Ontario business name search: check if a name is available
Before you register or incorporate, make sure nobody else already owns your name or something confusingly close to it.
Step by step
- Search the Ontario Business Registry. Check for exact and similar names already registered in Ontario.
- Search the Canadian Trademarks Database. A registered trademark can block your use of a name even if the OBR shows it as free.
- Check domains and social handles. Make sure you can get a matching website address and handles before committing.
- Order a NUANS report if incorporating. Word-name Ontario corporations need an Ontario-biased NUANS report, submitted with the articles of incorporation.
Registered name vs protected name
Registering a business name in Ontario records who is using it. It does not give you exclusive rights. Two sole proprietors can register the same name. Only a trademark gives real protection.
What makes a name unacceptable
- Names identical or confusingly similar to an existing corporation (corporations only).
- Names suggesting a government connection or using restricted words such as 'bank' or 'university' without approval.
- Corporate endings (Inc., Ltd., Corp.) on a sole proprietorship or partnership name.
Skip the search with a numbered company
If you incorporate as a numbered company (for example, 1234567 Ontario Inc.), no NUANS report is required. You can register an operating name later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a business name is taken in Ontario?
Search the Ontario Business Registry for free, then search the Canadian Trademarks Database. Corporations using a word name also need a NUANS report.
Do I need a NUANS report for a sole proprietorship?
No. A NUANS report is required for incorporating with a word name, not for registering a sole proprietorship or partnership name.
Can two businesses have the same name in Ontario?
Registered business names (sole props and partnerships) can be duplicated, because registration doesn't grant exclusivity. Corporate names must not be confusingly similar to existing ones.