Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re running any kind of business in Ontario—online, in-person, full-time, or even as a side hustle—you may need to register with the Ontario government. Launch a Business Inc. does just that! We assist you in filing everything you need to start your business. This applies if:

• You’re operating under a name that’s not just your full legal name (e.g., “Jordan Smith Photography” instead of “Jordan Smith”)

• You want to open a business bank account

• You need to charge HST

• You plan to hire employees

• You want to protect your brand or look more professional

Registering gives you legal recognition and unlocks things like financing, licenses, and business tax write-offs.

Your business name is the foundation of your brand—it’s what people remember and search for.

Tips for choosing a name that sticks:

• Keep it simple and easy to spell

• Choose something unique to avoid confusion

• Make sure it reflects what you actually do

• Check that the matching domain and social handles are available

• Avoid names that are too long or hard to pronounce
  

Want to check if your name is taken? See our “Do I Need a Business Name Search?” section below!

Ontario has some strict rules around business names. You cannot use:

• A name that is misleading (e.g., calling yourself “Ontario Roofing Corp” when you're not incorporated)

• Government or institutional terms, like “bank,” “college,” “university,” “institute,” “ministry,” or “RCMP”

• Obscene or offensive language

• Someone else’s personal name (unless it’s yours)

• Symbols that begin the name (e.g., @, #, $)

• Names that include “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” or “Corp.” if you're not incorporating

• Names using non-Roman alphabets without an English version on signage
  

Bottom line: Keep it professional, accurate, and unique.

Technically? Not always. Should you? Absolutely.

Ontario does not automatically check if your business name is already in use when you register. That means you could end up with the same (or very similar) name as another company—and that can lead to legal trouble, branding headaches, or lost customers.

Here are your options:

Basic Ontario Name Search

Checks for exact matches in the Ontario Business Registry. Fast, but limited.

NUANS Name Pre-Search

A more detailed report that checks for similar names and trademarks across Ontario and beyond. This is your best bet if you want to protect your brand long-term.

To register a sole proprietorship or partnership, you’ll need:

• Your chosen business name(s)

• A business address (no P.O. boxes)

• Description of what you do (e.g., “graphic design services”)

• Business type: Sole Proprietor or General Partnership

• Full legal name(s) and address(es) of the owner(s)

• Type of registration: New, Renewal, Amendment, or Cancellation

• Optional: Business name search or NUANS report

After registration, you’ll get a Business Identification Number (BIN)—this is your business’s unique Ontario ID.

In Ontario, business name registrations are valid for 5 years. After that, you must renew it to keep your business legal.

We’ll remind you when it’s time to renew. Better yet, we can handle it for you!

Yes! If you’ve already registered but need to update some details, here’s what you can do:

Amendments:

• Update your address

• Change your business activity

• Add/remove partners (for partnerships)

Note: You cannot change the business name through an amendment—you’ll need to cancel and re-register for that.

Cancellations:

If you're closing your business or switching to a new name, you’ll need to cancel your existing registration.

Lost your BIN? No worries—we can help recover it for you.

Yep! Even if your business is 100% digital (freelancing, e-commerce, content creation), you’re still legally required to register in Ontario if you're using anything other than your own name.

Whether you're launching a Shopify store, selling on Etsy, or offering freelance services, Launch a Business makes it quick and easy to register online.

Your BIN is a 9 or 10-digit number assigned when you register your business name in Ontario. It’s used to:

• Identify your business in the Ontario registry

• File amendments or renewals

• Cancel your registration

• Prove you’re a legally registered business
  

It’s not the same as a Business Number (BN) from the CRA—that’s for taxes (like GST/HST or payroll).

For most new small businesses in Ontario, there are 3 options:

Sole Proprietorship

• One owner

• Easy and affordable

• Taxes filed through your personal return

• You’re personally responsible for debts
  

General Partnership

• Two or more people share ownership

• Partners are jointly liable

• Income is split and taxed through personal returns
  

Corporation (Separate process)

• Separate legal entity

• More legal protection and tax planning options

• More paperwork and cost

Want to incorporate? We can help with that too—just ask!

If you’re operating under a business name (not just your own), most banks will require you to show proof of registration to open a business account.

Having a dedicated account also helps you:

• Track income and expenses clearly

• Get paid by clients who require a business account

• Stay audit-proof at tax time

• Look more legit to lenders and customers
  

And yes—bank fees are a deductible expense.

One of the biggest perks of running a business?

Write-offs. Here’s a list of common business expenses you may be able to deduct:

• Rent and utilities (including home office use)

• Website hosting, domain, and design

• Marketing and advertising

• Office supplies and equipment

• Professional fees (accountants, lawyers)

• Software subscriptions (QuickBooks, Canva, Adobe, etc.)

• Business insurance

• Travel, meals, and vehicle costs (if used for business)

• Cell phone and internet (business portion only)

• Banking and transaction fees

Pro Tip: Keep good records—receipts, invoices, and a spreadsheet (or use accounting software).

With Launch a Business, most registrations are processed within 1 business day. You’ll get digital copies of your registration and BIN sent straight to your inbox.

Need it even faster? Rush service is available—just let us know.

Yes! There’s no limit to how many businesses you can register in Ontario. Each business name gets its own registration and BIN.

Want to test out different business ideas or brands? You can register multiple names!

No worries—we’re here to help. Whether you're just starting out or you've got a million questions, Launch a Business makes it simple to register, renew, or restructure your Ontario business with confidence.

Book a free consult, give us a call, or shoot us an email—we’ll walk you through it, no pressure. Our team is here to help you get it right the first time so you can focus on growing your dream, not decoding red tape.

Business Name Registrations are valid for 5 years from the date you register. If you don’t want to keep it active after 5 years, you can just let it expire and it will become inactive. But, if you want to close it before the 5 years is up, you need to file a cancellation. This is filed to cancel a Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, or Tradename under a corporation.

A small business registration will stay active for 5 years after it’s registered so if you are no longer using it, you want to make sure it’s cancelled and showing as ‘inactive’. If you have any accounts with the Canada Revenue Agency, you will want to make sure those are also closed. This can include an HST number, Payroll account, etc. These are not automatically closed if you cancel or dissolve your business, and the CRA will continue expecting filings from you if these accounts stay open.

You can search for a business anywhere across Canada using the business name or registration number. A common search is an entity profile report, which can be pulled for incorporated companies or small businesses. For numbered corporations, you can search using the corporate number.

The following details can be found in a business search:

* Legal name

* Business address

* Directors or owners, including addresses

* Business status (active/cancelled/dissolved/expired)

* Registration or incorporation date

* Active or inactive tradenames

* Filings and submission dates