Practical guides for Canadian businesses
Read source-backed Canadian business guides on searches, incorporation, company numbers, annual returns, names and official documents.
How to search for a business in Canada
Find the right registry and follow a repeatable search process.
How to verify a Canadian business
Check registration without mistaking a registry entry for a trust guarantee.
Sole proprietorship or corporation?
Compare ownership, legal identity and administration.
Business number vs corporation number
Identify the number you have before choosing a search service.
Understanding Québec’s NEQ
Find Québec’s identifier without confusing it with a federal number.
How to find a corporation’s directors
Locate official director information while respecting its limits.
How to find a corporation’s registered office
Distinguish the registered office from a storefront or operating address.
Understanding a corporation’s registry status
Read active, dissolved and other status labels in context.
Certificates of status, compliance and existence
Choose the official document your recipient actually needs.
Corporate annual returns in Canada
Separate corporate registry filings from tax returns and build a reliable calendar.
How to search for a not-for-profit organization
Distinguish incorporation, non-profit status and charity registration.
Business names, trademarks and domain names
Separate legal identity, operating names, branding and website addresses.
Business licences are different from incorporation
Check permission to operate separately from a corporation’s legal existence.
Why a business might not appear in a registry
Troubleshoot an empty result without making unsupported accusations.