Original Publish Date: July 20, 2018
Finding out who owns a business in Canada is a legitimate and often essential step whether you are considering a partnership, conducting due diligence before a transaction, pursuing legal action, or simply verifying the credentials of a company you plan to work with. This guide covers every method available to find business ownership information in Canada, with a specific focus on Ontario, and reflects the most recent changes to federal beneficial ownership transparency laws.
Why You Might Need to Find Out Who Owns a Business
There are many valid reasons to research business ownership:
- Due Diligence: Before entering a contract, partnership, or joint venture
- Legal Proceedings: That require serving the correct legal entity and registered address
- Credit or Financial Checks: To verify a company’s standing and legitimacy
- Investment Research: To understand who controls a business before committing capital
- Personal Protection: When hiring a contractor or engaging a service provider
- Compliance & Regulatory Checks: Carried out by lawyers, accountants, and financial professionals
Whatever your reason, Canada’s corporate registry system gives you well-established tools to find this information quickly and reliably.
What is a Profile Report?
An Ontario Profile Report, historically referred to as an Ontario corporate search, is a report drawn directly from the official Ontario government registry of the province whether registered or incorporated. It provides a verified, up-to-date snapshot of a business’s legal standing and ownership structure.
A Profile Report will typically include:
- The correct legal name of the business
- Whether the business is registered, incorporated, or both
- The current status of the business (active, dissolved, revoked, etc.)
- The registered head office address
- The names and addresses of directors/officers/owners
- Previous corporate names or trade names operated under the corporation
- The Business Identification Number (BIN) or Corporation Number (OCN)
For corporations, the report may also include previous name changes, trade names registered under the corporation, and the date of incorporation. This information is sourced directly from the government registry and is the most authoritative record available.
Ontario Business Central has been assisting individuals and businesses with Profile Reports and business registry searches across Canada since 1992. We can provide reports not only for every province and territory in Canada but also for businesses registered in the United States.
How Business Ownership Records Are Organized in Canada
There is no single national database that holds corporate records for all Canadian businesses. Each province and territory maintains its own registry. Here is how the system works:
Federally incorporated companies are registered with Corporations Canada, which is administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
Provincially incorporated or registered companies are maintained within the registry of the province where they were incorporated or registered. If a business is registered in Ontario, for example, its records are held in the Ontario Business Registry (OBR). If it operates in British Columbia, those records are held by BC Registry Services, and so on.
If you are unsure which province a business is registered in, Ontario Business Central can conduct a preliminary search across jurisdictions to identify where the business is located before you order a full report.
The Important Limitation: You Cannot Search by Owner’s Name
This is one of the most common misunderstandings about Profile Reports in Canada. None of the provincial or federal corporate registries allow you to search by an individual’s name to find out what businesses they own.
You can only search by the business name to find out who owns or directs it, not the other way around. If you know the name of the business, ordering a Profile Report is straightforward. If you only know the name of an individual and want to know what businesses they operate, you will need to use alternative methods described later in this guide.
How to Order a Profile Report in Ontario
Ordering a Profile Report through Ontario Business Central is a straightforward process:
- Go to Ontario Business Central and navigate to the Corporate Search page.
- Enter the name of the business you wish to search and select the jurisdiction — in this case, Ontario.
- Law firms and accounting firms can enter their dossier and reference number in the field provided for internal tracking purposes. If you are an individual requesting a report, this field does not apply to you and can be left blank.
- Select your report type. You can order a Profile Report, a Certificate of Status, and a copy of the Articles of Incorporation simultaneously within the same request, there is no need to place separate orders.
- Add additional businesses if needed. You can request up to five different business names to be searched all within the same order, making it easy to conduct multiple searches in a single transaction.
- Complete payment to finalize your order. Your reports will be delivered electronically via PDF to your email address, typically within minutes for orders placed before 4:30 PM EST. Monday through Friday.
Speed of Delivery
Reports ordered through Ontario Business Central are typically generated within minutes of your order and delivered electronically via PDF to your email address. Orders placed before 4:30 PM EST on a business day.
Accuracy: The Profile Report reflects the most recent information filed with the Province of Ontario. Directors and officers are legally required to file a Notice of Change within 15 days of any change to the corporation’s information. This makes the report a reliable, publicly available record — though it is a snapshot accurate as of the date it is generated, not a continuously updated feed.
