Canada · updated
How to name and register a business in Canada
Canada has a federal registry and a separate one in every province, so the name rules depend on where you register. This guide gives you name ideas to start from, then the official rules and fees for federal incorporation, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, plus trademarks and .ca domains. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
24 name ideas to start from
These are starting points, not cleared names. Some may already be in use. Run each one through the checks below.
Short and invented
Norvia · Kelto · Brivana · Tallo · Ravique · Kestrel North
Rooted in place (with a distinctive word)
Northbank Studio · Maple Ridge Makers · Lakeshore Lantern Co. · Prairie Copper Goods · Harbour & Pine · Fundy Field Supply
Services and trades
Clearline Renovations · Snowmark Plowing · BrightStep Tutoring · Tidy Nest Cleaning · TrueNorth Bookkeeping · Steadyhand Movers
Works in English and French
Lumière Bakehouse · Nordique Supply · Atelier North · Café Boreal · Maison Juniper · Vela Studio
Canada’s registries want a distinctive part, not just common words or a place name. Corporations Canada’s own example: “Iqaluit Inc.” is refused, “Iqaluit Productions Inc.” is fine (naming requirements).
Federal incorporation
- Cost: $200 online, usually done in 1 business day; 4-hour express service is $100 more (Corporations Canada fees).
- Name search: for a word name filed online you no longer order a separate NUANS report; the search is part of the application. A NUANS report is still needed for things like revivals and amalgamations, and it is valid for 90 days (how to get a name).
- Legal ending: the name must end with Limited, Incorporated, Corporation (or Ltd., Inc., Corp., or the French forms).
- Numbered company: you can incorporate as “12345678 Canada Inc.” and trade under a brand name, which you then register in each province where you do business.
- English and French: you can have an English name, a French name, both as separate versions, or one combined name.
The provinces
| Province | What to file | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Business name for a sole proprietorship (Ontario Business Registry) | $60, renew $60 | Valid 5 years. Ontario incorporation is $300 and needs an Ontario-biased NUANS report (ontario.ca). |
| British Columbia | Name Request, then registration | Name Request $30 ($100 priority); sole proprietorship $40 | An approved name is held 56 days. No name protection for a sole proprietorship (gov.bc.ca). |
| Quebec | Registration with the Registraire des entreprises | See Quebec’s site | The name must respect the Charter of the French Language; another language on signs needs French words that clearly predominate (quebec.ca, OQLF). |
Five free checks before you file
1. Your province’s registry
Ontario lets you search its Business Registry free. Other provinces have their own search.
2. Canadian trademarks
Search CIPO’s free Canadian Trademarks Database. CIPO’s tip: search the French version too (“North Pole” and “Nord”).
3. Google and Google Maps
There is no single list of every trade name in Canada, so search the web and maps for businesses already using it.
4. Domains
Check the .ca and the .com. Spark’s free name check looks up the .com live.
5. Social handles
Grab the same name on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Trademarks with CIPO
- 2026 fees: $491.06 for the first class online, $149.04 for each extra class. On January 1, 2027 they rise to $499.41 and $151.57 (CIPO fees).
- Timing: CIPO’s service standard is a first answer within 14 months of filing (service standards).
- Term: a registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed.
- Symbols: CIPO says there is no legal requirement to mark a trademark with any symbol; owners commonly use ®, TM or MC (trademarks guide).
Registering a business name or a corporation does not give you ownership of a name. BC puts it plainly: a corporation gets no property right in its name; that comes from federal trademark law.
.ca domains
To register a .ca you must meet CIRA’s Canadian Presence Requirements, for example as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, a corporation formed under Canadian law, or the owner of a registered Canadian trademark (CIRA).
How Spark helps: describe your business in one sentence and get 6 brand names, each with a .com check, a logo, colors and a brand photo. Spark’s first trademark screen, when one is available, may not include every Canadian filing, so still run check 2 above. Prices are in US dollars.
Questions people ask
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate federally?
Not for a word name filed online. Corporations Canada says the name search is now part of the online federal incorporation, which costs $200 and takes about one business day.
How much does it cost to register a business name in Ontario?
Registering a business name for a sole proprietorship through the Ontario Business Registry costs $60 online. It is valid for 5 years and renewing costs another $60.
Does registering a business name protect it?
Not by itself. BC says there is no name protection for a sole proprietorship or partnership name, and incorporating does not give you a property right in a name. A registered trademark is what protects a brand.
How much is a trademark in Canada in 2026?
CIPO's online filing fee in 2026 is $491.06 for the first class and $149.04 for each extra class. The fees rise about 1.7% on January 1, 2027.
Does a Quebec business name have to be in French?
Yes. Quebec says a business name must respect the Charter of the French Language. A name in another language can be used on signs only alongside French words, so that French clearly predominates.
Not legal advice. This summarises official federal and provincial pages as of October 2, 2026. Fees change, so confirm on the official sites before you file.
Keep going
how to check if a name is taken · do I need to trademark my side hustle? · UK guide · free name generator · free naming handbook (PDF)
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