FEDERAL · ON · AB · SK · MB · NS
NUANS Business Name Search for Canadian Corporations
A NUANS business name search compares your proposed corporate name against existing corporate names, business names and trademarks recorded in the NUANS database. Corporations Canada and most provincial registries require a NUANS report before they will approve a named corporation. We run the search, review the results with you, and handle name approval or a federal name appeal if your name is refused.
- NUANS report included
- Name conflict review
- Federal name appeal support
NUANS Name Search Services We Provide
Every corporate name goes through the same basic path: search it, clear it, then get it approved. Here’s what each step covers and when you need it.
NUANS Search Online
Order a NUANS business name search online and receive a NUANS report listing similar corporate names, registered business names and trademarks. The report includes a NUANS reservation number and is the document registries ask for when you incorporate with a name instead of a number.
Name Pre-Search Services
A pre-search is a preliminary check run before you commit to a name. It flags obvious conflicts, restricted or prohibited words, and names too close to an existing corporation — so you can adjust the name early instead of paying for a report that won’t clear.
Federal Name Approval
Corporations Canada reviews every federal corporate name for distinctiveness, descriptiveness and confusion with existing names. We prepare the NUANS report and supporting name explanation, then submit the name for federal approval as part of your incorporation.
Federal Name Appeal
If Corporations Canada refuses or questions your proposed federal name, you can respond rather than start over. We prepare the written submission, address the specific objection raised by the examiner, and file the appeal on your behalf.
Name Approval Services
Provincial registries each apply their own naming rules. We match your name and NUANS report to the requirements of the province you’re registering in, and manage the back-and-forth with the registry until the name is cleared.
How the NUANS Name Search Process Works
Choose a compliant name structure
A corporate name normally has three parts: a distinctive element, a descriptive element, and a legal ending such as Inc., Ltd., Ltée, Corp. or Limited. Names that are only descriptive, or that use restricted words, are commonly refused.
Run a pre-search
We check your preferred name against obvious conflicts and naming rules first. If it looks weak, you change it now — before a report is ordered.
Order the NUANS business name search
The NUANS search produces a report of similar names and trademarks, plus a reservation number. Federal and most provincial registries require a report dated within the last 90 days.
Receive Documents
Get your documents in your Email — officially incorporated.
Why a NUANS Search Matters Before You Incorporate
A NUANS report is more than a form to attach. It’s the record that shows your name was checked properly — and it’s what protects you from problems that surface later.
A registered paralegal firm your brokerage will recognize.
Our focus is the name stage — the part of incorporation where most applications get held up. We run NUANS searches, read the results properly, explain what the close matches actually mean for your application, and deal with the registry when a name is questioned. If a federal name is refused, we handle the appeal rather than telling you to start again.
01
Registered Paralegal Firm
Licensed to prepare and review corporate filings within our defined scope of practice.
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Authorized Registry Agent
Approved to submit incorporation filings directly to provincial corporate registries.
03
Confidential by default
Client and brokerage information is handled under strict confidentiality and retention policies.
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NUANS Business Name Search, — Questions, Answered
What is a NUANS business name search?
A NUANS business name search compares a proposed corporate name against a database of existing corporate names, registered business names and Canadian trademarks. It produces a NUANS report showing similar names, which registries use to decide whether your name can be approved.
Do I need a NUANS report to incorporate in Canada?
Yes, if you’re incorporating under a name. Corporations Canada and most provincial registries require a recent NUANS report for a named corporation. If you incorporate as a numbered company, a NUANS report is generally not required.
How long is a NUANS report valid?
A NUANS report is normally accepted for 90 days from the date it was generated. If you file after that window, you’ll usually need a new search.
Does a NUANS report reserve or protect my business name?
Not on its own. In most jurisdictions the NUANS report is search evidence, not a reservation, and your name isn’t protected until the incorporation is approved. It also doesn’t give you trademark rights — that’s a separate application through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
What's the difference between a pre-search and a NUANS report?
A pre-search is an informal check used to test a name before you commit. A NUANS report is the official, dated document with a reservation number that registries accept as part of a filing.
Why was my corporate name rejected?
Common reasons include being too similar to an existing corporate name or trademark, being purely descriptive with no distinctive element, using restricted or prohibited words, or missing a proper legal ending such as Inc., Ltd. or Corp.
Can I appeal a refused federal business name?
Yes. Corporations Canada allows a written response when a name is refused or questioned. A federal name appeal addresses the specific objection raised by the examiner — for example, arguing that your name is distinguishable from the cited match.
Is a NUANS report used in every province?
It’s used for federal incorporation and in most provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. British Columbia and Quebec run their own separate name approval systems.
Is a company key the same as a NUANS report?
No. A company key is a code Corporations Canada issues to an existing federal corporation so it can file online updates. A NUANS report is a name search document used before or during incorporation. They serve completely different purposes.
What makes a corporate name more likely to be approved?
Names with a distinctive element — an invented word, surname or unusual combination — plus a clear descriptive element and a legal ending tend to clear more easily than generic, purely descriptive names.