One Stop for Business

Business Registration

Ontario Business Registry

Anyone can do a free search of the Ontario Business Registry to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit corporation.

Visit Ontario.ca

When you decide to start a business, the first thing you should decide is what legal form the business will take. There are three types of business organizations:

Sole proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation

Once you decide what form your business will take, you need to register your business name.

How to

Register Business Name

Register a Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership

Register a Corporation

There are two ways you can register your business name

Online at Service Ontario

In Person

Small Business Enterprise Centre
City Hall, 71 Main Street West, 1st Floor
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Payment Method is credit card only

Fees include:

$60 to register
$8 per name searched

For questions about registering a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership call Ontario Business Connects at 1-800-565-1921.

To register your business as a corporation, contact:

For Provincial Incorporation:
Ontario Land Registry Office
119 King Street West, 4th Floor
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y7
Call 905-521-7561

Fee: $360 (Minister of Finance)
List of other office locations

For Federal Incorporation:
Industry Canada Corporations Directorate
Call 613-941-9042

Registration fee: $200 when you submit online or $250 for all other means.

NUANS Report is $18 at www.corporationcentre.ca/

Date modified

July 18, 2022