How to Do a Business Name Search in Canada

Download Our FREE Insurance Guide

Learn everything you need to protect your small business.

Your email address will be used by Zensurance to provide latest news, offers and tips.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Follow these five steps to ensure your chosen name is available and compliant with federal and provincial requirements:

1. Do a Preliminary Online Search

Start by doing a quick business name availability search on Google and social media to check if your chosen name is already in use in Canada.

This simple yet crucial first step helps identify and prevent potential conflicts.

2. Search National Business Name Databases

Canadian law requires that your business name not be identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered business or trademark.

There are two national name databases you can search:

1. NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search), the Canadian corporate names and trademarks database, provides a list of names and trademarks similar or identical to the one searched.
2. Canada’s business registries offer a reliable way to check name availability across federal and provincial jurisdictions through the official registries of corporations in Canada, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

3. Search Provincial Business Name Registries

Each province maintains a business name registry. Search each provincial business name registry to ensure the name is available in your target provinces.

Rules and name availability can differ between jurisdictions. It is especially important if you plan to do business outside of your home province:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

4. Do a Trademark Search

A business name and a trademark are two different things.

A business name is a name your business operates under, while a trademark may be one or more words, designs, or sounds that distinguish your business from others.

Registering a trademark protects it from being misused by others. You also have exclusive rights to use it across Canada for 10 years, after which you need to renew it.

You can conduct a free trademark search using the Canadian Trademarks Database to ensure your business name is not already protected.

5. Register Your Business Name

Before registering a business name in Canada, choose your business structure – sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.

If you’re a sole proprietor and operate under your legal name, you don’t usually need to register a business name.

If you’re forming a corporation or partnership, you must register a trade name or corporate name with the provincial or federal government.

When you incorporate in a province or territory, you have exclusive use of that name in that jurisdiction. When you incorporate federally, you have exclusive use of the name across Canada.

If you decide to use a name that’s not your legal business or given name, it must be registered as a trade name. If you don’t, you may face fines or legal consequences. 

Trade names in Canada must be registered at the provincial level:

• Alberta (this can’t be done online in Alberta)
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

In Newfoundland and Labrador, registration is only needed for cooperatives and corporations, not trade names.

How to Choose a Business Name

There are a few things to consider when choosing a name, such as:

• Make it relevant. Choose a relevant business name that clearly describes your product or service and appeals to your target customer base.

• Aim for clarity and simplicity. A business name should be easy to remember and simple to pronounce. It serves as the first impression of your brand and plays a crucial role in how potential customers perceive and recall your company. A name that rolls off the tongue easily is more likely to be shared in conversation, recommended to others, and searched online.

• Be distinctive. A unique name not only sets you apart from competitors but also reduces the risk of legal issues. It’s a key factor in building a strong brand identity and ensuring your business name is legally protected.

• Keep it short. A short, simple business name improves online visibility and is easier to rank on search engines, AI search tools, and is ideal for your web domain and URL.

• Have multiple options. Even if you think you’ve found the perfect name, it might already be taken. Don’t get stuck on one name – create a list of alternative business name ideas in case your top choice is unavailable in Canada.

What Is a Patent?

If you invent something, you can get a patent. A patent gives you the exclusive right to use your invention for 20 years. It’s like a legal document that says no one else can make, use, or sell your invention without your permission. 

An invention can receive patent protection if it’s the first of its kind, functional, and demonstrates ingenuity. The invention must be a product, chemical composition, machine, process, or an improvement of one of these.

Before filing a patent application, check if what you’ve invented or something similar has already been patented. The Canadian Patents Database, PATENTSCOPE, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and Google Patents are good places to start.

Once you’re ready to file, it’s recommended that you get a patent agent due to the amount of preparation and time required to apply.

What Is Copyright?

Copyright is another form of intellectual property but is different from a trademark or patent.

Copyright is the right to produce, reproduce, sell, licence, perform, or publish original work.

If someone wants to use or copy the work, they usually need permission and must provide payment. Some examples of work that can be copyrighted include books, articles, plays, songs, paintings, and software.

Typically, the creator is the copyright owner unless there’s an agreement with an employer or business stating otherwise.

Your work is usually protected automatically when it’s created. However, you can also register your copyright and get a certificate used in court to prove that you own the work.

What Insurance Do I Need to Protect My Intellectual Property?

A type of business insurance coverage you can get for intellectual property (IP) is IP insurance.

It can help you or your business defend itself if your trademarks, patents, or copyrights are infringed. Some coverage may include profit losses or loss of IP rights. Speak to a Zensurance licensed broker to find out what your options are.

Protect Your New Business: Get Customized Liability Insurance for Small Businesses

Beyond protecting your new venture’s IP rights, there are many other liability risks every small business faces that could result in expensive, damaging consequences – third-party bodily injuries, property damage, cyber-attacks, and lawsuits.

A comprehensive, customized business insurance policy from Zensurance safeguards business owners, entrepreneurs, and independent professionals from these types of threats that could imperil their finances.

Complete our online application for a free quote in less than five minutes.

Let our knowledgeable team of commercial insurance experts advise you on the coverage your business needs. Our brokers will shop our partner network of over 50 insurers to find the right policy that suits your requirements and budget, tailor it accordingly, and issue the policy documents and a certificate of insurance in 48 hours or less.

– Reviewed by Brandon Bowie, Senior Broker and Team Lead, Zensurance.