.
Request the name approval or reservation service available for your selected jurisdiction. Provide the proposed name and business activity, then review the registry’s response. Approval rules and reservation periods vary.
For a proposed federal corporate name
Have your name assessed before incorporation.
Request a federal corporate name pre-approval through the applicable process. Corporations Canada reviews the proposed name before you proceed. Its name search is integrated into the pre-approval application.
For a rejected federal name proposal
Respond to the registry's concerns.
Share your rejection notice and we'll review how to address the registry's concerns, federally or in any province. Results can't be guaranteed.
For an initial business name check
Take a first look at your name idea.
Start with a free preliminary name search before selecting your next service. Use this early check to identify possible concerns and consider alternatives. It does not replace a formal report, reservation or approval.
For a proposed brand or trademark
Look for potential conflicts with your brand.
Request a trademark search report to review potentially relevant marks before taking your next branding step. The results help inform further assessment. A search is separate from filing or registering a trademark.
Not sure which name service fits? Tell us your proposed name, jurisdiction and filing purpose. We’ll help you find the relevant option.
Ask about your name ↗START WITH A NAME WORTH CHECKING
A NUANS name search report lists corporate names, business names and trademarks similar to your proposed name. It helps you spot potential conflicts before taking the next step with your business.
The right service depends on your jurisdiction and purpose. A preliminary search, a NUANS report and registry pre-approval serve different roles. Choose your route before ordering: a search alone does not approve or register your name.
WHY CHOOSE NUANS PRE-SEARCH
A good name needs more than a quick internet search. NUANS Pre-Search brings name checks, reports and approval support together, so you can choose the right service for your filing and ask questions before you commit.
Questions? Talk to our teamCompare preliminary checks, corporate name reports and trademark search options.
Match your request to the registry and transaction instead of ordering the wrong report.
Contact our team about your proposed name, service options or an existing order.
HOW YOUR NAME SEARCH WORKS
Choose a search or approval service, provide the exact name and use the results to plan your next filing.
Select your jurisdiction and purpose, then choose a preliminary search, report or approval request.
View all services ↗Check spelling, punctuation and any legal ending. Add your business activity and the supporting details requested for your service.
Use the exact name you intend to submitReview the search results or registry response. Address any concerns before proceeding with registration, incorporation or a trademark application.
A search result is not a guarantee of approval
WHAT YOU NEED FOR A NAME SEARCH
Have these details ready before choosing a service. Exact wording and the right jurisdiction help you order the report or review you need.
Proposed name & alternatives
Your preferred spelling, distinctive wording and backup names to consider.
Jurisdiction & purpose
Where you will file and whether the request is for incorporation, a name change or a brand.
Business activity & legal ending
What the business will do and any required ending, such as Inc., Ltd. or Corp.
Contact details & existing records
Your email address and any existing report, application reference or rejection notice.
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.
BUSINESS NAME SEARCH GUIDE
Understand the difference between checking a name, requesting approval and protecting a brand before you place an order.
A pre-search is an early check of a proposed name before you order a formal report. A NUANS report presents similar corporate names, business names and trademarks for review. The report required for a filing depends on its jurisdiction and purpose.
Use an early check to compare ideas. Order a filing report only after confirming what the receiving registry accepts.
Explore name pre-search ↗A search gives you information about similar names. Pre-approval asks the relevant registry to assess a proposed name before the associated filing. A favourable search result does not, by itself, give you an approved corporate name.
Federal incorporation and corporate name pre-approval include an integrated name search. A separate NUANS report is not a substitute for that process.
Explore federal pre-approval ↗A corporate name identifies a legal entity. A trademark distinguishes goods or services in the marketplace. Incorporating under a name does not automatically register it as a trademark or resolve every possible conflict with an existing brand.
Consider a trademark search before investing in branding. Search results support a review; they do not grant trademark rights or guarantee registration.
Explore trademark searches ↗Start with the reasons in the rejection notice. The next step may involve explaining distinctive wording, addressing a similar name or proposing an alternative. The appropriate response depends on the examiner’s concerns and the facts of your application.
Keep the rejection letter, application reference and supporting records together. Reconsideration is not guaranteed to change the decision.
Explore rejected name support ↗FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Clear answers about name searches, report validity, federal pre-approval and the difference between a company name and a trademark.
Tell us the name you have in mind, where you plan to file and what you need the search for.
Contact our team ↗A NUANS report lists existing corporate names, business names and trademarks that are similar or identical to a proposed name. It supports a review of possible naming conflicts. It does not incorporate a company, register a business or automatically approve the proposed name.
Not for a standard online federal incorporation with a proposed word name: the name search is integrated into the application. Federal corporate name pre-approval also includes the search. Other transactions may have different requirements, so confirm the current process before ordering a separate report.
A NUANS name search is valid for 90 days. Check the report date and the requirements for your intended filing. If your proposed name changes or the report expires before submission, confirm whether a new search or a different application process is required.
No. A search result is information for review, not an approval decision. A registry can assess other naming requirements as well as similarity. You must complete the applicable approval and registration process before treating the business or corporation as registered.
Both are preliminary services for exploring a proposed name before a formal report or filing. Start with the free search for an initial check, or review the Name Pre-Search service for your next request. Neither is registry approval; confirm the scope of the selected service before ordering.
The instant option uses an automated process to produce and email the report from the details you enter. Agent-assisted service adds a person’s review under the selected service terms. Check the jurisdiction, spelling and report purpose carefully. Neither option guarantees registry approval.
Federal name pre-approval is a review of a proposed corporate name before the associated filing. If approved, the pre-approval is valid for 90 days from the application date. It does not itself create the corporation; you still need to complete the incorporation or other relevant transaction.
Company registration and trademark registration are different processes. A corporate name identifies the company, while a trademark distinguishes goods or services. Registering the company does not automatically register a trademark. A trademark search can help identify issues to assess before a separate application.
Read the reasons in the rejection notice and gather your application reference, proposed name and relevant supporting records. Depending on the concerns, you may respond with additional information or choose another name. Our Federal Rejected Name Appeal service offers a route to request support, without guaranteeing approval.
No. Jurisdictions use different name-search, reservation and approval processes. Requirements also depend on whether you are incorporating, changing a corporate name or registering an operating name. Select the correct jurisdiction and purpose before ordering; a report accepted for one filing may not suit another.
Prepare the exact proposed name, intended jurisdiction, business activity and filing purpose. Include a legal ending where applicable and your delivery email. For a pre-approval follow-up or rejected name request, also have your existing report, reference number and registry correspondence ready.