NUANS Search Ontario

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To place your order, please call 416-239-1361 or email david@businessregistration.ca to place your order.

A NUANS search Ontario report is required to register your business in Ontario. The report:

Reserves your corporate name for 90 days;
Identifies similar company names; and
Identifies similar trademarks.

Buy a NUANS search Ontario report for $39.99 from us. Please use the form located above:

select a legal ending
enter your corporate name,
securely pay $39.99 for the NUANS report with your Visa, MasterCards, Amex Card or PayPal account by adding the product to your cart and checking out.
The NUANS search is valid for 90-days and it reserves your proposed corporate name.
The Ontario Government will not sell you this report. They will refer you to a Nuans search house.
BusinessRegistration.ca is a Nuans search house with more than 22 years of experience.

We recommend that you order a NUANS Preliminary Search, to determine if there are any potential conflicts before ordering an official NUANS report.

Click to open a sample Ontario Nuans report

Your Nuans report will arrive in your email account as an attached .pdf file and they are usually delivered within 3 hours or less.

Corporate Name Guidelines:

As a general rule, short corporate names are better than long corporate names. The name of a corporation shall not exceed 120 characters in length, including punctuation marks and spaces. O. Reg. 246/05, s. 4., O. Reg. 248/05, s. 4.

Restrictions on corporate name

10 (1) The word “Limited”, “Limitée”, “Incorporated”, “Incorporée” or “Corporation” or the corresponding abbreviations “Ltd.”, “Ltée”, “Inc.” or “Corp.” shall be part, in addition to any use in a figurative or descriptive sense, of the name of every corporation, but a corporation may be legally designated by either the full or the abbreviated form. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, OBCA s. 10 (1)

Languages

(2) Subject to this Act and the regulations, a corporation may have a name that is,

(a) English only;

(b) French only;

(d) one name in English and one name in French that are equivalent but are used separately. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 8, s. 1 (1).

Same

(2.1) A corporation that has a name described in clause (2) (d) may be legally designated by its English name or its French name. 2010, c. 16, Sched. 8, s. 1 (2).

Other restrictions

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), only letters from the Roman alphabet or Arabic numerals or a combination thereof, together with such punctuation marks and other marks as are permitted by regulation, may form part of the name of a corporation. R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16, s. 10 (3).

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90b16#BK16

O. Reg. 398/21: NAMES AND FILINGS

For the purposes of subsection 10 (3) of the Act, the following punctuation marks and other marks are the only ones permitted as part of the name of a corporation:

! “ ” « » # $ % & ’ ( ) * + , – . / \ : ; < = > ? [ ] ¸ ´ ` ^ ¨ @

under Business Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. B.16

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/210398

Business Corporations Act

R.R.O. 1990, REGULATION 62: GENERAL

Consolidation Period: From January 1, 2017 to the e-Laws currency date.

Last amendment: O. Reg. 371/16.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

Names

In this Regulation,

“trademark” means a trademark as defined in the Trademarks Act (Canada). R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 1.

(1) “Name” when used in the expression “if the use of that name would be likely to deceive” used in clause 9 (1) (b) of the Act includes,

(a) a name that would lead to the inference that the business or activities carried on or intended to be carried on by the corporation under the proposed name and the business or activities carried on by any other person are one business or one activity, whether or not the nature of the business or activity of each is generally the same;

(b) a name that would lead to the inference that the corporation bearing the name or proposed name is or would be associated or affiliated with a person if the corporation and such person are not or will not be associated or affiliated; or

(c) a name whose similarity to the name of a person would lead someone who has an interest in dealing with that person, to deal with the corporation bearing the name in the mistaken belief that they are dealing with the person. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 2 (1).

(2) In this section,

“person” means a person, whether in existence or not;

“use” means actual use by a person that carries on business in Canada or elsewhere. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 2 (2).

For the purpose of section 12 of the Act, the matters the Director may consider when determining whether a name is contrary to section 9 of the Act include,

(a) the distinctiveness of the whole or any element of any name or trademark and the extent to which the name or trade-mark has become known;

(b) the length of time the trademark or name has been in use;

(c) the nature of the goods or services associated with the trademark or the nature of the business carried on under or associated with a name, including the likelihood of any competition among businesses using such a trade-mark or name;

(d) the nature of the trade with which a trade-mark or name is associated, including the nature of the goods or services and the means by which they are offered or distributed;

(e) the degree of similarity between the corporate name and any trade-mark or name in appearance or sound or in the ideas suggested by them; and

(f) the geographic area in Ontario in which the corporate name is likely to be used. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 3.

A corporation may have a name similar to that of another body corporate where the corporation is not or will not be affiliated with the body corporate if,

(a) that corporate name relates to a corporation that is the successor to the business of the body corporate and the body corporate has ceased or will cease to carry on business under that name; or

(b) the body corporate undertakes in writing to dissolve forthwith or to change its name before the corporation proposing to use the name commences to use it,

and the corporate name sets out in numerals the year of acquisition of the name in parentheses, words, numerals, or initials are added, deleted or substituted, as the case may be, or the name is varied by substituting one of the legal elements required under subsection 10 (1) of the Act or their corresponding abbreviations. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 4.

