{"id":1096,"date":"2018-07-13T18:59:35","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T18:59:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/?p=1096"},"modified":"2025-08-07T15:59:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T19:59:35","slug":"how-can-i-search-my-business-name-against-existing-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca\/blog\/how-can-i-search-my-business-name-against-existing-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Search My Business Name Against Existing Businesses?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are incorporating a business<\/a>, it is mandatory in every Province and Territory to provide or gain documented support that the business name you have chosen is available. In Provinces such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, a search request is done with the Provincial Government agents either before or as part of the incorporation process with what is called a \u201cname reservation\u201d. This is a search requested by you and approved by the Province on the name selection for your business. In Provinces such as Ontario and Alberta, there is a third party document required called a NUANS report<\/a>. This document provides 7 pages of similar named businesses, incorporations and trademarks to the proposed business name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does NUANS mean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Nuans provides a 6 page report of similar existing businesses throughout most of Canada. The NUANS report is generated by Industry Canada.\u00a0 You must be a member of NUANS to obtain the report. We are members and have been since the 1990\u2019s. You can verify our membership by\u00a0searching the listing of Nuans members<\/a>\u00a0using our branch acronym “OBC”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long is the NUANS good for?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have ordered the NUANS report, the NUANS name reservation is  valid for 90 days. If the report is coming close to the end of the 90 validity, we recommend you order a new NUANS report<\/a> which will provide you the opportunity to extend the name reservation for another 90 days.  Once you have incorporated with the NUANS report, a new NUANS report is never required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name Approval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In some Provinces and Territories, the government employees decide if a proposed name is available and accepted for use in their jurisdiction. In others, such as Ontario, it is up to the discretion of the business owner to ultimately decide if they should proceed with a name. The Provinces that do take the weight and risk off the business owner\u2019s shoulders by determining if the business name will be accepted alleviates the concern over name infringement of the business name against existing business names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences between incorporation and registration in searching the business name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a variance in what each type of business set up provides but whether you are incorporating<\/a> or completing a business registration or operating name<\/a>, it is highly recommended, you search the business name against existing businesses within your Province or Territory. Similar to the incorporated companies, if you are registering a small business in British Columbia<\/a>, Saskatchewan<\/a> or Manitoba<\/a>, a name reservation is required. If you are registering in Ontario, you can complete a Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership or Trade Name<\/a> under an existing corporation without searching the business name against existing business names all together or you can search the NUANS system<\/a>, the same as what is required when incorporating in Ontario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it is mandatory to complete a search on similar business names, we highly recommend you search the business name<\/a> prior to setting up the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few quick reasons to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n