Steps to Order an Ontario Profile Report
Ordering a Profile Report through Ontario Business Central is a straightforward process:
- Enter the business name you wish to search and select Ontario as the jurisdiction.
- Choose your report type. For Ontario, this will typically be the Profile Report (Entity Report), a Certificate of Status, or a copy of the Articles of Incorporation.
- Add additional reports if needed — you can search multiple businesses in the same order.
- Complete payment. Provide your credit card details to finalize the order. The card does not need to be in the name of the person placing the order.
- Receive your report. Results are emailed directly to the address you provide.
New: Federal Beneficial Ownership Transparency (ISC Registry)
This is a significant development that affects anyone researching federally incorporated companies.
As of January 22, 2024, all corporations incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA) are now required to file information about their Individuals with Significant Control (ISC) — also known as beneficial owners — with Corporations Canada. Some of this information is made publicly available through the Corporations Canada online search.
What is an Individual with Significant Control?
An ISC is someone who owns or controls a corporation in a meaningful way. Specifically, an individual qualifies as an ISC if they:
- Own, control, or direct 25% or more of the shares of the corporation (individually, jointly, or in concert with others)
- Hold 25% or more of the voting rights attached to outstanding shares
- Have control “in fact” over the corporation even without owning 25% of the shares
What Information is Made Public?
The following ISC information for federal corporations is now publicly searchable through the Corporations Canada database:
- Name of the individual with significant control
- Address for service (if provided; otherwise the residential address is listed)
- Date on which the individual became an ISC
Note that date of birth, citizenship, and residential addresses (when an address for service has been provided) are not made public. ISCs who are under 18 years of age are also excluded from the public record.
What This Means for Business Ownership Searches
For federally incorporated companies, the ISC registry represents a meaningful expansion of publicly available ownership information. Where previously a Profile Report would only show directors and officers, beneficial ownership data — the names of individuals who actually own or control the corporation — is now part of the federal record. Ontario Business Central can obtain this information as part of a federal Profile Report, giving you a complete picture of both the directors and the beneficial owners of any federally incorporated business in a single, professionally prepared report.
For privately held corporations registered at the provincial level, including Ontario corporations, this level of beneficial ownership information is not yet publicly accessible. Ontario’s legislation (Bill 43, the Build Ontario Act) requires private Ontario corporations to maintain an internal register of individuals with significant control, but that register is available only to law enforcement, tax authorities, and regulatory bodies — not to the general public. Similar frameworks exist in other provinces.
Profile Reports Across Canada
Every province and territory in Canada maintains its own registry system. Ontario Business Central can provide Profile Reports in all Canadian jurisdictions, including:
| Jurisdiction | Report Available |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Profile Report (Entity Report) |
| Alberta | Alberta Corporate Profile Report |
| British Columbia | BC Corporate Profile Report |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Corporate Profile Report |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Corporate Profile Report |
| Quebec | Registraire des entreprises Profile Report |
| New Brunswick | NB Corporate Profile Report |
| Nova Scotia | NS Corporate Profile Report |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Corporate Profile Report |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | NL Corporate Profile Report |
| Northwest Territories / Nunavut / Yukon | Territorial Profile Reports |
| Federal (Canada) | Corporations Canada Profile Report |
Reports are delivered electronically and, in most jurisdictions, on a same-day basis for orders placed during business hours.
What If You Don’t Know the Business Name?
This is a challenge that comes up frequently. If you know an individual’s name but are unsure what business they operate, there are three alternative search methods that may help establish a connection.
Preliminary NUANS Search
If you are not sure of the business name and or jurisdiction where the business operates, an instantly available preliminary NUANS search will assist you to determine the legal name and jurisdiction before you order the corporate/entity/profile report.
PPSA Search (Personal Property Security Act)
A PPSA search records consumer loans and secured transactions that an individual has registered — such as vehicle financing, inventory loans, equipment financing, or business loans. Lenders often require that loans taken out for business purposes be registered in both the individual’s personal name and their business name. If this is the case, a PPSA search may reveal a business name connected to the individual.
A PPSA search can be conducted across all of Canada and is one of the most effective tools available when the business name is unknown.
