How to Check if a Company is in Good Standing in Canada
- Natalie Paquette
- Dec 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Before you sign a contract, invest, or start a partnership, it’s important to make sure the company you’re dealing with is in good standing. In Canada, this means the business is legally recognized, up to date with filings, and authorized to operate.
Here’s what you need to know about checking a company’s status — and the easiest way to get official confirmation.
What "Good Standing" Means?
A company that’s in good standing has:
Filed all required annual returns or corporate updates
Paid any fees to maintain registration or incorporation
Not been dissolved, cancelled, or suspended
If a company falls out of good standing, it usually means filings or payments are overdue. While it doesn’t always mean the business is inactive, it can signal potential risks when doing business.
Understanding "Home Jurisdiction"
Where to start your search depends on where the company is incorporated. This is called its home jurisdiction, and it determines which registry can issue an official document verifying good standing.
Federal Corporations: Their “home jurisdiction” is Corporations Canada, even if they’re also registered in a province like Ontario, Manitoba, or British Columbia. Only Corporations Canada can provide an official Certificate of Compliance.
Provincial Corporations: For example, an Ontario corporation’s home jurisdiction is the Ontario Business Registry (OBR). Only the OBR can issue a Certificate of Status, verifying that the business is in good standing.
In other words, the registry where the company was originally incorporated is the only place to get the official confirmation. And, depending on where you’re getting this certificate, what it is called will be different - either Certificate of Status, Certificate of Good Standing, or Certificate of Compliance.
How to Check a Company's Statusy-Step: How to Request a Corporate Search in Ontario
You can look up a company’s status yourself using federal or provincial registries. Typically, these searches will tell you if the business is active, inactive, dissolved, or suspended. Some registries even let you order a Certificate of Status directly online.
However, navigating these systems can be tricky:
The forms and fees vary depending on the province or federal registry
Different registries have slightly different processes for issuing official certificates
Mistakes in the application can delay the process
In most cases, you’ll need to register an account, verify your identity, or put a credit card on file
The Easiest Way: Launch a Business
Here’s where Launch a Business comes in. We make it simple and stress-free to:
Confirm if a company is in good standing anywhere in Canada
Request a Certificate of Status or Certificate of Compliance
Handle all the paperwork so you don’t have to figure out multiple registry systems
Send it directly to your email as quickly as it can be obtained
No need to guess which registry to contact or worry about filing errors — we’ll make sure you get official confirmation quickly.
Why It Matters
Verifying good standing protects you from:
Doing business with a dissolved or inactive company
Legal or financial complications
Delays in contracts, investments, or partnerships
It’s a small step that can save big headaches.
Get Official Confirmation Fast
Save time and get peace of mind by letting Launch a Business handle your corporate search and certificate request. We’ll make sure your business or partner’s business is officially verified, fast and hassle-free.
Contact us today to confirm a company’s good standing in Canada.
Ready to request a corporate search? Visit our Corporate Searches page to get started today. And, if you are unsure about which search you might need, give us a call or book a quick consult so we can help explain the differences between these searches.