An operating trade name registration is a registration by an incorporated company pursuant to which the company carries on business under a name other than its corporate name.

Examples of Names  Which a Company Should Register as a Trade Name

If a company wishes to conduct business under a name other than its corporate name this name must be registered in the province in which the company is carrying on business using that name.  Below are some examples of what operating trade names are.

EXAMPLE #1

2225522 Ontario Limited, carrying on business under the name “Joe’s Dry Cleaning”.  When the company puts the sign above its door which says “Joe’s Dry Cleaning” it is operating under a name other than its corporate name.

EXAMPLE #2

Greenspot Landscaping Inc. carrying on business under the name “Greenspot Landscaping”.  If a company wishes to carry on business under part of its registered corporate name it must still register a trade name for that operating name.

Pre-Clearing the Proposed Name before You Register a Trade Name

Most provinces will require that the proposed name of an operating trade name be pre-cleared and either a NUANS or a name search report will be required.  As part of the procedure for pre-clearing the name a preliminary name search will be done by Resources for Canadian Business Owners prior to requesting government approval of the name.  This will help to weed out any very similar conflicting names already registered and provide you with a higher chance at government approval once the name search report is submitted.

Can a Company Register a Trade Name for a Number of Different Businesses under the Same Company

A company can register any number of business names.  It may want to have a “gardening division”, a “landscaping division” or a “snow blowing division” and may wish to register separate names for each division and track the profits from each division separately or combine them all.