Register a Business in Ontario in 2026: The Full Checklist, Real Costs and What Comes After

Opening a café in Hamilton, a cleaning service in Mississauga or a consultancy from your Ottawa spare room? To register a business in Ontario you deal with up to four bodies: Ontario (name or corporation), the CRA (Business Number and HST), WSIB (once you hire) and your city (licences). This guide puts all four in order. You'll get the exact government fees, a provincial-versus-federal cost comparison in Canadian dollars, the NUANS rules, the HST trigger worked through with real numbers, and the renewal dates that catch people out.

Quick answer

Register in the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) online: a sole proprietorship or partnership name costs C$60 for 5 years; an Ontario corporation costs C$300 plus an Ontario-biased NUANS report if you want a word name. Then get a free CRA Business Number online, register for HST once sales pass C$30,000, and register with WSIB within 10 calendar days of hiring your first worker.

• Trading under your own legal name only? No Ontario name registration needed

• Online OBR filings are processed immediately; mail takes about 15 business days

• Federal incorporation: C$200, then a free Ontario initial return within 60 days

• Ontario HST is 13% — 5% federal plus 8% provincial

• Business Name Registration (the old 'Master Business Licence') must be renewed every 5 years

Who has to register a business in Ontario?

Ontario's rule is short: if your business has employees, facilities or offices in Ontario, you register through the Ontario Business Registry. In practice that means:

• Sole proprietors register only if they trade under something other than their exact legal name. "Priya Shah" needs nothing; "Priya Shah Bookkeeping" or "Northend Books" must be registered.
• General partnerships register any name other than the partners' own names.
• Corporations, limited partnerships and LLPs always register — the registration is how they come into existence or get permission to operate.

Skipping a required name registration isn't a paperwork slip. The Business Names Act makes trading under an unregistered name an offence, and an unregistered business generally can't start a lawsuit in Ontario over that business without the court's permission — which matters the first time a client doesn't pay.

What registration does not do is protect your name. Ontario keeps a public record of who's behind each name but doesn't block duplicates. If the name matters to your brand, look at a federal trademark. Need ideas first? Try our business name generator and then search the OBR.

Choose your structure: what each one really costs

Your structure decides which OBR form you file and what you'll pay — not just on day one but every year after. Here are the government fees only, as published by Ontario and Corporations Canada.

Ontario business structures — government fees (2026)

	Sole proprietorship / partnership	Ontario corporation	Federal corporation operating in Ontario
Registration fee	C$60	C$300	C$200 (online)
Name search	Free OBR search	Ontario-biased NUANS report (private fee) for a word name	Federal NUANS report for a word name
Ontario filing to operate	Included	Included	Initial return within 60 days — C$0 (free)
Ongoing	Renew every 5 years — C$60	Ontario annual return — C$0 (free)	Federal annual return C$12 a year
Liability	Personal, unlimited	Limited to the corporation	Limited to the corporation
Name protection	None	Ontario-wide corporate name	Canada-wide corporate name

Registration fee

Sole proprietorship / partnership

C$60

Ontario corporation

C$300

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

C$200 (online)

Name search

Sole proprietorship / partnership

Free OBR search

Ontario corporation

Ontario-biased NUANS report (private fee) for a word name

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

Federal NUANS report for a word name

Ontario filing to operate

Sole proprietorship / partnership

Included

Ontario corporation

Included

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

Initial return within 60 days — C$0 (free)

Ongoing

Sole proprietorship / partnership

Renew every 5 years — C$60

Ontario corporation

Ontario annual return — C$0 (free)

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

Federal annual return C$12 a year

Liability

Sole proprietorship / partnership

Personal, unlimited

Ontario corporation

Limited to the corporation

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

Limited to the corporation

Name protection

Sole proprietorship / partnership

None

Ontario corporation

Ontario-wide corporate name

Federal corporation operating in Ontario

Canada-wide corporate name

Worked example: five-year government cost

Say you plan to trade for five years in Ontario only:

• Sole proprietor, trade name: C$60 now, then C$60 to renew at year five — C$120 over roughly five years.
• Ontario corporation, number name (e.g. "1001234 Ontario Inc."): C$300 once, free annual returns — C$300. Choose a word name and add the NUANS report price.
• Federal corporation: C$200 plus C$12 × 5 annual returns = C$260, plus the free Ontario initial return. Cheaper on paper, but you file in two systems every year.

A corporation from outside Canada is different: it needs an Ontario extra-provincial licence, which costs C$330 and takes about five business days online.

These sums ignore accountants and lawyers. A corporation files its own T2 tax return every year, which usually means paying an accountant — often the biggest cost difference between structures. Ontario itself suggests getting professional advice before you incorporate.

NUANS: when you need it and when you don't

A NUANS report is a computer search that compares your proposed corporate name against existing corporations, business names and trademarks. Ontario requires an Ontario-biased NUANS report to incorporate under a word name such as "Lakeshore Renovations Inc." A federally biased report is not accepted for an Ontario incorporation.

