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Registering a business most often refers to registering
a business name. In Ontario, it is a legal requirement to
register your business name, if you are operating a sole
proprietorship (1 owner) or partnership (more
than 1 owner), under a business name other than your exact
legal name.
There are 5 ways to register your business name:
i) from the Internet with Dye & Durham via
the Entrepreneurship Centre Web site: www.entrepreneurship.com
(At the top of any page at our Web site, click on the “Quick
Links” menu and select “Business Name Registration”.)
Registering via Dye & Durham costs $93.92 Delivery of
the Master Business Licence is guaranteed next business
day by courier. The cost of registration plus a name search
is $122. Payment is by credit card only.
ii) from the Internet via the Ontario Ministry
of Government Services:
www.cbs.gov.on.ca/obc
Registration requires Netscape Communicator 4.08 or higher,
or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher. Immediate registration
(you can print off from your computer) if done between the
hours of operation 8:30am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, for
a fee of $60.00 payable by credit card (Visa, Mastercard
or American Express). If registration is completed during
regular business hours a Master Business License is printed
off from your computer right away followed by an electronic
saveable copy which can then be printed off when needed)
within 2 business days if a valid email address is provided.
If no email address is provided a copy will be mailed to
you within 10 business days. If done outside the hours of
operation or on statutory holidays or Remembrance Day, allow
up to 2 weeks for delivery of the Master Business License.
A name search can also be done online for a fee of $8.00.
iii) from the Internet via the Canada Customs and
Revenue Agency: www.businessregistration.gc.ca
Registration requires Netscape Communicator 4.x or higher
(but not 6.0), or Internet Explorer version 4.x or higher
(version 5.5 may require a service pack). Registration takes
about 30 minutes and costs $60 (payment by credit card only).
Name searches are not available with this method of registration.
As well as registering or renewing a business name, you
can also from this site register for:
· Ontario Retail Sales Tax
· Ontario Employer Health Tax
· Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
iv) from an OBC (Ontario Business
Connects) computer terminal
For a list of local OBC computer locations see our “Business
Key Contacts” stencil. Registering at an OBC computer
takes about 30 minutes and costs $60. Searches of sole proprietorship,
general partnership and corporate trade style names are
available at the workstations for $8 per name.
v) by mail
Mail registration requires “Form 1" (Registration
under the Business names Act - Sole Proprietorship/Partnership),
takes 2-4 weeks and costs $80. This form is available at
the Entrepreneurship Centre or Service Ontario in City Hall
or online at: www.cbs.gov.on.ca/obc/english/4TNQ5J.htm.
Registering a business name does not give you exclusive
rights to the use of that name. You can conduct a name
search of existing sole proprietorships and partnerships
in Ontario to avoid duplication. However, a name search
is optional, since sole proprietorship and partnership
names are not protected. To protect a business name
you must incorporate or apply for a trademark.
Related information on registering a business name or partnership
is available at the Canada-Ontario
Business Service Centre Web site.
There are many advantages and disadvantages associated
with various methods of business registration. More information
on proprietorships, partnerships and incorporating is available
at the Canada Business Service Centre Web site:
Incorporation is another form of business registration.
You must incorporate if you want to operate your business
as a corporation (a separate legal entity). You can incorporate
provincially or federally. If you want to name your
corporation, you must conduct a NUANS name search to verify
whether the name is available.
Corporate names are protected. To conduct a NUANS
search, contact a search company (under "Searches of
Records" in the Yellow Pages) or visit a Web site like
http://www.nuans.com
or http://www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca/forms/biz-nuans.asp
There is a cost associated with this service.
Provincial incorporation costs $360 plus
the cost of forms (available at the Entrepreneurship Centre
for $21.95 + GST, or print them from http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/4VWQQC.htm).
The forms can be filed at the Provincial Courthouse (Land
Registry Office). You can also incorporate on-line through
Oncorp or Cyberbahn.
The cost for on-line filing is $300, plus the service
provider's fee. Payment can be made by credit card or by
setting up an account. More related information is available
in the Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre's document
7011 .
Federal incorporation costs $250 if filing
at Industry Canada's Corporations
Directorate and $200 if filing via the Internet
from the
Corporations Directorate Electronic Filing Centre. More
related information is available in the Canada-Ontario Business
Service Centre's document
1168 and in the Corporations Directorate's
Small Business Guide to Federal Incorporation.
If you aren't sure whether to operate as a sole proprietorship/partnership
or a corporation, consult a lawyer and an accountant. Each
operating structure has different legal and tax implications.
The Entrepreneurship Centre offers 30-minute legal
consultations and accounting
consultations for a $25 administration fee.
For more information on business structure and name registration,
please consult t | 
