SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP REGISTRATION · ALL OF CANADA
Register your one-owner business in Quebec or any other province or territory. We check your business name, prepare the filing, and send you the official registration documents.
CHOOSE YOUR PROVINCE
Each province keeps its own business name register. Pick the province or territory where you operate, and we file with the right registry.
Most Requested
01
Register your one-owner business with the Registraire des entreprises when you operate under a name other than your own.
Name check against Quebec naming rules
Registration declaration filed for you
Quebec enterprise number (NEQ) confirmation
Quebec
Register in Quebec →02
Register your business name through the Ontario Business Registry under the Business Names Act.
Business name search before filing
Master Business Licence (MBL) issued
Registration valid for five years
Ontario
Register in Ontario →03
Register a trade name for your Alberta sole proprietorship with the provincial corporate registry.
Trade name search before filing
Trade name registration filed for you
Registration documents by email
Alberta
Register in Alberta →04
Approve your business name and register your BC sole proprietorship with BC Registries.
Name approval request handled
Proprietorship registration filed
Registration statement by email
British Columbia
Register in BC →05
Register your business name with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration confirmation by email
Nova Scotia
Register in Nova Scotia →06
Register your business name with Saskatchewan's Corporate Registry, run by ISC.
Business name search before filing
Sole proprietorship registration filed
Registration documents by email
Saskatchewan
Register in Saskatchewan →07
Register your business name with the Newfoundland and Labrador Registry of Companies.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration confirmation by email
Newfoundland and Labrador
Register in Newfoundland →08
Register your business name with the New Brunswick Corporate Registry.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration documents by email
New Brunswick
Register in New Brunswick →09
Register your business name with the Manitoba Companies Office.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration confirmation by email
Manitoba
Register in Manitoba →10
Register your business name with PEI's corporate registry.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration documents by email
Prince Edward Island
Register in PEI →11
Register your business name with the NWT Corporate Registries office.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration confirmation by email
Northwest Territories
Register in NWT →12
Register your business name with Yukon Corporate Affairs.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration documents by email
Yukon
Register in Yukon →13
Register your business name with the Nunavut Legal Registries Division.
Business name search before filing
Business name registration filed
Registration confirmation by email
Nunavut
Register in Nunavut →WHY REGISTER
A sole proprietorship is the simplest way to run a business on your own. Registering your business name makes it official and is usually required when you trade under a name other than your own.
Meet your province's business name registration rules from day one.
Banks usually ask for proof of registration before opening an account in your business name.
Invoice, sign contracts, and market under a registered business name.
No articles, directors, or shareholders, with business income reported on your personal return.
Provinces and territories we register in
Years working in the Quebec registry
Business days for a standard filing
Bilingual service, French and English
HOW IT WORKS
The same simple process applies to every province and territory.
1
Select the province or territory where your business operates.
2
Enter your proposed business name, your activities, and your contact details.
3
We review the name and submit your registration to the provincial registry.
4
We email your official registration documents once the registry accepts the filing.
WHY BUSINESS QUEBEC
You do not need to learn 13 different registry systems. Tell us where you operate and we handle the filing.
We review your business name against the province's rules to avoid a rejected filing.
Each province and territory has its own office. We submit to the correct one.
Get help in French or English, including with Quebec's French-language name rules.
Update your registration or open tax accounts when your business grows.
GUIDE
A sole proprietorship is a business owned and run by one person. The business and the owner are the same legal person, so registration is about recording your business name, not creating a new entity.
In most provinces, you must register if you operate under a name other than your own legal name. In Quebec, the Registraire des entreprises explains who must register; in Ontario, business names are recorded in the Ontario Business Registry.
Register in the province or territory where you carry on business. If you operate in several provinces, you may need a registration in each one. Non-residents can use our sole proprietorship for non-residents service.
Feature
Sole proprietorship
Corporation
Owners
One person
One or more shareholders
Legal entity
Same as the owner
Separate from its owners
Liability
Owner is personally liable
Generally limited to the corporation
Income tax
On the owner's personal return
Corporate return (T2)
Paperwork
Name registration and renewals
Articles, records, and annual returns
Depending on your activities, you may need a CRA business number and GST/HST or QST accounts. The Canada Revenue Agency explains when a business number is required.
If your business grows or you want limited liability, you can incorporate later. Keep your registration current with a sole proprietorship update when your details change.
Tell us about your business and we will help you choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation.
Ask Our TeamFAQ
What is a sole proprietorship?
It is a business owned and operated by one person, with no legal separation between the owner and the business. The owner keeps the profits and is responsible for the debts.
Do I need to register if I use my own name?
Usually not, if the business name is exactly your first and last name. Adding words such as "Services" or "Design" generally means you must register.
Can I register a sole proprietorship in a province where I don't live?
Yes. You register where the business operates, which can differ from where you live. Non-residents of Canada can use our non-resident service.
What do I receive after registration?
You receive the registry's official confirmation, such as a Quebec enterprise number (NEQ) or an Ontario Master Business Licence, depending on the province.
Does registering protect my business name?
Registration records your name, but it does not give exclusive rights the way a trademark can. A business name search before filing helps you avoid conflicts.
Do I need a business number from the CRA?
You need one if you register for GST/HST, run payroll, or import and export. We can set up your CRA business number and accounts.
Do I need to register for QST in Quebec?
Many Quebec businesses must register for GST and QST once their taxable sales pass the small-supplier threshold. See our QST registration service.
Does a sole proprietorship registration need to be renewed?
In many provinces, yes. Ontario registrations, for example, must be renewed every five years, and Quebec requires an annual updating declaration.
How do I change my registered information?
File an update with the same registry when your address, name, or activities change. Our sole proprietorship update service handles it.
Can I hire employees as a sole proprietor?
Yes. You will need a payroll account and, in Quebec, a CNESST account for workplace health and safety coverage.
Can I turn my sole proprietorship into a corporation later?
Yes. Many owners start as sole proprietors and incorporate once the business grows or needs limited liability.
How do I close a sole proprietorship?
File a dissolution or cancellation with the registry so your business is removed from the register. We handle this through our dissolution service.
READY TO START?
Pick your province and we will take care of the name check and the filing.
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