Corporate Registries

Searches

If you would like information about an existing business, we can perform a search. You will be provided with information regarding the start date of the business, the address, and names of any directors, shareholders, or declarants.Both current and historical searches are available.We can also provide you with a Certificate of Status for any Alberta Corporation, which will show their standing with Corporate Registries as of a current or historical date.

Registering Your Business

We can register many types of businesses. We also provide NUANS searches, which are mandatory for forming a named Alberta Incorporation.

The most common types we register are:

  • Trade Name/Sole Proprietor/Business Name
  • Partnership/Business Name
  • Alberta Incorporation (using a number or a name)

It is up to you to research what type of business is best for you. There are many questions you should look into. There are large differences regarding how taxes, Workers Compensation, and liability issues are resolved, depending on what type of business you register. Our office cannot provide legal advice; However, there are resources available online or in bookstores. We do carry Legal Ease Kits, which may assist you in making your decisions, and help you in completing the information required for registering.

The following chart may be useful to see some differences between the most common types of Businesses. Please note that this is provided as a courtesy, and should not be interpreted as legal advice. There are also other types of legal entities which we have not listed here.

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How Is It Formed?

Trade Name / Sole Proprietor / Business Name

  • A trade name is not a distinct legal entity
  • If a person is engaged in a business and use a name other than their own name, they must register the business name by filing a simple declaration.

Partnership / Business Name

  • A partnership is not a distinct legal entity.
  • If more than one person is engaged in a business using a business name, or uses their own names with a word or phrase indicating plurality of members in the partnership, he or she must register the business name by filing a simple declaration.
  • You may want to have a partnership agreement in place before filing the name. It is not required to be presented.

Alberta Incorporation (numbered or named)

  • A Corporation is a distinct legal entity.
  • To form a limited corporation, you must provide a corporate name and address, describe the structure and identify the type of corporation and provide director information.

Name INformation

Trade Name / Sole Proprietor / Business Name

  • Can't contain a legal element.
  • Duplicate names are allowed.

Partnership / Business Name

  • Can't contain a legal element.
  • Duplicate names are allowed.

Alberta Incorporation (numbered or named)

  • Must contain a legal element.
  • Duplicate names are not allowed.

What Search to Do

Trade Name / Sole Proprietor / Business Name

  • A NUANS "Alberta Business Name Report" is recommended, but not mandatory. There is no name reservation.

Partnership / Business Name

  • A NUANS "Alberta Business Name Report" is recommended, but not mandatory. There is no name reservation.

Alberta Incorporation (numbered or named)

  • A NUANS "Alberta Corporate Name Report" is mandatory. It reserves a name for 90 days.

Maintenance

Trade Name / Sole Proprietor / Business Name

  • none

Partnership / Business Name

  • none

Alberta Incorporation (numbered or named)

  • Annual Returns must be filed yearly. (This will ensure your Corporate name stays active.)

If you are looking for forms for filing, please see our forms section.

We cannot register Non-Profit Companies or Societies. We can however provide you with the required NUANS search. You must register directly through Corporate Registries.

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Other Filings

Here is a list of other filings we can do:

  • Annual Returns
  • Change of Directors/Shareholders
  • Change of Address
  • Revivals
  • Dissolutions
  • Name Changes

If you need forms, see our forms section. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions.