Business Name Search
A Name search is the first step in the process of business name registration.
Choosing the right name (to register business name) for your new business is an important decision. You want a name that will draw potential customers, help clients identify your company and build your business image. A name that is easy to remember and provides information about the products or services you offer is always a good choice.
If the name of your business is or will be different than your own name, it must be registered with the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch before you start using it.
The Preliminary name search is an inexpensive way to search for a business name. You will be able to search up to three names at once for Business name registration.
NUANS (Newly Updated Automated Name Search) is a Canada-wide corporate and business name registry. A NUANS search will display corporations, business names and trademarks, which are similar to the name you have searched. This comparison determines the similarity that exists between the proposed name or mark and existing names in the database, and produces a listing of names that are found to be most similar. Search for business name using NUANS helps eliminate conflicts and trademark infringement issues later.
Rates:
| Business Name Search | Rates* |
| Preliminary NUANS Search | $ 14 for 3 names |
| NUANS Search | $ 39.95 |
| * Taxes and disbursements are extra, where applicable. | |
Q. Is NUANS report an approval of your business name?
A. A NUANS report does not provide any form of approval. It is a tool that will allow you to make an informed decision. It is important to study both the name section
and trademark section of your NUANS report for companies, businesses and trademarks that may conflict with your name choice. If you locate similar items, you need to do some research
to see if these conflicting entities operate in a similar industry. You must carefully consider if based on similarity of name, location and industry, a conflict could exist between
your chosen name and an existing business. The key question is, "Do you offer similar products or services to similar clientele?" The decision to proceed is entirely your own and the
responsibility for this decision rests entirely with you.
Q. Why do I need a NUANS Search?
A. Corporate name search report is required in order to register:
- Provincial or Federal corporation
- Non-profit or charitable corporations
- Register a Trademark
NUANS name search is necessary to incorporate your business in Ontario or Canada. Requesting NUANS search online takes only a few minutes. Your NUANS report is usually ready within 2-3 business hours. Your NUANS search report will show what specific sole proprietorship, partnership and corporate names that sounds similar to your proposed names that are already registered. And it will show you if you can use the proposed sole proprietorship, partnership and corporate name. If the name already exists then you will have to do NUANS name search again. That is why we recommend doing a preliminary business name search before actual NUANS search. That gives you an opportunity to search for up to 3 business names at a much lower price.
A NUANS report does not provide any form of approval. It is a tool that will allow you to make an informed decision. It is important to study both the name section and trademark section of your NUANS report for companies, businesses and trademarks that may conflict with your name choice. The decision to proceed is entirely your own and the responsibility for this decision rests entirely with you.
Q. Why would I do a NUANS name search when I can do preliminary name search for less?
A. NUANS search is required by law in order to register a corporation in Ontario or Canada. After the name search has been done the NUANS search report gives you the
right to reserve the corporate business name you selected for 90 days, unless the same name already exists. That means no one will be able to register the same corporate business name
before 90 days expire. A preliminary search only searches exact matches. If you want to be certain that no similar names exist a NUANS is an excellent tool even for a sole
proprietorship and partnership.
Preliminary NUANS
Official NUANS
To ensure complete security of your information you will be directed to our secure website for submitting your application.