Business Name Inquiry and Pre-Search

Absolutely. Our agency has direct access to both the federal name database and the provincial government name database. All reports are valid and can be verified with Industry Canada.

Generally, a name should consist of two elements: distinctive and descriptive. The distinctive element is the most crucial factor; it cannot merely describe the business and must be unique or consist of made-up words. The descriptive element can include common words that describe the nature of the business. For example, "Best Car Wash" lacks distinctiveness, as it only describes the business. A better name would be "Mike's Car Wash," where "Mike" serves as the distinctive/unique element, and "Car Wash" is the descriptive element.

Feel free to call us at 403-768-2726 during our business hours (9:00 AM to 7:00 PM MDT). Or you can initiate a live chat with us in the bottom right corner.

The Alberta Business Registry acts as an agent of Industry Canada. If you ask us to reserve a name, we will review it using three filters: availability, eligibility with name rules, and legality concerning prohibited names, before submitting it to the government. If we determine that your proposed name does not qualify under these filters, we will request alternative names from you via email, offering up to three suggestions at no cost.

You will receive the NUANS (name reservation report) as quickly as within 2 business hours if you selected this option on the previous page. If you intend to use this report to register or incorporate your business, you will also receive a link to complete the registration or incorporation process.

The processing time depends on your selection of the government's processing queue. We will submit your request to reserve the name as quickly as within 2 business hours of receiving the order. Please note that the processing queue and time indicated on this page are approximations provided by the government.

If your intention is to use this name for incorporation (limited liability company), please select one of the legal suffixes. All of them have the same legal meaning; the choice is purely for appearance. If you plan to use this name for a sole proprietorship, Master Business License, trade name/business name registration, or non-profit organization, please choose the option "none."

Only one or two major activities should be sufficient, and the description can be very brief, ideally limited to a single line.