Step 1 of 4 - Jurisdiction

Name Pre-Search: Corporate Name Availability Check
Online Business Registry is a registered member of Industry Canada. You can obtain federal and all provincial name reports. Based on your selection, we can send you the name pre-search report in your email in 2 business hours.
1. Select Your Jurisdiction
2. How fast do you need the Report?
3. Write the name you want to search and reserve*
4. What's the purpose of this name report?
If you want to use it for non-profit organization/society, you may add (optional) any traditional common word such as foundation, institute, association etc. as the last part of the name.

Help and Support
Is this name report valid?
Of course. Our agency has direct access to the federal name database and provincial government name database. All reports are valid and can be verified with Industry Canada.
Any rules for corporate names?
Generally, a name should have two elements: distinctive and descriptive. The distinctive element is the most important factor; this part can't just describe the business but must be unique or made up words. The descriptive element can be common words that describes the nature of business. An example: "Best Car Wash". This name lacks of distinctiveness, it only describes the business. A better name could have been "Mike's Car Wash". In this name 'Mike' is the distinctive/unique element, and 'Car Wash' is the descriptive element.
I need further help
Feel free to call us at 416-628-9349 during our business hours (9:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST). Or you can initiate a live chat with us in the bottom right corner.
Business Name Pre-Search Report Sample

Name Reservation Option
Please note, you are doing a name pre-search report only, which CANNOT be used to register or incorporate a business. In that case, you need a reservation report. If pre-search shows the name is available, we can reserve it for 90 days and send you the reservation report by email, which could be used for the purpose you have selected above.
5. NUANS (Name Reservation Report)
5. Name Reservation with Government
If your purpose is to incorporate a new corporation or file for an existing corporation's name change, you are required to select a legal suffix. All of the following legal suffix have same legal meaning; choice is for appearance purpose only.
6. Choose legal suffix
7. Describe the major activities of this business
8. Choose BC Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose QC Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose MB Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose SK Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose NS Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose NL Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose YT Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose NU Govt. Name Reservation Queue
8. Choose NWT Govt. Name Reservation Queue
BC government allows to submit up to 3 names in one fee payment. If you want to take advantage of this, you may propose two other names in same fees. Leave it blank if you do not want to take this advantage.
8.a) Second preferred name
8.b) Third preferred name

Help and Support
How name reservation works?
Online Business Registry is an agent of Industry Canada. If you advise us to reserve the name, we review the name with three filters, i.e. availability, eligibility with name rules and legality with prohibited names, and then submit to the government. With these three filters, if we find your proposed name is not qualified, we will request you for alternative names by email, up to 3 names at free of cost.
How fast will I get NUANS report?
You will receive NUANS (name reservation report) as fast as in 2 business hours, if you have selected such in the previous page. If you want to use this report to register or incorporate your business, you will also receive a link where you register or incorporate your business.
How fast I will get name reservation report?
It's based on your selection of government's processing queue. We submit to government to reserve the name as fast as in 2 business hours of receiving the order. Please note, the processing queue and time in this page is an approximation provided by government.
What legal suffix to choose?
If your purpose is to use this name to incorporate (limited liability company), choose any one of the legal suffix. All of them have the same legal meaning, choice is for appearance purpose only. If your purpose is to use this name for sole proprietorship or master business license or trade name/business name registration or non-profit organization, choose the option "none".
What should I write for business activities?
Only one or two major activities should be sufficient. The description could be very brief (in a single line).