Do all businesses have to register their 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.
What are the steps that I need to take to register my business name?
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 procedure to register a business name for a corporation 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.
How often must I renew my business’s name?
You must renew your business’s name it every five years; however, you can renew a registration within 60 days after it expires.
What are the steps that I need to take to register my business’s name?
In order to complete registration of your business name, you will need to provide the name and address of the business where legal papers can be served, as well as the name and home addresses of each partner where a partnership has 10 or fewer partner. You will also need to provide a description of the business activity being performed; and a valid email address if you are registering via email.
If I register my business name, does that mean that I have exclusivity to the name?
No it does not. Registering your business name does not mean that you have exclusivity. That will require you to trademark your name. While the Business Names Act does not prohibit you from registering a name that is the same or similar to others, you may find yourself in a lawsuit. That is why it is best to conduct a names search first to make sure that no one else is using the name that you want.
Where do I go to register my business name?
You can register your business name online, mail, or register in person.
To register online, you can register with the following services:
- Service Canada’s Business Name Registration Service
- Service providers Cyberbahn, ESC Corporate Services Ltd, and OnCorp Direct Inc. or
- CRA’s Business Registration Online Service
