Name Search & Reporting
Know your name is clear, before you file.
A Master Business License is Ontario’s official registration for anyone operating under a name other than their own — sole proprietors, trade names, and general partnerships. It’s the fastest, lowest-cost way to legally open a bank account and start invoicing under your business name, without incorporating.
registration types
- Official, registry-accepted NUANS reports
- Instant reports available, most within minutes
- Human review to flag likely conflicts before you file
The right name check for every stage of filing.
From a quick pre-search while you’re still deciding on a name, to the official report a registry requires with your articles — we cover the full name clearance process.
NUANS Report
Name Pre-Approval
Reserve and pre-clear your proposed corporate name with the registry before you file your articles.
NUANS Pre-Search
A preliminary search to test a name idea for conflicts before ordering the full official report.
Instant NUANS Report
Get your official NUANS report delivered within minutes, for when your filing can’t wait.
From proposed name to registry-ready report.
Choose your name
Give us one or more proposed corporate names in order of preference.
We search the database
Checked against existing corporate names, trademarks and business names nationwide.
Report generated
A ranked list of similar names is produced, showing how closely each matches yours.
Ready to file
Delivered in the format your registry requires, valid for 90 days from the search date.
A name conflict is the single biggest cause of rejected incorporations.
Federal and most provincial registries require a valid NUANS report submitted alongside your articles of incorporation.
A rejected filing due to a name conflict means starting the process over — a pre-search catches this before you pay government fees.
90-day expiry
Most NUANS reports are only valid for 90 days from the search date, so timing your filing matters.
Minutes, not days
Instant reports are typically delivered within minutes of your request.
Every jurisdiction
NUANS reports are accepted federally and by every Canadian province except Quebec, which uses its own registry search.
What each name search product covers.
NUANS Report
A NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) report is the official document most federal and provincial registries require before they’ll approve a corporate name. It searches a national database of existing corporate names, business names and trademarks, and ranks the closest matches to your proposed name so a registry examiner can assess conflicts.
- Official report accepted by federal and most provincial registries
- Searches corporate names, business names and registered trademarks nationwide
- Valid for 90 days from the date of the search
Name Pre-Approval
If you want certainty before committing to a name — especially for a professional corporation, non-profit, or a name close to an existing brand — a name pre-approval gets formal sign-off from the registry ahead of your full incorporation filing. This avoids finding out about a rejection after your other documents are already prepared.
- Gets formal registry sign-off on your name before you file
- Recommended for names close to existing brands or professional corporations
- Reduces the risk of a rejected incorporation later
NUANS Pre-Search
- A quick, low-cost gut check on a proposed name
- Not a substitute for the official report a registry requires
- Ideal for comparing a shortlist of name ideas
Instant NUANS Report
When your incorporation timeline is tight, an instant NUANS report is generated automatically and typically delivered within minutes rather than the standard processing window. It’s the same official, registry-accepted report — just prioritized for speed.
- Same official report, delivered in minutes instead of longer standard processing
- Ideal when your incorporation filing is time-sensitive
- Accepted anywhere a standard NUANS report is required
NUANS reports, explained.
Do I need a NUANS report for every type of incorporation?
Most standard, non-profit and professional corporation filings require one federally and in most provinces. A few jurisdictions, like Quebec, use their own name search system instead of NUANS.
What’s the difference between a pre-search and the official report?
A pre-search is a quick, informal check to flag obvious conflicts before you commit to a name. The official NUANS report is the formal, registry-accepted document actually submitted with your incorporation filing.
How long is a NUANS report valid for?
Reports are generally valid for 90 days from the search date. If your incorporation isn’t filed within that window, you’ll need a new report.
What happens if my name shows conflicts on the report?
A close match doesn’t automatically mean rejection, but it increases the risk. We review your report and can suggest name adjustments, or recommend a name pre-approval, to reduce the chance of your filing being refused.
Can I use a numbered name instead of ordering a report?
Yes — a numbered company (like “1234567 Ontario Inc.”) is assigned automatically and doesn’t require a name search. This is only an option if you don’t need a specific business name for branding purposes.
How fast can I get an instant NUANS report?
Instant reports are typically generated and delivered within minutes of your request, making them a good fit when you need to file your incorporation the same day.