What is The Meaning of NUANS? Is a NUANS Report Required in Ontario?
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If you are looking to start a business in Canada, you have probably come across the term NUANS and you might be wondering what that means. Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search (NUANS) is the Government of Canada’s tool used in Canada to search existing names and trademarks. The tool is an official database of incorporated businesses in Canada making it easier to list all corporate names and trademarks that are similar to the searched ones.
In Ontario, a NUANS report is required when incorporating a new business or registering a company's name.
Does every business being incorporated in Canada need a NUANS report? This article will explore everything you need to know about NUANS and why it is important to have it.
What is the NUANS report?
NUANS report is vital when incorporating a business in Canada. The report lists trademarks, business names, or corporations similar or potentially confusing to the name you wish to incorporate your business with.
Before you register your business, you will need to perform a NUANS name search. This helps you to ensure that your business name is unique and distinct from those listed in the NUANS. The government examiner will review the NUANS search and compare similar business names to your proposed name to check its availability. Once it is verified that the name is not similar to existing ones, you can register your business and operate without concerns. The NUANS report must be obtained within 90 days before the incorporation or registration application is made.
Who needs a NUANS report?
A NUANS report is needed by any individual who is incorporating a business in the following jurisdictions:
· Canada (Federal)
· Ontario
· Alberta
· New Brunswick
· Nova Scotia
· Prince Edward Island
Other jurisdictions in Canada, such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Yukon, do not require a NUANS report. Instead, a name search report from the provincial database and registry is required.
Additionally, a corporation will need a NUANS Name Reservation report when changing the corporate name of your business, continuing into a new province, and amalgamating existing corporations.
If a sole proprietor decides to use NUANS search to find if their business name is similar to other businesses, the report doesn’t guarantee name protection since it is not incorporated.
How do I obtain the NUANS report?
To obtain a NUANS report, you will need to go to the Corporations Canada website to find the search tool. Once there, you will:
1. Enter your proposed business name. If there is a company using the exact or similar name in Canadian jurisdiction you will see results.
2. If the proposed name is not in use, you will enter how exactly you want your company to be called and clarify the type of business you are registering. If the intended name is not in use, choose the recommended name.
3. Enter and confirm your email address and receive the report after you pay $13.80.
4. Receive your NUANS report by email to the address you supplied.
When the NUANS report is completed, it is provided to the Federal or Provincial government examiners for review along with your Articles of Incorporation as part of the incorporation process. Your business name cannot conflict with an existing corporation and depending on the jurisdiction, the business names and trademarks may be considered more strictly by the examiner for name conflicts.
In conclusion, a NUANS report is important to check if there are available or similar names to the one you have proposed for your business. The report does not mean that your name is registered until you incorporate your company.
In Ontario, a NUANS report is important because it helps businesses avoid potential legal issues that may arise from using a name that is already in use. It provides an official record of existing names and trademarks, enabling businesses to choose a unique name.
Icon Offices incorporation package comes with NUANS report and consultancy services. We help you search your proposed business name to see if it is in use or is similar to existing ones.
For more information on the NUANS report, contact us at info@iconoffices.co.uk.