Complete the application online below to register a business name to a Corporation in Ontario or, upload a completed Business Name application form by selecting option B.Step 1 – Contact Information
To complete this application, we need the contact information of a person who will receive the registration documents and can answer any questions we may have. Please provide the full name, phone number, and email address. This information will be kept confidential and will not appear on the public record.
Step 2 – Corporation Information
Please enter the corporation name, OCN, company key and official email address of the corporation registering the business name. The company key is required to verify that you are authorized to file this registration. CAUTION: Starting February 1, 2025, the Company Key will be required to make changes to any entity registered or incorporated in the Ontario Business Registry (OBR).
Step 3 – Proposed Business Name
It is your responsibility to make sure that your business name is in accordance with the requirements of the BNA and the regulations. A name that violates the BNA or the regulations may face compliance action at any time, which could lead to cancellation.
A preliminary name search will check the proposed name against existing business names, corporations and trademarks that may cause conflict. It is not an exhaustive search and you are solely responsible for use of the proposed name.
Step 4 – Primary Activity
The main activity that you do under the name of your business is your primary activity.
NAICS is the North American Industry Classification System. It is a system that assigns a 2 to 6 digit number code to a business based on its main activity. You can find the NAICS code for your business by following the NAICS link and choosing the code that matches your primary activity. For instance, if your business is a unisex hair salon, your NAICS code could be “812116 – unisex hair stylist shops”. The NAICS code is mandatory for filings under the Business Names Act and Limited Partnerships Act, and it will appear on the public record for those filings.
Step 5 – Address of Principal Place of Business
You need to provide the address of your main place of business in Ontario. If you don’t have one in Ontario, you need to give the address of your main place of business outside Ontario. If your address is international and you don’t have a “Region” to fill in, please use ‘Parish,’ ‘County’ or something similar in the “Region” field. This also applies to any other international address on the form.
Step 6 – Authorization
A director or officer or a person acting under power of attorney must authorize the registration.
Director/Officer Authorizing the Registration
If the director or officer is authorizing the registration, set out the full name and director/officer position (e.g., director, president or secretary).
A person acting under power of attorney could be an individual, corporation or registered entity (any registration with a Business Identification Number (BIN)), or an ‘other’ entity.
Individual: set out the full name and address for service in Ontario.
Corporation or Registered entity: set out the name and OCN or BIN, as applicable, and its address for service in Ontario. Also set out the full name and position of the person representing the corporation or registered entity.
Other: set out the name of the entity, address for service, and the full name and position of the individual representing the ‘other ‘entity.