Search the business registry

    Canada business registry search

    Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.

    Search Company Records in Canada

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    Reviewed by LemReveal Research TeamContent reviewed June 2026Primary source: Corporations Canada

    How do I search the business registry in Canada?

    Use Corporations Canada as a starting source for Canada, then check its scope for the business form you need. Types can include Federal Corporation, Provincial Corporation. A trading name may need a separate source or document; it does not automatically identify a legal entity. Official access requirements vary.

    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.

    Open Corporations CanadaAll Canada records

    Canada: choosing and checking the right record

    Choose the correct source
    First identify whether the corporation was created federally or under a province or territory. Corporations Canada's search covers federal corporations; use the relevant provincial or territorial register for entities incorporated there.
    Confirm the entity
    Record the corporation number together with its incorporating jurisdiction. A business number is not interchangeable with every provincial corporation number. Compare numbered-company names and any operating names carefully.

    Check current access and document options on the official Corporations Canada / Provincial Registries site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the Canada registry guide.

    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?

    Some sources index trading names; others require the legal name or a separate business-name search. Ask for the contracting entity's legal name and identifier when the relationship is unclear.

    Is a business registry search free in Canada?

    LemReveal's basic lookup is free where supported. Official searches, records and documents have their own access conditions; check Corporations Canada's current terms.

    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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