Ontario corporation search: how to look up a company
Find out whether a company exists, whether it's active, and who is on record, using the province's own registry.
Step by step
- Open the Ontario Business Registry search. Go to the OBR on ontario.ca and choose the option to search for a business. You don't need an account for a basic search.
- Search by name or number. Enter the business name, or the Ontario Corporation Number / Business Identification Number if you have it. Partial names return close matches.
- Review the free result. The result shows the entity's name, number, type (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership), status (active, inactive, dissolved) and date of incorporation or registration.
- Order an official report if needed. For legal, banking or due-diligence purposes, buy a Corporation Profile Report or document copies through the OBR. These show the officers, directors and registered office on file.
What an Ontario corporation search tells you
- Whether the corporation exists and is currently active.
- Its legal name and Ontario Corporation Number.
- The entity type and jurisdiction (Ontario, or a federal/extra-provincial company registered here).
- Registered office address and, on official reports, directors and officers.
Federally incorporated companies
A company incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act is listed in Corporations Canada's federal search, not just the OBR. If you can't find a company in the OBR, check the federal registry too. Federal companies operating in Ontario should still appear in the OBR as extra-provincial registrations.
Corporation search vs name search
A corporation search looks up a specific existing company. If you want to know whether a name you'd like to use is available, you want a business name search, and before incorporating with a word name you need a NUANS report.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ontario corporation search free?
Basic searches in the Ontario Business Registry are free. Official documents such as a Corporation Profile Report cost a fee set by the province.
How do I find the directors of an Ontario corporation?
Order a Corporation Profile Report through the Ontario Business Registry. It lists the directors and officers currently on file.
Why can't I find a company in the Ontario registry?
It may be federally incorporated (search Corporations Canada), registered in another province, spelled differently, or dissolved. Try searching by number if you have it.
Can I search for a sole proprietorship?
Yes. Registered business names for sole proprietorships and partnerships are searchable in the OBR, as well as corporations.