You don't need NUANS when:

• you register a sole proprietorship or partnership name — the free OBR search is enough;
• you incorporate with a number name ("2876543 Ontario Inc."), which you can later change by articles of amendment (C$150).

NUANS reports are sold by private search houses and registered NUANS members, not by Ontario, so prices vary. Order it shortly before you file: Ontario expects a recent report, and your preferred name can be taken by someone else in the meantime.

How to register a business in Ontario online, step by step

All provincial filings now happen in the Ontario Business Registry, which replaced the ServiceOntario system on 19 October 2021. Allow about 30 minutes for a business name and an hour for a corporation if your details are ready.

From idea to registered business in Ontario (2026)

1. 1

   Search the name in the OBR

   Run a free search for your name and close variations. For a corporation with a word name, order an Ontario-biased NUANS report.

   Ontario Business Registry
2. 2

   Sign in with an Ontario.ca Login

   Create an Ontario.ca Login and Ontario Business Account when prompted. You'll use the same account for renewals and changes.

3. 3

   Choose the registration type

   Sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited partnership, LLP or business corporation. Fees: C$60, C$60, C$210, C$60 and C$300.

4. 4

   Enter business details and pay

   Name, Ontario address, a short activity description, and owners or directors with addresses. Pay by credit or debit card.

   Tip: Corporations also need articles of incorporation — share classes and restrictions. Get advice if you'll have more than one shareholder.

5. 5

   Download your documents

   You get a Business Name Registration or a Certificate and Articles of Incorporation, a 9-digit Ontario Business Identification Number (BIN) and, for corporations, a company key.

6. 6

   Get your CRA Business Number

   Ontario corporations receive a BN automatically. Sole proprietors and partnerships register through CRA Business Registration Online when they need an HST, payroll or import-export account.

Keep your company key private. Anyone with it can file changes for your business, and you'll need it to report changes within 15 days or to let an accountant file for you.

Business Number: free, online only

Since 3 November 2025, the CRA registers new Business Numbers and program accounts online only, through Business Registration Online. The BN is issued instantly. Phone or paper is kept for a few cases — reactivating a closed account, businesses owned only by non-residents, and businesses owned by another business. Your Ontario BIN and CRA BN are different 9-digit numbers; keep both.

HST: when an Ontario business must register

Ontario uses the Harmonized Sales Tax at 13%: 5% federal GST plus 8% provincial. You don't have to register while you're a small supplier — worldwide taxable sales of C$30,000 or less. Two tests decide when that ends:

Sales of capital property, goodwill, financial services and supplies made outside Canada are left out of the count.

Worked example: a Toronto bakery crosses the line

Nadia's bakery sells taxable goods (catering trays and custom cakes) of C$7,500 a month from April. By the end of June her April–June quarter totals C$22,500 — under C$30,000. In July–September she keeps selling C$7,500 a month. Her running total passes C$30,000 in August, so she has gone over across four consecutive quarters — but no single quarter has passed it (July–September also totals C$22,500).

Under the four-quarter test she stays a small supplier until the end of October — the end of the month after the July–September quarter in which she went over. Her first sale from 1 November is taxable, and she must register within 29 days of it. A C$200 cake then costs the customer C$200 × 1.13 = C$226, of which C$26 is HST she remits.

Had she landed a C$31,000 wedding contract in a single quarter, she'd have had to charge HST on the sale that pushed her over and register within 29 days. Many small Ontario businesses register voluntarily earlier to claim back HST paid on equipment and rent. Check prices both ways with our Canada HST calculator.

Hiring? Register with WSIB within 10 days

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board runs Ontario's no-fault workplace insurance. Most employers in construction, restaurants, retail, services, manufacturing, trucking and agriculture are covered by law. You must register within 10 calendar days of the day your first worker starts — the online registration takes about ten minutes. Premiums are then based on your industry's rate and your insurable payroll.

A few points small owners miss:

• Family members and some subcontractors count as workers if you pay them.
• Owners aren't automatically covered. Sole proprietors, partners and executive officers outside construction can buy optional coverage for themselves.
• Construction is stricter. Compulsory coverage extends to many independent operators, and general contractors often ask for a WSIB clearance certificate before paying you.
• Some sectors, such as banks and hair salons, are optional — check your activity on WSIB's site.

Hiring also means a CRA payroll (RP) account for source deductions. Add it to your Business Number before your first pay run.

Municipal licences: the "business licence" people actually mean

When people search "do you need a business license in Ontario", they usually mean a municipal licence. Ontario's Business Name Registration is not a licence to operate. Cities and towns license specific activities — food premises, contractors, personal services, taxis, short-term rentals, pet shops and more — and some require zoning approval or a health inspection first.

After you register — check these before opening

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• Municipal licence for your activity (city licensing office or BizPaL search)
• Zoning and home-based business rules if you work from home
• Public health inspection for food businesses
• Sign permit for exterior signage
• CRA HST account once you pass the small-supplier limit
• CRA payroll account and WSIB registration before your first employee starts
• Business bank account in the exact registered name
• Insurance — general liability, and professional liability if you give advice

Share Print

Use the federal-provincial BizPaL search to list the permits for your activity and municipality in one place. Licence fees and timelines are set by each municipality, so check your city's page rather than relying on a province-wide figure.

