How to register a Sole Proprietorship or a Partnership?

The Ontario Business Names Act administered by the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch applies to:

  • sole proprietorships (one owner) carrying on business under a name other than the individual’s full name;
  • partnerships carrying on business under a firm name other than the full names of the partners;
  • corporations carrying on business under a name other than their corporate name;
  • an existing general partnership or limited partnership registering a business name that is different from the previously registered firm name;
  • limited liability partnerships.

In the case of sole proprietorships and partnerships, any business name other than the owner’s name must be registered. For example, if John Smith conducts business as “John Smith”, he won´t need to register the name. But if he operates as “John Smith, Consultant,” he will have to register the name.

As another example, if John Smith and Jane Brown operate a partnership as “Smith and Brown,” registration is necessary. As a general rule, any time a word is added to a person’s name, than registration is required.

Registering a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership in Ontario can be achieved in 2 ways:

Register Online

Service Ontario
$60/ 5 years for online registration 

Ownr
Register, incorporate, create legal agreements, manage employees, and more – all in one place.
Entrepreneurs who use this link get a 20% discount on their registration or incorporation. 

Follow these Steps to Register your Business