Official Intermediary for the Province of Ontario

Ontario Trade Name Registration or Renewal

Register or renew a business name under your existing Ontario corporation — even if you don’t have your Company Key.

What Is an Ontario Trade Name?

An Ontario Trade Name (also called a “business name”) allows an Ontario corporation to operate under a name other than its legal corporate name. It’s commonly used for branding, marketing, or launching new product lines.

You can use this service to:

Register a new trade name

Renew an existing trade name

File with or without a Company Key

Which Option Is Right for You?

Why Choose Us for Ontario Trade Name Services?

Simple Steps

3 Simple Steps to Register/Renew Your Ontario Trade Name

1

Fill Out Our Trade Name Form

Provide your corporate number, business name, and company details. No Company Key? No problem — we’ll handle it.

2

We Submit to ServiceOntario

We complete and file your Form 2 – Business Name Registration or renewal, and confirm its accuracy.

3

Get Your Confirmation Certificate

Receive your official Ontario Trade Name Registration (or Renewal) Certificate via email.

What’s Included in the Service

Ontario Trade Name Registration or Renewal Filing
Company Key Assistance (if needed)
Digital Confirmation Certificate
Optional NUANS Name Search
Name Review for Government Compliance
Ongoing Reminders for Renewal (5-Year Term)

Start Your Business Journey

Ontario Trade Name Package

Frequently asked questions

Need further assistance? Contact us [email protected]

A trade name allows a corporation to operate under a different name than its legal name — also known as a business name.

Yes, we offer a process to register or renew without the Company Key. We will securely validate your corporation details

Trade names are valid for 5 years in Ontario. You must renew before expiry to maintain compliance.

If you’re an individual, please use our Sole Proprietorship Registration service instead.

Yes, a corporation can register multiple trade names if each name is properly registered with ServiceOntario

Protect Your Brand Name in Ontario

Register or renew your Ontario Trade Name — even without a Company Key.

Add-On Services

Bundle your registration with:

Distinctive term

A distinctive term sets your name apart from that of other businesses offering the same goods or services. A distinctive term is the most crucial part of your name.

A descriptive term explains the nature of your company’s business.

Example 1

Proposed corporate name:

STACEY’S FLOWERS BOUTIQUE

The distinctive term is:

STACEY’S

The descriptive term is:

FLOWER BOUTIQUE

Example 2

Proposed corporate name:

FAST STOP CONVENIENCE STORE

The distinctive term is:

FAST STOP

The descriptive term is:

CONVENIENCE STORE

Note

Avoid entering the full proposed name in the ‘Distinctive Term’ field to prevent errors when ordering your NUANS Report.