Operating Name in Ontario: How a Corporation Registers a Trade Name
How an Ontario corporation registers an operating name (trade name / DBA) in the Ontario Business Registry, when it's required, and renewal rules.
What an operating name is
An operating name (often called a trade name, or "DBA" in the US) is a name a corporation uses publicly that differs from its legal corporate name. A common example: 1234567 Ontario Inc. trading as Maple Street Bakery.
When registration is required
Under Ontario's Business Names Act, a corporation must register any name it uses other than its exact legal name. That includes using the name on signs, invoices, websites or contracts.
How to register
- Search the name in the Ontario Business Registry. See our business name search guide.
- Sign in to the Ontario Business Registry with the corporation's company key.
- Register the business name for the corporation. You receive a registration document, the Master Business Licence.
- Renew every 5 years.
Contracts and invoices
Even with an operating name, legal documents should identify the corporation's legal name, for example "1234567 Ontario Inc. o/a Maple Street Bakery".
Frequently asked questions
- Does a corporation need to register an operating name?
- Yes, if it carries on business under any name other than its exact corporate name, including a numbered company trading under a brand.
- How long does an operating name registration last?
- Five years, after which it must be renewed through the Ontario Business Registry.
Official sources
- Ontario Business Registry ↗— file and search Ontario registrations
- Corporations Canada ↗— federal incorporation
- Canada Revenue Agency — business ↗— BN, HST, payroll, T2
Related articles
A plain-English summary of Ontario's Business Names Act: who must register, display rules, 5-year renewals, and the consequences of not registering.
Complete step-by-step guide to registering an Ontario sole proprietorship via the Ontario Business Registry (OBR), Business Identification Number (BIN), and CRA accounts.
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