Litigation Search
A litigation search examines court records in the courthouse serving the area where an individual resides. If the individual or their business has been involved in legal proceedings — as either a plaintiff or a defendant — those records may list both the individual and their business name together. This is particularly useful when the business is a Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership, where the individual and the business name are often listed together in legal filings.
Ontario Business Central can conduct litigation searches throughout Ontario.
An important note on these alternative searches: These methods may produce a connection between a person and a business but only when the individual has registered a secured loan or has been involved in litigation. In many cases, no such records exist, and a definitive connection cannot be established. It is important to understand that these searches are not guaranteed to produce results.
Profile Reports in the United States
If you need to research a business operating in the United States, Ontario Business Central can provide Profile Reports in almost all U.S. states. The exception at this time is New Mexico and Pennsylvania. U.S. Profile Reports provide details including ownership, director information, business address, and the length of time the business has been in operation. Simply select the relevant state when placing your order.
All 3 of these searches, the PPSA, US Profile Report and Litigation search can be found in our Due Diligence list of services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Find Out Who Owns a Business for Free in Canada?
While government registries do allow limited name and status lookups at no cost, these free searches return only basic information. They do not provide director names, officer addresses, trade names, or complete corporate history. For a thorough, reliable answer to who owns a business, a full Profile Report ordered through Ontario Business Central is the professional standard. Our reports are drawn directly from the official registry, delivered from within minutes to the same day, including everything you need to make an informed decision.
Can I Search an Individual’s Name to Find What Businesses They Own?
No. Canadian provincial and federal registries are organized by business name, not by individual owner. You cannot look up a person’s name to generate a list of businesses they own. If you know the business name, ordering a Profile Report is simple. If you only know the individual’s name, a PPSA search or litigation search may help establish a connection.
How Current is the Information in a Profile Report?
The report reflects the most recent information filed with the relevant registry. In Ontario, corporations are legally required to file a Notice of Change within 15 days of any change to their directors, officers, or registered office or an amendment to a registered business if filed. The report is accurate as of the date it is generated; subsequent filings may alter the information shown.
What is the Difference Between a Director & a Beneficial Owner?
A director is an individual appointed to manage and oversee the affairs of a corporation, and their details appear on the public corporate record. A beneficial owner is the individual who ultimately owns or controls a corporation through share ownership or other means. As of January 2024, federally incorporated companies are required to file beneficial ownership information (Individuals with Significant Control) with the federal registry. Ontario Business Central can obtain this information as part of a federal Profile Report. For Ontario provincial corporations, beneficial ownership details are maintained internally by the company and are not currently available to the general public.
What is an Entity Report?
Entity Report is the Ontario government’s official term for the Ontario Profile Report. It is a comprehensive report drawn from the Ontario Business Registry providing the corporation’s current status, registered addresses, director and officer names, and other key details.
How Long Does It Take to Receive a Profile Report?
When ordered through Ontario Business Central, most reports are delivered electronically via email the same business day. Orders placed before 4:30 PM EST are typically processed within minutes for Ontario reports. Processing times vary slightly by jurisdiction.
Can Ontario Business Central Provide Profile Reports in Other Provinces?
Yes. Ontario Business Central provides Profile Reports across all Canadian provinces and territories, as well as in most U.S. states.
Summary: Your Options at a Glance
| What You Know | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Business Name (Ontario) | Ontario Profile Report — order through Ontario Business Central |
| Business Name (Other Province) | Provincial Profile Report — order through Ontario Business Central |
| Business Name (Federal) | Federal Profile Report incl. ISC data — order through Ontario Business Central |
| Individual’s Name Only | PPSA Search + Litigation Search — order through Ontario Business Central |
| Business Name (U.S.) | U.S. State Profile Report — order through Ontario Business Central |
Contact Ontario Business Central
Ontario Business Central has been providing Profile Reports and business registry services across Canada since 1992. If you have limited information or are unsure how to proceed, our team is available to discuss your situation and advise on the best approach.
inquiries@ontariobusinesscentral.ca
Toll-Free: 1-800-280-1913
Local: 1-416-599-9009
Fax: 1-866-294-4363
Office Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday – Friday E.S.T.
Ontario Business Central Inc. is not a law firm and cannot provide a legal opinion or advice. This information is to assist you in understanding the requirements of registration within the chosen jurisdiction. It is always recommended when you have legal or accounting questions, that you speak to a qualified professional.
