Business Name Registration

Let our lawyers help you take that first step with confidence. Available for virtual and in person appointments, we bring legal expertise to small businesses in the most convenient and affordable way.

Registering a Business Name

When starting a new business, the name you pick must be unlike any others already in existence in Ontario or Canada. A unique name sets your company apart and is the identity of your business. Axess Law’s Ontario business lawyers help you by explaining business name registration guidelines for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Our lawyers will do all the legal documentation for you.

A name protection registration gives you an identity within the industry. It stops your competitors from dominating your industry and webspace just by using the same business name. 

When two or more businesses use the same name and offer similar services, it can confuse customers as to whose services they can trust. A unique name sets you apart and allows your clients to know who they are dealing with you when they call, email, or enter your business premises.

Legally speaking, you don’t always have to register a business name. But not registering your name is like giving business away, especially in competitive markets like the Greater Toronto Area.

Unless a family member or someone else steps up, a health assessor who decides your loved one is mentally incapable may appoint the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) as their statutory guardian. You can take responsibility for assisting them by applying to be their guardian in place of the OPGT.

How It Works

01

Book Your Appointment​

Click on ‘Get Started’ button to receive a quote from us. If you decide to proceed, our customer care team will reach out to you within minutes to discuss the next steps.

02

Meet With The Lawyer

Our business lawyers meet you and arrange your business name, registration, incorporation, or partnership in less time than you might expect.

03

Review Documents

Review and sign the required documents with your lawyer. Depending upon your convenience and location, you can meet your lawyer in person or virtually.

Documents We Need

Axess Law will ask you for two pieces of ID. Proving your identity is obligatory to prevent fraud. You may use either two pieces of primary ID or one primary and one secondary ID These include:

  • Driver’s license
  • Canadian passport
  • Ontario photo card
  • Canadian citizenship card with photo
  • PR card with photo
You will be required to show proof of address of the location from where you conduct your business sales or provide services.

Types of Businesses to Register

Business name registration in Ontario can be required if you operate a:

Starting and operating a sole proprietorship without registering is fine as long as you use only your full legal name. Once you add to your name to describe your services, Ontario law requires the business name to be registered.

Going into business with others makes business name registration in Ontario mandatory:

  • unless you use only the partners’ legal names — for example, “Doe and Martin” for John Doe and Jane Martin is permitted, but not “Doe and Martin Shoes”  
  • for general or limited partnerships that have a separate business name 
  • and for limited liability partnerships and extra-provincial limited liability partnerships or companies. 

A partnership business name egistration is used to set up bank accounts, apply for business licenses and obtain a business number from Canada Revenue Agency for income and sales taxes. You could be fined under the Ontario Business Names Act for failing to register.

Business names used by corporations must be registered separately from the corporate name under Ontario law and to prevent being personally liable for legal obligations. You can use a shorter version of your corporate name or unique names to represent each brand or service. Axess Law registers your corporate name at the same time we prepare incorporation documents and can register any number of business names you desire.

When to Register a Business Name

Your small business competes with thousands of others in Ontario and around Canada, maybe even globally. Without the name protection registration gives you, your competitors could dominate your industry and webspace just by using the same business name.

Two or more businesses offering similar services with the exact same name can cause unnecessary confusion amongst the clients. A registered business name lets them know who they are dealing with and when to call, email or enter your business premises.

Legally speaking, you don’t always have to register a business name. But not registering your name is like giving business away, especially in competitive markets like the Greater Toronto Area.

Why Should I Hire Axess Law?

Deciding on a business name is a crucial early step in the start of a business venture. Axess Law:

Completes your legal documentation

Register your business name and trademarks

Prepare documents for incorporation

Search NUANS to help shortlist names

What Our Customers Say About Us

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Convenient Appointments

Axess Law gives you the choice of booking an online or in-person appointment. Our lawyers are available 7 days a week, at times convenient for you. We can meet in person, by phone, email, or via a remote video call. In addition to these, there are 5 Axess Law offices located across the Greater Toronto Area – all with onsite parking or easily accessible by public transit.

Some FAQs

Axess Law’s lawyer fees for legal services in Ontario or anywhere in Canada are affordable. You get documents that stand the legal test if Canada Revenue Agency picks your business to audit. No more worries about not meeting Service Ontario requirements or being forced to go back and do it all again. Our business lawyers arrange your business name, registration, incorporation, or partnership in less time than you might expect.

Any time you are dba, doing business as, you are using a business name that needs to be registered. Axess Law has corporate lawyers in Greater Toronto Area who make business name registration simple and straightforward to get your business off to a running start.

  • Conduct a name search on NUANS to ensure the name is unique.
  • Search other sources like business listings or local libraries.
  • Reserve your business domain name registration for Ontario.
  • Add a legal ending to your name.
  • Obtain a master business license.
  • Protect your privacy. Consider a sole proprietorship or partnership using your full legal name only.
  • Keep your business name current.
  • Preserve trademarks.
  • Register changes or cancellations promptly.

Your business name must include a description of your goods or services. It cannot:

  • be misleading
  • use someone else’s name without permission
  • include scandalous, obscene, or immoral language
  • use words that describe other institutions, such as college, university, or RCMP
  • and more.

Your business name must be distinctive enough that customers don’t confuse it with other registered businesses. You could be sued or forced to change the name if you do business in other provinces or territories where someone else has reserved a similar name.