Step #4: Register Your Business

Business Registration

Sole Proprietorship/Partnership

Sole Proprietorship/Partnership registration of your business name (Business Name Registration - BNR) is mandatory under the Business Names Act if you choose to operate a business under a name other than your legal name (partnerships must register a business name) and/or the business is making more than $30,000 annually. This registration is also required by your bank to open a business name account, or if you need to obtain a GST/HST account.

Note: The term Master Business Licence (MBL) has since been replaced by the term Business Name Registration (BNR).

Registering a Sole Proprietorship/Partnership

Registrations are now done exclusively online. A new Ontario Business Registry was launched in 2021, which offers simpler, faster, and more convenient access for organizations that are registered, incorporated, or licensed to carry on business in Ontario. This new online registry is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and makes it easy to interact with the government. Businesses and not-for-profit corporations can complete a wide range of transactions through the new online registry, including registering a new business and dissolving an existing one.

To register your business you must first sign up for a My Ontario Account. A My Ontario Account is a Government of Ontario login service that lets you sign in quickly and securely to Government of Ontario services using a single login. With a My Ontario Account, you can log in using either an email and password or using the Sign-In Partner Interac® sign-in service.

Once your My Ontario Account has been created you will be able to register your business name for a sole proprietorship or partnership. Upon successful completion of your business name registration, you will immediately receive an email that allows you to securely download your new Business Name Registration certificate in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF). Payment for online business registration is done using a credit card or debit visa only.

Note: If you previously registered your business online using a One-Key ID, you will need to migrate the information over to the new My Ontatio Account. For more information and assistance please visit https://profile.signin.ontario.ca/help.

You can also opt to do a free search of the Ontario Business Registry to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit corporation (name, etc.). You may want to also cross-reference against other online directories such as the Canadian Trademarks Database (cipo.ic.gc.ca), Yellow Pages, search engines, domain names, and social media networks. While more than one business in Ontario can operate under the same trade name, it’s in your best interest to select a unique name and ensure you are not selecting a name that is protected under trademark.

Fees: Registration fee is $60 and is valid for 5 years.

Reminder:

• A Business Name Registration or Articles of Incorporation are needed to apply for a Municipal Licence or open a Business Bank Account.
• Copies of your Business Name Registration can be obtained from the email that you provided during your original registration or at the bank where you opened your Business Bank Account.
• For any questions regarding your registration, please contact the Ontario Business Registry.

Corporation (Provincial)

Registering a corporation, including a not-for-profit, can be completed as a provincial or federal incorporation - each has a different advantage. Corporations can be assigned a number (eg. 123456 Ontario Ltd.) or have a business name (eg. Westend Coffee). If you are incorporating a business or not-for-profit and are proposing a name that you have chosen yourself, you must first get an Ontario-based NUANS report to confirm that no existing Ontario corporation has the same name or a name that’s similar to the one you are proposing.

You can get an Ontario-based NUANS report from one of the government’s authorized Service Providers:

• eCore by Dye & Durham Corporation
• ESC Corporate Services Ltd.

You can also search for a NUANS member on the Government of Canada’s website. There are many Nuans members across Canada. All of them can help businesses name their corporation, no matter where a company plans to incorporate or operate.

Note: Although a lawyer is not necessary for registering a corporation, they will be able to provide valuable advice regarding setting up the proper corporate structure (i.e., the share structure, restrictions on share transfers, restrictions on business,
etc.). Corporations offer several benefits over sole proprietorships and partnerships including limited liability, perpetual existence, tax advantages (depending on income), and the ability to raise capital.

Registering a Corporation

Registering a Corporation including not-for-profit is done through the same new Ontario Business Registry that was launched in 2021 as described above. To incorporate your business in Ontario you must sign up for a My Ontario Account. Once your My Ontatio Account has been created you will be able to incorporate an Ontario business corporation or incorporate a not-for-profit corporation. Upon successful completion of registration, you will immediately receive an email that allows you to securely download your Articles of Incorporation in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF). Payment for online business registration is done using a credit card or debit visa only.

Note: If you previously registered your business online using a One-Key ID, you will need to migrate the information over to the new My Ontatio Account. For more information and assistance please visit https://profile.signin.ontario.ca/help.

Fees: Registration fee is $300 for a Provincial Corporation. Nuance report fees can vary depending on the vendor selected.

Corporation (Federal)

Please Visit Industry Canada (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) to identify if a Federal Incorporation is right for you.