Description
Buy a Federal Nuans Search to incorporate a proposed name with the federally.
Every business corporation, not-for-profit corporation and cooperative must have a distinct name that legally identifies the corporation. The corporate name is set out in the articles of the corporation, which is the charter of the corporation.
Corporations Canada reviews proposed names to confirm that they comply with the regulations.
Note
There are different requirements for naming boards of trade.
On this page
Corporate name
A corporate name is the legal name of your corporation. It identifies your corporation. This name must be used in all contracts, invoices, negotiable instruments and orders for goods or services issued or made by or on behalf of the corporation. While your corporate name is the legal name of your corporation, it can be different from the name you use to operate your business (for example, the name you use on your store front, your website or your business cards).
A corporate name is not the same thing as a trademark or domain name.
Also, the fact that you own a domain name does not necessarily mean that your domain name can be your corporate name. Make sure that your proposed corporate name meets all the legal requirements. Keep in mind that you can always change your name at a later date.
The corporate name can be a numbered name or a word name.
Numbered names
If you are applying as a business corporation or a not-for-profit corporation, you can choose to have a numbered name assigned by Corporations Canada. Cooperatives, however, cannot have numbered names.
A numbered name reduces the steps when you choose a name. For more information, see Obtaining a numbered name.
Word names
A word name can include letters, symbols and numbers. The word name has to be distinctive and must not causeconfusion with other names or trademarks, and it cannot include prohibited terms. For more information, see Obtaining a word name.
Language of your corporate name
Your corporate name can be one of the following:
- English version
- French version
- separate English and French versions
- combined English and French version.
English version
Your corporate name can be an English version.
| Business corporations | Not-for-profit corporation | Cooperative |
|---|---|---|
| ACE Hairdressing Inc. | St. Anne’s Healthcare Foundation | ABC Farmers Cooperative |
French version
Your corporate name can be a French version.
| Business corporations | Not-for-profit corporation | Cooperative |
|---|---|---|
| Coiffures CHICO Inc. | Maison Maxime | Garderie Adorable Coopérative |
Separate English and French versions
Having separate English and French versions means that you have an English version and a French version that you can use separately. You can use either version legally.
While one name does not need to be a literal translation of the other, both versions must not give the impression of being two different corporations. For business corporations and cooperatives, the legal element in both versions has to be equivalent.
| Business corporations | Not-for-profit corporation | Cooperative |
|---|---|---|
| Techni-Glass Ltd. | Smith and Fournier Institute | ABC Farmers Coop |
| Techni-Verre Ltée | Institut Smith et Fournier | Coop de fermiers ABC |
Combined English and French version
You can also choose to have a combined English and French version. This is the legal name of your corporation and it must be used in its entirety. For business corporations, the legal element must be “Inc.” and should be placed at the end.
| Business corporations | Not-for-profit corporation | Cooperative |
|---|---|---|
| Coiffures CHICO Hairdressing Inc. | Maison Maxime House | Garderie Adorable Daycare Coopérative |
Protect your corporate name
Even though the federal name granting examination is rigorous, the name approval process does not guarantee protection against other corporate names, business names or trademarks. Once you are incorporated, it is your responsibility to protect your name. Consider the following measures:
- monitoring what’s online
- obtaining surveillance services for corporate names, other registered business names, trademarks and domain names
- strengthening your name protection by developing a branding strategy, obtaining a trademark or purchasing domain names.
If you find a federal corporation whose name can be confused with yours, see What to do if a corporate name can be confused with another name or trademark.
If the other corporation is not a federal corporation, consult the provincial or territorial authority that created the corporation for their process.
To ensure that the specific needs of your corporation regarding the protection of your corporate name are met, consider consulting a lawyer or another professional advisor.
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