Business Registrations

Overview

New businesses can now register at Small Business Enterprise Centre
1 St. Paul St., Unit 10, St. Catharines.

Visit Starting a Business

Registration of your business name using the Master Business Licence is mandatory under the Business Names Act if you operate under a name other than your own. This registration is also required to open a business bank account.

The cost is $60 and the registration is valid for five years.

It is recommended that a name search be done to ensure your name is not duplicated. This can be done in conjunction with the business registration for a fee of $8 per search. If choosing to use your legal name (i.e. John Smith) with nothing else attached to it as the business name, then no business name registration is required.

Registration of the business name can be completed at the following location:

Ontario Information Centre-MTO Building
301 St. Paul St., first floor
St. Catharines, On
Phone: 905.704.2111

Visit the Ministry of Consumer and Business Affairs to register online. 

Process

Registration of your business name using the Master Business Licence is mandatory under the Business Names Act, if you operate under a name other than your own.

This registration is also required to open a business bank account. It is recommended that a name search be done to ensure your name is not duplicated. This can be done in conjunction with the business registration.  If choosing to use your legal name (i.e. John Smith) with nothing else attached to it as the business name, then no business name registration is required.

Registration of the business name can be completed at the following location:

Ontario Information Centre-MTO Building
301 St. Paul St., first floor
St. Catharines, On
Phone: 905.704.2111

Visit Service Ontario to register online.

Fees

The cost is $60 and is valid for five years. Name search is  $8 per search when done in conjuction with the registration.