Search the business registry

    Canada business registry search

    Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.

    Search Company Records in Canada

    3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.

    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamLast verified June 2026Primary source: Corporations Canada

    How do I search the business registry in Canada?

    The Canada business registry is operated by Corporations Canada. It covers Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation. Search by business name to find the registered entity behind a trading name — free, no signup.

    Step-by-step

    1. 1

      Search the trading name you were given

      Start with the name on the invoice, website or contract. It is often a trading name rather than the registered legal name.

    2. 2

      Identify the legal entity behind it

      Corporations Canada records the legal entity. Matching a trading name to its registered entity is the whole point of a registry search — the two are frequently different.

    3. 3

      Check the entity type

      Canada recognises Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation. Entity type determines liability and who is legally responsible, so it matters before you contract.

    4. 4

      Note what the registry does not cover

      Sole traders and unregistered activity may not appear at all. An absent record is not automatically proof of fraud — it can simply mean the business is not required to register.

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    Frequently asked questions

    What does the Canada business registry cover?

    Corporations Canada records Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation. Businesses that are not legally required to register — commonly small sole traders — may not appear.

    Can I search the Canada business registry by trading name?

    Yes, and that is usually the practical starting point. The registry will link the name to the registered legal entity where the two differ.

    Is a business registry search free in Canada?

    Yes. Name search and the public entry on Corporations Canada are free. Only certified documents are chargeable.

    What if a Canada business has no registry entry?

    It may not be required to register, or it may be trading under a different legal name. Ask for the registration number directly before assuming either.

    Should I search federal or provincial?

    If you know the company incorporated federally, search Corporations Canada. Otherwise, most Canadian businesses register provincially. Ontario (ONBIS), BC (BC Registry), Alberta (CORES), and Quebec (REQ) each have separate searchable databases.

    People also ask about search the business registry in Canada

    The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.

    Is the Canada company register free to search?

    Yes. Basic company lookups on the Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.

    What is the official Canada business registry?

    The Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries is the official public register of companies incorporated in Canada. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.ic.gc.ca/app/scr/cc/CorporationsCanada/fdrlCrpSrch.html.

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