The registrant of a business name who has suffered damages because someone else has registered the same name or one that is deceptively similar can take legal action through the courts. The Business Names Act entitles you to recover compensation for damages suffered and provides for a court order cancelling the registration that was the […]
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Amending or cancelling an Ontario Business Name registration
To ensure the Public Record is accurate, you must notify the Central Production and Verification Services Branch when the information in your registration has changed. Changes in address, business activity or partners (as long as one of the original partners remains the same), must be filed on the Ministry form within 15 days after the […]
Registration expiry/renewal of Business Names in Ontario
A business name registration is effective for five years. To continue using the name it must be renewed before the expiry date set out on the registration, and a renewal fee must be paid. It is the registrant’s responsibility to keep the information on the registration up to date and to renew the registration on […]
Checking to see if another business is already using the business name
Before making a final decision on your business name and ordering business cards or stationery you will want to know if someone else is already using the name. A search of the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch records will determine whether another Ontario business is using the name you have selected and where that […]
Ontario Master Business Licence (MBL)
When registering a business name, you will be issued an MBL, which shows the registration and expiry dates as well as the Business Identification Number (BIN). The MBL can be used as one of the proofs of business name registration at financial institutions and to facilitate any other business-related registration with the Ontario government. When […]
Where can I register a business name and obtain a Master Business Licence?
Ontario.ca provides access to the government’s electronic services that simplify and streamline registration, renewal and reporting processes for Ontario businesses. New entrepreneurs and existing corporations can electronically complete the most important applications to register their business at one location, including applications for Business Name Registration, Retail Sales Tax Vendor Permit, Employer Health Tax and Workplace […]
Who must register under the Business Names Act?
The Ontario Business Names Act administered by the Central Production and Verification Services Branch applies to: sole proprietorships (one owner) carrying on business under a name other than the individual’s full name; partnerships carrying on business under a firm name other than the full names of the partners; corporations carrying on business under a name […]
Registering your business name in Ontario
Business names are registered with the Central Production and Verification Services Branch (CPVSB) of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) and are placed on the Public Record maintained by CPVSB for public disclosure. Anyone may search business name information contained on the Public Record for a fee to find the owners or principals […]
Tax Residency for Business Entities in British Columbia
A corporation will generally be considered resident in Canada for tax purposes if either it was incorporated in or continued into Canada or its central management is situated in Canada. An applicable tax treaty will also be considered when determining residency. Tax Rates for Business Entities Income Tax. A corporation resident in Canada must pay […]
Business Entities in British Columbia
The most common form of business vehicle used in British Columbia is the corporation. Corporations can be incorporated under the provincial Business Corporations Act. However, corporations can also be incorporated federally under the Canada Business Corporations Act. The provincial Business Corporations Act was recently updated and provide considerable flexibility over the Canada Business Corporations Act […]