A corporation may have a name similar to that of another body corporate where the corporation is affiliated with that body corporate. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 5.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and section 10, no corporation may acquire a name identical to the name or former name of another body corporate, whether in existence or not, unless,

(a) the body corporate was incorporated under the laws of a jurisdiction outside Ontario and has never carried on any activities or identified itself in Ontario; or

(b) at least ten years have elapsed since the body corporate was dissolved or changed its name. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 1.

(2) A corporation may acquire a name identical to that of another corporation if a person who is authorized to practice law in Ontario provides a legal opinion stating that,

(a) neither corporation is an offering corporation;

(b) the corporations are affiliated or associated with one another or are controlled by related persons;

(d) the other corporation has been dissolved or has changed its name. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 1; O. Reg. 59/07, s. 1.

For the purpose of acquisition of a name, the addition or deletion of punctuation marks or other symbols does not make a name different but a name is not identical for the purpose of section 6 if words, numerals or initials are added, deleted or substituted or the legal element of the name is varied by substituting one of the other legal elements required under subsection 10 (1) of the Act or their corresponding abbreviations. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 2.

7.1 (1) Subsequent to incorporation, the current corporate name set out in the articles or other documents sent to the Director under the Act shall be identical to,

(a) the name set out in the certificate of incorporation if the name has not been changed; or

(b) the name set out in the most recent certificate changing the name otherwise. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 2.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), a name is not identical if there is any variation in spacing or punctuation marks or other marks. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 2.

A corporation may have a name similar to that of a known,

(a) trust;

(b) association;

(d) sole proprietorship,

or a known name under which any of them carries on business or identifies itself if,

(e) the corporate name relates to a proposed corporation that is the successor to the business carried on under the name and the user of the name has ceased or will cease to carry on business under the name; or

(f) the known trust, association, partnership or sole proprietor undertakes in writing to dissolve forthwith or to change its name before the corporation proposing to use the name commences to use it. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 8.

A corporate name containing a word that is the same as or similar to the distinctive element of a trademark or name of another body corporate shall not for that reason alone be prohibited if,

(a) the body corporate consents to the use of the name; and

(b) the corporate name contains additional words or expressions to differentiate it from the body corporate and other users of the trademark or name. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 9.

The name of a corporation formed by the amalgamation of two or more corporations may be identical to the name of one of its amalgamating corporations, if the name is not a number name. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 3.
(1) A corporate name shall not be,

(a) too general;

(b) only descriptive, in any language, of the quality, function or other characteristics of the goods or services in which the corporation deals or intends to deal;

(c) primarily or only the name or surname of an individual who is living or has died within thirty years preceding the date of filing the articles; or

(d) primarily or only a geographic name used alone,

unless the proposed corporate name has been in continuous use for at least twenty years prior to the date of filing the articles or the proposed corporate name has through use acquired a meaning which renders the name distinctive. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 11 (1).

(2) A corporate name shall not be primarily or only a combination of punctuation marks or other marks that are permitted under section 20 and the first character of the name shall be a letter of the Roman alphabet or an Arabic numeral. O. Reg. 246/05, s. 1.

(1) A corporate name shall not contain a word or expression, an element of which is the family name of an individual whether or not preceded by his or her given name or initials, unless the individual or his or her heir, executor, administrator, assigns or guardian consents in writing to the use of the name and the individual has, had or will have a material interest in the business. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 12 (1).

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where the corporation that will use the proposed name is the successor or affiliate of a person other than an individual that has as an element of its name, the family name, where,

(a) the person consents in writing to the use of the name;

(b) if the proposed name would contravene clause 9 (1) (b) of the Act, the person undertakes in writing to dissolve forthwith or change its name to some other name that complies with clause 9 (1) (b) of the Act before the corporation proposing to use the name commences to use it; and

