How To Change Corporation Name In Ontario, Canada?

Originally Published: July 17, 2017

If you have an existing corporation and have decided to change the name of the corporation, the process to do this is fairly simple to complete.

Business owner reviewing documents online to change a corporation name in Ontario

What Changes Can Be Made With Articles of Amendment?

There are 3 items that can be changed when filing Articles of Amendment in Ontario or articles of Amendment with the Federal Government.

Change the name of the corporation
Change the corporate structure (share structure or restrictions)
Change the minimum and/or maximum number of directors

The fee to file Articles of Amendment remains the same whether you choose to complete one, two or all three of these updates. It’s a great time to look at your original incorporation overall to review to see if any changes outside of one suits your purposes.

How Do I Change the Name of My Corporation?

When you originally incorporated your company, you completed the Articles of Incorporation to do so. Now that you wish to change the name of your corporation, a secondary filing is required called the Articles of Amendment. This legal document allows you to change the existing name of your corporation to a new business name. The original Articles of Incorporation never change.

You have three options

Change the name of the corporation to a numbered corporation
Change the name of the corporation to a new name for the corporation
Change from a numbered corporation to a named corporation

How Do I Change to a Numbered Company?

If you currently have a named corporation and wish to change to the more generic numbered company, we can assist you to do this easily online.

You can provide the existing name of the corporation and simply choose which legal ending you would like for the corporation as a numbered corporation. Many individuals keep the original legal ending as they had with the named corporation however you can change it to another. The legal ending option consist of Limited, LTD., Incorporation, INC., Corporation or Corp.

We will be able to pull your current corporate record as part of our services to ensure the corporation is active and up-to-date.

You provide:

The current name of the corporation
The legal ending you want (Limited, Ltd., Incorporation, Inc., Corporation, or Corp.)
Company Key

When the Articles of Incorporation were originally filed, the corporation had a corporate number attached even if you called the corporation by name. If you have a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, the number for the corporation is displayed in the top right corner of the certificate (first page) of the articles. When moving to a numbered company, a new number is not provided but the original number already in place from the original incorporation documents will be used.

Don’t worry, if you don’t have the original Articles of Incorporation, we will be able to find the number when searching the corporate record for this business as part of our Articles of Amendment service.

When the Articles of Amendment are completed, the named corporation becomes part of the history of the corporation and the numbered company becomes the present and future name of the corporation.

Many corporations change names because:

The business has evolved
The original name no longer reflects the brand
They want stronger name protection
They want a name that better fits growth or expansion

Make changes to your corporate name or structure quick and easy online. File Now.

How Do I Change to a New Named Corporation?

The most common reason Articles of Amendment are filed is to change the corporate name to a new corporate name. Often the original name of a corporation no longer benefits the activity or direction of the corporation and changing the name of the corporation is an easy solution to obtaining a business name more suitable to corporate identity while maintaining the history and continuity of the corporation.

By changing the name of the corporation, the corporation continues to have name protection for the new name of corporation. For many, having the name protection is vital as the corporate name is considered an asset to the corporate brand.

You will provide to us the original name of the corporation as well as the proposed new name for the corporation. We will automatically complete a NUANS preliminary search to ascertain if the name is available and if it is, the NUANS report is ordered and the completion of the Articles of Amendment begins. When the proposed new name for the corporation is not available you can provide a new name at no additional cost or opt out to complete the Articles of Amendment.

There is an alternate option to changing the name of the corporation where you can file a Trade Name or DBA under the corporation and operate a second business name while maintaining the current corporate name of the corporation. The disadvantage to a trade name is that it doesn’t have the name protection component as a corporate name has and requires renewal every five years. The benefits are that it is a cheaper option and allows the corporation to continue with the original name of the corporation.

This process is nearly identical to changing a named corporation to a new name.

You will need:

Your corporation’s current number
A proposed new corporate name
A NUANS search and report
Company Key

Once everything is approved:

Your numbered corporation becomes a named corporation
The new name gains name protection
History and continuity remain intact

If you cannot locate your corporate number, Ontario Business Central can retrieve it through a corporate search.

How Do I Change from a Numbered Company to a Named corporation?

The information is basically the same as provided in the last question and answer. You will need to have the current corporate number for the corporation. If you are not sure of what the corporate number is, look for the original Articles of Incorporation or contact The Revenue Canada Agency as the corporation will be attached to a directors personal tax information.

A NUANS preliminary search and NUANS report will be completed if the new corporate name is available. The NUANS is required when changing to a named corporation. With an available name for the corporation, we will file the Articles of Amendment along with the NUANS report to change the corporation. Once completed, your business will have the new identity as a named corporation.

How Do I Change the Structure of the Corporation?

The original corporate structure is listed within the Articles of Incorporation. Usually a structure change occurs when a corporation wishes to gain a more robust share structure such as moving to multiple share classes from a single class of shares. This is usually brought on due to a growth or change within the organization.

When filing the Articles of Amendment with Ontario Business Central, you will need to provide the specific details of the structure change or changes you wish to make from the original share structure. It may be any of these specific changes or an overall change to each item.

Your corporation’s share structure and related provisions are outlined in your original Articles of Incorporation.

Corporations typically amend their structure when:

You want multiple share classes
You want to add or modify share rights and restrictions
You are planning for investment, succession, or estate planning
The company has outgrown the original share setup

Using Articles of Amendment, you can update:

Restrictions on Business Activity
The Classes and any maximum number of shares
Rights, Privileges and restrictions of shares
The Issue, transfer or ownership of shares
Other provisions

When filing the Articles of Amendment, you can update any or all of these details to transform the corporation to a new structure. The previous structure becomes historical information for the corporation.

How Do I Change the Number of Directors?

When the original Articles of Incorporation were completed, the filing would have included the minimum and maximum number of directors. If, at any point the corporation wishes to either have a lesser or greater number of directors than originally provided, this list needs to be updated to include either a broader or limited selection of overall directors.

Your original incorporation documents list either:

A minimum and maximum number of directors, or
A fixed number of directors

If the corporation wants to add or remove directors beyond this range, the original numbers must be amended.

Since the new Ontario Business Registry launched, the province has enabled the details of the directors listing both minimum and maximum or fixed number when filing other documentation such as a Notice of Change. This has added a secondary layer to updated director changes outside of the original parameters. When the number of directors it outside of the minimum and maximum number of directors originally listed, the province will decline the subsequent filing.. Updated filing such as a Notice of Change for a director change is the most common corporate update. Historically, the province wasn’t aware of any discord between the minimum and maximum number or fixed number of directors and a notice of change filing. For many in the legal community, this is an unexpected additional filing with the Province when a simple addition to the directors list was all that was anticipated.

Since the launch of the Ontario Business Registry, the Province now strictly enforces director limits. If your Notice of Change attempts to add a director beyond the allowed range, the filing will be rejected.

Example:

Original Articles: minimum 1 director, maximum 3 directors
You attempt to add a 4th director
The Notice of Change is refused
You must file Articles of Amendment to update the minimum/maximum before adding the director

Summary Table: What You Can Change With Articles of Amendment

Change Type	Required?	NUANS Needed?	Notes
Change corporate name	Optional	Yes (for named corporations)	Includes switching to or from a numbered corporation
Change corporate structure	Optional	No	Used to update or expand share classes and rights
Change number of directors	Optional but required if going outside original range	No	Must be amended when adding directors beyond original allowed number

This enforcement has surprised many professionals, as it was not historically rejected before the new registry launched.

Ontario Business Central can assist you with identifying your current director limits and preparing Articles of Amendment to align the corporation with your intended number of directors.

To give some clarity, as an example, the original incorporation filing provided the minimum number of directors as one and the maximum number of directors as three. Now a fourth director is being added to the corporation by filing a Notice of Change. The Province reviews the original incorporation parameters and determines that the fourth director is not allotted within the original parameters established originally. The update is refused by the province and now articles of amendment are required to change the minimum and maximum or fixed directors to align with the number of directors listed.

This enforcement has surprised many professionals, as it was not historically rejected before the new registry launched.

Ontario Business Central can assist you with identifying your current director limits and preparing Articles of Amendment to align the corporation with your intended number of directors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Corporation Name in Ontario

Do I Need to File Articles of Amendment to Change My Corporation’s Name?

Yes, Articles of Amendment are required to legally change the name of any Ontario corporation. This filing updates the official record while keeping your corporation’s existing history and continuity.

Do I Need a NUANS Report to Change the Corporate Name?

Yes — unless you are changing to a numbered corporation.
A NUANS report confirms that your new name is available and compliant with Ontario naming rules.

Can I Change My Named Corporation to a Numbered Corporation?

Yes. This is a simple amendment. Your corporation already has a number assigned, and that number becomes the legal name once the Articles of Amendment are filed.

Can I Change a Numbered Corporation Into a Named Corporation?

Yes. You will need a NUANS report and Articles of Amendment to adopt the new corporate name.

Does Changing My Corporate Name Affect My Incorporation Date Or History?

No. Your corporation keeps its original incorporation date, number, and record. The old name becomes part of the corporation’s historical details.

What if the Name I Want is Not Available?

You may choose a new name at no extra preliminary search cost, or choose not to proceed. The amendment will only move forward once you approve an available name.

Can I Use a Trade Name (DBA) Instead of Changing the Corporation’s Legal Name?

Yes. A Trade Name allows you to operate under a different name without changing your legal corporate name.

Keep in mind:

Trade Names do not have name protection
They must be renewed every five years

Can I Change the Corporate Name, Share Structure, and Director Numbers All at Once?

Yes. Articles of Amendment allow you to update any or all of these items in the same filing. The government fee is the same whether you amend one item or several.

Do I Need a NUANS Report to Change the Share Structure or Number of Directors?

No, a NUANS report is only required when changing the corporate name to a new named corporation.

Why Was My Notice of Change Rejected When Adding a Director?

The Ontario Business Registry now enforces the director limits listed in your Articles of Incorporation.
If you attempt to add a director beyond the original minimum/maximum range, the Notice of Change will be refused.
You must amend your Articles of Incorporation first to update the allowable number of directors.

Do I Need to Notify CRA After Changing the Corporate Name?

Yes. Once your Articles of Amendment are approved, you must update your name with:

CRA (corporate tax, payroll, GST/HST)
Your bank
Licences and permits
Contracts and suppliers

How Long Does it Take to Change a Corporation’s Name?

Most amendments completed through Ontario Business Central are processed within 1–2 business days, depending on government timelines and name availability.

At Ontario Business Central Inc., have been assisting clients for 30 years to complete name changes to their corporation.

We offer other services are available to make changes to existing businesses including:

Ontario Not For Profit Corporate Change
Federal Not For Profit Corporate Change
Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership Change

If we can be of assistance, please feel free to reach out to our staff for any clarification or assistance you may require.

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.