Why We Love NUANS (And You Should To!)

NUANS is awesome!

Have you ever wanted to see if a business name is available for registration? Or maybe you are wanting to find information on an existing Canadian business. In either case, NUANS is where you want to look.

The NUANS database is maintained by Industry Canada and holds the records for all Sole Proprietorship, General Partnerships, Operating Names, Corporation, and Trademarks registered in Canada. Each Province submits their registry information at regular intervals to ensure the NUANS database is up to date.

The NUANS database is the most thorough database of business registrations in Canada!

Search your business name ideas with our FREE NUANS Preliminary Search

So What?

Now that you know a bit about what the NUANS database is, why should you care?

1. If you’re looking to register a business you want to search the NUANS database.

In Ontario, you are only required to have a NUANS Name Reservation Report if you are registering a Corporation. However, if you are registering a Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, or Operating Name you should at least do a NUANS Preliminary Search.

A common name search used by people registering one of these business structures is the Enhanced Business Name Search, and although the Ministry encourages their use for this purpose, they are insufficient name research and actually leave you vulnerable to legal issues.

An Enhanced Business Name Search only searches for Sole Proprietorships, General Partnerships, or Operating Names. But what about Corporations and Trademarks? They aren’t listed! This means you could register a business that is in violation of the name protection rights of an existing corporation or trademark even though you completed the Enhanced Business Name Search. This could cause a major headache for you and your business.

When searching a business name always make sure to at least complete a NUANS Preliminary Search as this will show you all business registrations, including Corporations and Trademarks across Canada, which will go a long way to helping your business avoid name confusion issues.

2. If you are searching for an existing business you want to search the NUANS database.

Perhaps you are looking to do business with a Canadian business and want to find out if they are actually registered and active in Canada. The NUANS database provides you with this information.

To simply see if a business is registered you can complete a NUANS Preliminary Search and get the following information:

• Name
• Jurisdiction of registration
• Corporation Number, Trademark Number, or Business Identification Number (depending on the registration type)
• Creation Date
• Status (Active or Inactive)

With this information you can decide if you need further information on the business and obtain it if necessary.

When searching for information on an existing business the NUANS database makes it fast and easy to find.

Conclusion

The NUANS database is a valuable resource for both new and existing businesses. Whether you’re searching for a new business name or simply want to lookup an existing business, the NUANS database can help you get the job done.