Under Ontario’s Business Names Act, you must register your business name with the Province if you are operating a business under a name other than the legal name of the owner of the business. Registration applies to:
- Sole proprietorships who are operating a business that is different from the owner’s name
- Partnerships (except for partnerships operating under the Limited Partnerships Act)
- Corporations who are doing business under a different name than their corporate name
Registration provides you with a Master Business License that lasts for five years at a cost of $60.00. You can register your business through Service Ontario in any of the following ways:
| Registration Method | Details | Payment Method |
|---|---|---|
| Online | www.serviceontario.ca. Registration is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. | Credit card |
| At the Small Business Enterprise Centre office via appointment | The Small Business Enterprise Centre has a dedicated computer with internet access located in our office in Collingwood available for business registration. One of our business consultants can guide you through the registration process and assist with any questions. This service is available by appointment Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Credit card |
| In person | You can complete the Business Registration in person at a Service Ontario location. The closest Service Ontario office that provides assistance with Business Registration is in Barrie at: 34 Simcoe Street Unit 102 Barrie, ON L4N 6T4 The cost is $60.00 |
Cheque, Debit or Credit Card |
| By mail | Obtain a form from the Service Ontario website or at the Service Ontario Counter. Complete the form and mail to: Ministry of Government Services Central Production and Verification Services Branch 393 University Avenue, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M2 The cost is $80.00 and takes 4-6 weeks to receive your Master Business License |
Cheque or Credit Card |
You can also conduct a name search on the Service Ontario website to determine if there any business operating with the same or similar name you have chosen. The cost for the Service Ontario name search is between $8 and $26 to search business names, depending on type of report. The search is conducted on non-incorporated businesses only.
The Small Business Enterprise Centre also recommends conducting a Google search on your businesses name as a domain name search. For additional information visit the Naming Your Business page.