Business Name Registration Ontario: Cost, Steps and Rules (2026)

Business name registration in Ontario costs $60 and is filed online. You need it if you run a sole proprietorship or partnership under a name other than your own, like “Smith Creative” instead of “Jane Smith”. You file it through the Ontario Business Registry, and the registration is processed immediately, according to the Ontario government.

One thing trips people up: registering a name is not incorporating. It does not create a company, does not protect your personal assets from business debts, and does not give you exclusive rights to the name. This guide explains what you get for the $60, how to file, and when it makes more sense to incorporate instead.

Reviewed by Behroz Rizvi, owner of Toronto Tax & Accounting Solutions, on October 19, 2026. General information only. Government fees can change, so confirm them on ontario.ca before you file.

Business name registration in Ontario: the short answer

• Who needs it: sole proprietors and general partnerships that operate under a name other than the owner’s own legal name.
• Cost: $60 for a new registration and $60 to renew, filed online through the Ontario Business Registry. Amending or cancelling a registration is $0.
• What it is not: it is not incorporation. A registered business name does not create a separate legal entity.
• If you want limited liability or a protected corporate name: you incorporate instead. The Ontario government fee for that is $300.

Ontario business name and corporation fees compared

Filing	Government fee	What you get
Business name registration (sole proprietorship or partnership)	$60	Legal right to operate under that name. No separate legal entity.
Business name renewal	$60	Keeps the registration active.
Amend or cancel a business name	$0	Update details or close the registration.
Incorporate an Ontario corporation (online)	$300	A separate legal entity with limited liability.
Ontario annual return for a corporation	$0	Required every year after incorporating.

These amounts come from the Ontario government’s list of costs and processing times. Confirm current amounts before filing.

Do you need to register a business name?

If you are a sole proprietor and you carry on business under your own full legal name, for example “Jane Smith”, you generally do not need to register a name. If you use any other name, such as “Smith Creative” or “Maple Plumbing”, you register it. The same applies to a general partnership that uses a trade name.

A corporation has its own legal name from incorporation. If the corporation trades under a different name, that name can also be registered.

How to register a business name in Ontario

• Pick your name, then search the Ontario Business Registry to see whether an existing business already uses the same or a very similar one.
• Have your legal name, address and a short description of what the business does ready.
• File the registration online through the Ontario Business Registry and pay the $60 fee by debit, Visa or Mastercard.
• Keep the registration record with your business files and diarize the renewal.
• Open a business bank account in the registered name if you want one.

A business name registration does not register you with the CRA. Separately, you may need a CRA business number and HST account, and a sole proprietor reports business income on the personal tax return.

We can register your business name for you

Toronto Tax & Accounting Solutions handles business name registration for sole proprietors and partnerships, along with business registration, Ontario and federal incorporation, and corporate annual returns. Our fee is $60 plus HST, on top of the $60 Ontario government fee, so the total comes to about $128 ($60 + $60 + $7.80 HST). Book a free consultation or call (437) 410-7999, and we will register the name and set up your tax and HST accounts at the same time.

Business name registration vs incorporation

Registering a name is cheap and quick, but it leaves you personally responsible for all debts and legal claims of the business. Incorporating costs more at the start and every year, but it creates a separate legal entity and can lower tax on profit you leave in the company. Which one fits depends on your income, risk and plans.

• Read our comparison: sole proprietorship vs corporation in Ontario.
• See what incorporating costs: cost to incorporate in Ontario.
• Test your own numbers with the small business tax calculator.
• Ready to incorporate? See our Ontario incorporation service, from $249 plus HST.

What happens with taxes as a sole proprietor

A sole proprietor reports business income and expenses on the personal tax return and pays tax on the net profit. If your revenue passes $30,000 you must register for HST. We prepare self-employed tax returns from $149.99 plus HST, and you can try the Ontario income tax calculator to see your take-home pay.

Frequently asked questions

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

A new business name registration is $60 online, and renewal is $60. Amending or cancelling is $0.

Is registering a business name the same as incorporating?

No. A registered name lets a sole proprietor or partnership operate under that name. Incorporating creates a separate legal entity. The Ontario fee to incorporate online is $300.

Do I need to register my business if I use my own name?

A sole proprietor operating under their own full legal name generally does not need to register a name. Any other trade name should be registered.

Does a registered business name protect my name?

No. Registering a name does not give you exclusive rights to it. Incorporating a named corporation or registering a trademark offers stronger protection.

Do I need an accountant to register a business name?

No, you can file it yourself online for the $60 government fee. If you would rather not, we can register it for you and set up your tax and HST accounts at the same time. Our fee is $60 plus HST on top of the $60 government fee. An accountant also helps when you are deciding between staying a sole proprietor and incorporating.

Next steps

If you are starting a business and want to choose the right structure, book a free consultation. We are a Scarborough tax and accounting office serving Toronto and the GTA. Call (437) 410-7999 or visit us at Office 19, 695 Markham Road, Scarborough.

Sources

• Ontario.ca: Cost and time required to register, change or search for a business name, corporation or not-for-profit

Last reviewed: October 19, 2026. Government fees are those listed by the Ontario government on this date and may change. This article is general information, not advice for a specific business.