INSTANT NUANS REPORT

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A NUANS Report Canada is an essential Business Name Search Report required for incorporations in Canada. While not mandatory, it is highly recommended for sole proprietorships and partnerships as well. Obtaining a NUANS Report allows you to temporarily reserve your chosen business name, but it's essential to note that the reservation is valid for a limited duration of 90 days.

Register a Business

Registering a business is a pivotal step towards turning your entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Whether you're establishing a new corporation, non-profit organization, or society, modifying an existing corporation's name, or venturing into extra-provincial registration, a crucial document in your journey is the NUANS report in Canada. This report is indispensable, particularly in provinces like Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and PEI. It also plays a vital role in resurrecting previously dissolved corporations, reviving named extra-provincial entities, and facilitating the amalgamation of multiple corporations with a new chosen name. However, if simplicity is your preference, keep in mind that incorporating under a numbered corporation offers an alternative path that doesn't require the NUANS report. Additionally, for those looking to register a business name as a sole proprietor, trade name, General Partnership or for general business registration, understanding the local requirements and procedures is key to a successful business venture. By navigating these steps thoughtfully, you pave the way for a successful business journey.

What is a NUANS (Name Search) report and who needs one?

If you are thinking of registering a new business and not sure if your proposed business name is available? Then this information will help guide you on how to find out, so that you can be assured that your business registration will be successful.

NUANS is a business name search report which is mandatory for incorporations and recommended for sole proprietorships and partnerships. A NUANS report temporarily reserves your name and it is valid for 90 days only.

In Canada, business names must be unique and different from each other so that the public would not mistake one business for another. To register a Business, you will need a NUANS report as it is a mandatory requirement. Getting a NUANS report Canada is also recommended for registering sole proprietorships or partnerships, although not mandatory. By getting a NUANS report Canada, you will be able to temporarily reserve your proposed business name, so that no other person will register a Business that same name. However, the report will only be valid for 90 days and you will need to incorporate within that time. Once a report expires, you will need to purchase a new report.

The NUANS system searches and compares names and trademarks in many different ways, such as phonetics, word length, synonymous terms and varying name formulations. So you can be reassured that when choosing your new business name, you can avoid as many potential conflicts as possible.

How does a NUANS report appear?

When do you need a NUANS Report?

A NUANS report is a mandatory requirement and is one of the supporting documents required to incorporate a business Federally and also in many of the provinces like Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, etc. In general, a NUANS Report Canada is required when:

Incorporating a new corporation, non-profit, or societies.

Amending name of a Corporation or extra-provincial registration.

Reviving a corporation that has been struck or dissolved.

Register a Business or reviving a named extra-provincial corporation

Amalgamating 2 or more corporations where a new name is selected.

A NUANS report Canada is not necessary if you choose to incorporate as a numbered corporation.

The following situations do not require a NUANS report:

When the proposed name is a ’number name’ for a Corporation or extra-provincial corporation. When the proposed name is for a an Extra-provincial registration of a Federal (Canada) corporation.

How long is a NUANS report valid?

A name proposed on a NUANS report is reserved for 90 days. If you wish to register a business it is important that you have the incorporation completed within the 90 days If the NUANS expires, you will need to purchase a new report for that name.

What is a Name inquiry report?

Name inquiry report or Business Name Report, focuses on partnership and trade names (business names) and does not reserve the proposed business name. Corporate Registry recommends this report be purchased and reviewed prior to registration of a business name.

How to name your corporation?

A corporation name can include letters and numbers. It can also include certain common symbols which can be typed from a standard keyboard.

Requirements of a name

Your corporations name must:

be distinctive;

not cause confusion with any existing corporate names, business names or trademarks;

not contain any prohibited terms (example 'Parliament", "RCMP", "United nation", etc.);

not suggest governmental or institutional sponsorship or control; and

contain a mandatory legal suffix (Ltd./Inc./Corp/Limited/Corporation/Incorporated)

A good corporation name must have:

a distinctive (unique) element

a descriptive (describes your type of business or industry) element

a legal suffix at the end (for sole prop and partnerships this is not required)

Distinctive Element

corporation name must contain a distinctive or unique word or term that can be used to differentiate it form other corporations, in particular of same business activities.

A name lacks distinctiveness when it only describes the products or services offered by the corporation. For example, “Shoe Shop Inc.” lack distinctiveness. However, if you make it "Janice Shoe Shop Inc.", then it is an example of a name with distinctive element.

Words or terms that merely describe the quality of goods and services are generally not considered distinctive elements. For example, “Good Motors Inc.” and “Mechanical Works Inc.” would probably not be accepted. Geographic names may be used in corporate names, but only with the addition of a distinctive element. For example, “Toronto Bakery Inc.” would most likely be acceptable, because it has a level of distinctiveness. However, geographic names are not distinctive on their own. For example, “Vancouver Inc.” is unacceptable, because “Vancouver” is not distinctive.

Names of people may be included in corporate names, but only with the addition of a descriptive element. For example, “John David Renovations Inc.” would likely be accepted, because the combination of the terms “John David” and “Renovation” creates a level of distinctiveness. However, names of people are not distinctive on their own. “John David Inc.” is not distinctive enough. Only personal names of someone associated with the business can be used. That is, your business cannot be named “Norton accounting services Inc.” if Norton is not your first name or family name.

Descriptive Element

The descriptive word or phrase are words that describe the type of business or activity the corporation will be doing. Descriptive words are necessary for British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Federal incorporations. While Alberta and Ontario are not vary particular about descriptive word in your name, they are technically required. Some examples of descriptive words are: construction, gardening, investments, holdings, group, accounting services, innovations, holdings, developments, entertainment, software, productions, plumbing, etc.

Language of your corporate name

Your corporate name can be one of the following:

English name

French name

English and French (separate)

English and French (combined)