Corporate Name Search

Last Updated February 3, 2024

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A Business Name Search allows you to check the availability of a potential name for your business across Canada, or in a specific province or territory. Performing a search before you select a final name is the best way to avoid trying to register a name that isn’t available.

With LawDepot, you can conduct Preliminary and Official Searches. Depending on the province or territory, an Official Search will either be completed through a NUANS report or a provincial name reservation.

A NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) report is a special type of name search for Canadian businesses and trademarks. It searches corporate registries across Canada and ensures that a proposed corporate name is not already in use. This search is necessary for registering a named corporation, as mandated by provincial and federal governments.

Getting a NUANS report doesn’t guarantee that your name will be approved with the relevant provincial or federal registry. However, it makes the name approval process substantially faster and more straightforward, as you’ve done your due diligence to make sure your proposed name doesn’t violate someone else’s intellectual property.

Purchase a NUANS report through LawDepot by selecting Official Search. Official Searches are currently available for:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Prince Edward Island

Additionally, we also offer Official Searches at a federal level, which can be used when incorporating a federal company. 

A NUANS Report is also known as a:

• NUANS search
• NUANS name search
• NUANS name report 
• Corporate name search
• Provincial name report 
• Provincial name reservation

Along with Official Searches, LawDepot offers Preliminary Searches in all Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec. 

A Preliminary Search is less expensive than an Official Search and is a great option to use when attempting to narrow down a list of names. However, it is less accurate, and the results cannot be used when incorporating.

Not sure whether you need a Preliminary Search or an Official Search? Here are some key points to keep in mind: 

A NUANS report is required for any application to incorporate a named corporation provincially in these Canadian provinces:

• Alberta
• Ontario
• New Brunswick 
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

NUANS reports are not required to incorporate numbered corporations. 

Several Canadian provinces do not specifically require NUANS reports. Instead, as we’ve already covered above, you can use our Official Search service to obtain a provincial name reservation of your proposed name. 

A provincial name reservation through our Official Search is available in these Canadian provinces:

• British Columbia
• Saskatchewan

Federal searches are also available through LawDepot’s Official Search.

Even if your jurisdiction does not require a NUANS report, it is advisable to obtain one anyway. Searching your business name before starting the incorporation process has many advantages, including saving money on corporate registry fees and marketing materials if your proposed name is unavailable. It can also help protect you from any legal liabilities that could arise from using a name that is already registered.

In addition to incorporating your business, Business Name Searches can also be used for:

• Changing a business’s name
• Registering your business, trademark, or franchise
• Complying with federal and provincial requirements

Generally, NUANS reports are valid for 90 days. If you would like to reserve your name for a longer period, you will need to request a new NUANS report after your first report expires. 

Provincial name reservations may be valid for a different time period than a NUANS report. For example, a BC name reservation is valid for 56 days. Check with your province’s corporate registry for specific expiry periods.

Once you purchase a Preliminary or Official Search, we will receive your submitted business name(s) and quickly begin processing your order. Depending on the jurisdiction, you will receive your completed NUANS report in 1-7 business days.

As mentioned above, LawDepot offers two types of corporate name searches, with two different prices. 

LawDepot’s Preliminary Searches cost $9.99, no matter which province or jurisdiction you are searching in.

The cost of an Official Search depends on the region. Here’s a full cost breakdown of Official Searches:

Related Documents:

• Federal Incorporation: Create and file the legal paperwork required to form a corporation in Canada.
• Alberta Incorporation: Create and file the legal paperwork required to form a corporation in Alberta.
• British Columbia Incorporation: Create and file the legal paperwork required to form a corporation in British Columbia.
• Ontario Incorporation: Create and file the legal paperwork required to form a corporation in Ontario.
• Saskatchewan Incorporation: Create and file the legal paperwork required to form a corporation in Saskatchewan.
• Corporate Bylaws: Set rules that govern the internal management of a corporation.
• Company Articles (BC): Set rules that govern the internal management of a British Columbia corporation.
• Corporate Supplies: Build a custom minute book, share certificate, or corporate seal for your company.