Renewals, changes and annual returns

Registration isn't one-and-done. Diary these dates:

Ongoing Ontario filings

Within 15 days

Report changes (address, owners, directors, activity) in the OBR

Within 6 months of year-end

Ontario corporations file the annual return — C$0 (free)

Within 60 days of starting

Federal or other-province corporations file the Ontario initial return

Every 5 years

Renew the Business Name Registration — C$60

Each year

Federal corporations file the Corporations Canada annual return — C$12

The OBR lets you renew a business name from six months before to 60 days after its expiry date. If a registration lapses, you're back to trading under an unregistered name — renew or register again. Changing a name, adding a partner or closing down is done online too; amendments and cancellations of a business name are free.

Need proof of your business for a bank or a landlord? Order a profile report (C$8) or a certificate of status (C$26) from the OBR.

Common mistakes when registering in Ontario

• Registering a name you can't use. The OBR doesn't stop duplicates; a trademark owner still can. Search the federal trademarks database too.
• Buying "registration packages" at inflated prices. Look-alike sites charge well over the C$60 government fee for the same OBR filing. Use ontario.ca directly.
• Using a federal NUANS for an Ontario corporation. It must be Ontario-biased.
• Forgetting the Ontario step after incorporating federally. You must still file the Ontario initial return within 60 days.
• Waiting too long on HST. The 29-day clock starts automatically; uncollected HST becomes your cost.
• Hiring before WSIB. The 10 calendar days rule applies from the first worker's start date.

Official links

• Ontario Business RegistrySearch, register, renew, file changes and annual returns
• Ontario — fees and processing times
• Ontario — register your business online
• Corporations Canada — fees and processing times
• CRA — Business Registration Online
• CRA — RC4022 GST/HST registrants
• WSIB — do you need to register?
• BizPaL — permits and licences search

What to do next

Pick your structure, register in the OBR and get your Business Number the same day. Then set up the ongoing pieces: HST when you near the limit, WSIB before your first hire, and your city's licence before you open. For a wider look at registering in other provinces, read our Canada business registration guide. Budget your launch with the startup cost calculator and send your first bill with the free invoice generator.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a business in Ontario in 2026?

Government fees are C$60 for a sole proprietorship or partnership name (valid 5 years), C$300 for an Ontario corporation and C$210 for a limited partnership. A federal corporation costs C$200 online and then files a free initial return in Ontario. NUANS name reports, lawyers and filing services charge extra.

Is the Master Business Licence still a thing in Ontario?

Not by that name. Since the Ontario Business Registry launched on 19 October 2021, the document a sole proprietor or partnership receives is called a Business Name Registration. It does the same job as the old Master Business Licence, still lasts 5 years and renews online for C$60.

Can I register a business in Ontario online the same day?

Yes. Online business name registrations and Ontario incorporations are processed immediately in the Ontario Business Registry, and a CRA Business Number is issued instantly through Business Registration Online. Mailed filings take about 15 business days. Your municipal licence, if your activity needs one, usually takes longer because of inspections.

Should I incorporate provincially or federally if I only work in Ontario?

An Ontario corporation costs C$300 and needs nothing extra to operate in Ontario. A federal corporation costs C$200 online plus a C$12 federal annual return, and must also file a free Ontario initial return within 60 days of starting business. Federal makes sense if you need Canada-wide name protection or plan to expand to other provinces.

Do I need WSIB coverage as a sole proprietor in Ontario?

Not for yourself in most industries: sole proprietors, partners and executive officers outside construction are not automatically covered and can opt in. Once you hire your first worker in a mandatory industry, you must register with WSIB within 10 calendar days. Construction has wider compulsory coverage, including for many independent operators.

Does registering my business name in Ontario protect it?

No. A Business Name Registration only puts on public record who is behind a name; it gives no exclusive rights and Ontario doesn't stop someone else registering the same name. For real protection, consider a federal trademark through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office or a corporate name cleared with a NUANS search.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 7 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name, corporation or not-for-profit — Government of Ontario · accessed 7 October 2026
2. 2.4. Register your business online — Government of Ontario · accessed 7 October 2026
3. 3.Registering your business name (Ontario Business Registry) — Government of Ontario · accessed 7 October 2026
4. 4.Instructions for completing an Initial Return/Notice of Change by an extra-provincial corporation — Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery · accessed 7 October 2026
5. 5.Services, fees and processing times — Corporations Canada (ISED) · accessed 7 October 2026
6. 6.Businesses: Go online to register for a business number or CRA program account — Canada Revenue Agency · accessed 7 October 2026
7. 7.RC4022 General Information for GST/HST Registrants — Canada Revenue Agency · accessed 7 October 2026
8. 8.GST/HST calculator (and rates) — Canada Revenue Agency · accessed 7 October 2026
9. 9.Do you need to register with us? — Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) · accessed 7 October 2026
10. 10.Should you register your business name in Ontario? — Anton M. Katz, Barrister and Solicitor · accessed 7 October 2026