ontario.ca Business Name Registration : Ministry of Economic Development and Growth

Name of the Organization : Ministry of Economic Development and Growth Ontario
Type of Facility : Business Name Registration
Province : Ontario
Country : Canada

Website : https://www.ontario.ca/page/business-name-registration

Business Name Registration :

When to register :
** The name of a new business must be registered if it’s different than the business-owner’s legal name.

Related : Ontario Ministry of Transportation How to Register & Insure a Vehicle : www.statusin.org/25793.html

** The registration is valid for 5 years.
** Then it must be renewed.
** It’s up to you to keep your registration up to date.
** This means renewing it before the end of the 5-year period, and knowing when you have to register again.
** If you change your business name or type (for example, from a general partnership to a sole proprietorship), this requires a new registration.

What registration gets you :
** You’ll receive a Master Business Licence (MBL), which you can use as proof of business name registration at financial institutions and in business transactions with the Ontario government.

Before you register :
** Before you register a new business name, or when changing the name/type of a business, you can search existing registrations to see if the name of your business is already being used by another business.
** Make sure you have a valid email address and credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express).
** It’s the only way to pay to search existing registrations, as well as registering or renewing a business name, online.

Costs :
The costs are :
** $8-$26 depending on the types of records you want to include in your search
** $60 to register
** $60 to renew

Search, register and renew online :
** Search, register and renew online using a single simple tool.

** You can register and renew a business name anytime, day or night, but the search tool – the Enhanced Business Name Search – is only available Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 6 pm. Excluding holidays.

Documents you’ll receive :
** Along with your Master Business Licence, you’ll also receive a Profile Summary, receipt of payment and/or the Enhanced Business Names Report.
** It is suggested that you provide an email address so you can receive an electronic Master Business Licence.
** Search results are produced immediately and will be available on screen if you wish to print them.

Online service guarantee :
** ServiceOntario guarantees you’ll receive the Master Business Licence within two (2) business days.
** If it doesn’t arrive in this time, you may request a refund.

Register or renew by mail :
Register or renew a business name by mail for a :
** sole-proprietorship/partnership
** corporation

Mail your registration or renewal to :
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Central Production and Verification Services Branch
393 University Avenue, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5G 2M2
** Your new Master Business Licence will be mailed back to you in 20 business days.
** A renewed licence will be mailed back to you in 10 days.

Cost :
** The cost is $80 for a new registration or renewal, paid by cheque or money order made out to the Minister of Finance.

Register or renew in person :
** You can drop off completed hard-copy forms for a sole-proprietorship/partnership or corporation at the following address

Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Central Production and Verifications Branch
375 University Avenue, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 2M2

** This location is the only one that accepts in-person paper registrations and renewals.
** The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm, except holidays.

Cost :
** The cost is $80 for a new registration or renewal. You can pay by cash, debit, cheque and money order (made out to the Minister of Finance) or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express).