No word or expression in any language, that is obscene or connotes a business that is scandalous, obscene or immoral or that is otherwise objectionable on public grounds, shall be used in a corporate name. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 13.
No word, expression or abbreviation, the use of which is prohibited or restricted under an Act or Regulation of the Parliament of Canada or a province or territory of Canada, unless the restriction is satisfied, shall be used in a corporate name. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 14.
The following words and expressions shall not be used in a corporate name:
“Amalgamated”, “fusionné” or any other related word or expression in French, unless the corporation is an amalgamated corporation resulting from the amalgamation of two or more corporations.
“Architect”, “architecte”, “architectural”, “d’architecture” or any variation thereof, where such word suggests the practice of the profession, except with the written consent of the Council of the Ontario Association of Architects.
“Association”.
Revoked: O. Reg. 190/99, s. 1.
“College”, “collège”, “institute”, “institut”, “university” or “université” if the word would lead to the inference that the corporation is a university, college of applied arts and technology or other post-secondary educational institution.
“Condominium”, “condominial” or any abbreviation or derivation thereof, if the word would lead to the inference that the corporation is a condominium corporation created or continued under the Condominium Act, 1998.
“Co-operative”, “coopérative” or any abbreviation or derivation thereof.
“Council” or “conseil”.
Digits or words that would lead to the inference that the name is a number name.
“Engineer”, “ingénieur”, “engineering”, “génie”, “ingénierie” or any variation thereof, where such word suggests the practice of the profession, except with the written consent of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario.
Revoked: O. Reg. 246/05, s. 2.
“Veteran”, “ancien combattant” or any abbreviation or derivation thereof unless there has been continuous use of the name for a period of at least twenty years prior to the acquisition of the name.
Numerals indicating the year of incorporation unless section 4 applies or it is a year of amalgamation of the corporation.
Any word or expression that would lead to the inference that the corporation is not a business corporation to which the Act applies. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 15; O. Reg. 627/93, s. 4; O. Reg. 190/99, s. 1; O. Reg. 246/05, s. 2; O. Reg. 371/16, s. 1.
(1) No word or expression that suggests that a corporation,

(a) is connected with the Crown or the Government of Canada, a municipality, any province or territory of Canada or any department, Ministry, branch, bureau, service, board, agency, commission or activity of any such government or municipality;

(b) is sponsored or controlled by or is associated or affiliated with a university or an association of accountants, architects, engineers, lawyers, physicians, surgeons or any other professional association recognized by the laws of Canada or a province or territory of Canada; or

(c) carries on the business of a bank, loan company, insurance company, trust company, other financial intermediary or a stock exchange that is regulated by a law of Canada or a province or territory of Canada,

shall be used in a corporate name without the consent in writing of the appropriate authority, university or professional association, as the case may be. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 16 (1).

(2) No word or expression that suggests that a corporation is connected with a political party or leader of a political party, where the purpose for which the corporation is incorporated is of a political nature, shall be used in a corporate name. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 16 (2).

No word or expression that misdescribes, in any language,

(a) the business, goods or services in association with which the corporate name is proposed to be used;

(b) the conditions under which goods or services will be produced or supplied or the persons to be employed in the production or supply of these goods or services; or

shall be used in a corporate name. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 17.

(1) The following documents shall accompany any articles containing a proposed name for a corporation or a change of corporate name:
An Ontario biased or weighted computer printed search report for the proposed name from the NUANS automated name search system maintained by the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Canada dated not more than ninety days prior to the submission of the articles.
Any consent or consent and undertaking required under the Act or this Regulation and, if applicable, in the Form prescribed. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 18 (1); O. Reg. 59/07, s. 2 (1).

(1.1) Despite paragraph 1 of subsection 18 (1), if articles containing a proposed name for a corporation are filed with the Director electronically under section 24.1, they shall be accompanied by the NUANS report reference number, the date of the report and the proposed name searched, and not the report itself. O. Reg. 288/00, s. 1 (1).

(2) If a proposed name is in an English form and a French form, separate computer-printed search reports shall be provided for the English form and the French form of the name, unless the English and French forms of the name are identical and the legal element required under subsection 10 (1) of the Act that is used in the French form of the name is the French version of the legal element used in the English form of the name. O. Reg. 59/07, s. 2 (2).

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply to an application for revival under section 241 of the Act if the articles change the name of the corporation or at least 10 years have elapsed since the corporation was dissolved. O. Reg. 400/95, s. 1.

(4) No name that is identified in a computer printed search report as proposed or otherwise where a computer printed search report is not submitted shall be used as a corporate name by a person other than the one who proposed the name unless a consent in writing has been obtained from the person who first proposed the name. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 5; O. Reg. 288/00, s. 1 (2).

Revoked: O. Reg. 400/95, s. 2.
For the purposes of subsection 10 (3) of the Act, the following punctuation marks and other marks are the only ones permitted as part of the name of a corporation:

! “ ” « » # $ % & ’ ( ) * + , – . / \ : ; < = > ? [ ] ¸ ´ ` ^ ¨ @

Reg. 627/93, s. 6; O. Reg. 246/05, s. 3.
(1) The name of a corporation shall not exceed 120 characters in length, including punctuation marks and spaces. O. Reg. 246/05, s. 4.

(2) The name of a corporation shall be set out in articles or applications filed with the Director in block capital letters and with only one space between each word. O. Reg. 246/05, s. 4.

A name set out in the articles pursuant to subsection 10 (4) of the Act shall be a direct translation of the corporate name but changes may be made to ensure that the name is idiomatically correct. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 62, s. 22.

22.1 If articles set out an English form and a French form for a name of a corporation, the “/” mark shall separate the two forms of the name. O. Reg. 627/93, s. 7.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900062

Logos and domain names look better with shorter company names. Consider a name less than 15 characters, including spaces.

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Corporate Name Guidelines: