What is an Ontario NUANS Report?
An Ontario NUANS report is an official name search document generated from the NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) database maintained by the Government of Canada. It is specifically configured as an Ontario-biased search, meaning the database search is weighted to prioritize and flag existing Ontario-registered corporations and business names that may conflict with your proposed company name.
This Ontario-biased NUANS report is a mandatory requirement for any business incorporation under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA). Without a current NUANS report, the Ontario corporate registry (ServiceOntario) will not process your articles of incorporation.
What Does "Ontario-Biased" Mean?
The Ontario-biased designation refers to a specific parameter in the NUANS search that weights the results to show greater sensitivity to names that are already registered or used in Ontario. Specifically:
- The search prioritizes conflicts with Ontario-registered names
- It includes Ontario sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations
- It searches the national NUANS database with an Ontario geographic weighting
- It checks federal trademarks that could create name confusion in Ontario
- It generates the official report format accepted by ServiceOntario
This is different from a standard federal NUANS report, which takes a national view without the provincial geographic weighting.
Who Needs an Ontario NUANS Report?
You need an Ontario NUANS report if you are incorporating any of the following in Ontario:
- Ontario Business Corporation — Any corporation under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA)
- Professional Corporation — Lawyers, doctors, dentists, accountants, engineers incorporating as a professional corporation in Ontario
- Ontario Non-Profit Corporation — In some cases for Not-for-Profit Corporations Act applications
- Numbered Ontario companies seeking a name — If converting from a numbered company to a named company
What is Included in an Ontario NUANS Report?
Your Ontario NUANS report PDF will contain the following information:
- Your proposed business name and its phonetic equivalent
- A list of existing Ontario and national business names that are similar (potential conflicts)
- Federal and provincial corporations with similar or identical names
- Canadian trademark registrations that may conflict
- Business name registrations (sole proprietorships, partnerships) that may conflict
- A unique NUANS reference number (required for your incorporation application)
- Date of search and 90-day expiry date
Ontario NUANS Report Pricing
Choose the delivery speed that works for your timeline. All plans include the same official Ontario-biased NUANS report PDF.
| Plan | Price (CAD) | Delivery Time | What's Included | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $19 | Within 3 hours | Ontario NUANS PDF · Reference # · Email delivery | Order → |
| Express ⭐ | $29 | Within 1 hour | Everything in Standard · Priority processing · Name conflict pre-check · 1 free revision | Order → |
| Instant + Bundle | $49 | Instant | Everything in Express · Auto-delivery · Free pre-search · Incorporation checklist · Agent review | Order → |
How to Order Your Ontario NUANS Report
Complete the Order Form
Fill in your proposed business name, any alternative names, and select "Ontario" as your jurisdiction. The form takes approximately 3 minutes to complete.
Choose Your Delivery Speed
Select Standard ($19), Express ($29), or Instant ($49) delivery based on your timeline. All plans include the official Ontario-biased NUANS report PDF.
Secure Online Payment
Pay via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or PayPal. SSL-encrypted checkout. No hidden fees.
Receive Your Ontario NUANS Report
Your official Ontario-biased NUANS report PDF is delivered to your email inbox according to your selected plan. The report includes your NUANS reference number for use in your OBCA incorporation application.
Using Your Ontario NUANS Report for Incorporation
Once you receive your Ontario NUANS report, here is how to use it for your Ontario incorporation:
- Review the report — Check the list of similar names. If no close conflicts exist, proceed with your chosen name.
- Note your NUANS reference number — Found at the top of your report PDF. You'll need this for your OBCA application.
- File your Articles of Incorporation — Submit to ServiceOntario along with your NUANS report reference number (not the full report, just the reference #).
- Complete within 90 days — Your NUANS report expires 90 days from the search date. If you miss this window, you'll need to order a new report.
Ontario NUANS Report vs. Federal NUANS Report
| Feature | Ontario NUANS Report | Federal NUANS Report |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Bias | Ontario-biased | National (no provincial bias) |
| Required For | Ontario OBCA incorporation | Federal CBCA incorporation |
| Accepted by ServiceOntario | ✅ Yes | ❌ No — not accepted |
| Accepted by Corporations Canada | In some cases | ✅ Yes |
| Database searched | National NUANS database (Ontario-weighted) | Full national NUANS database |
Frequently Asked Questions — Ontario NUANS Report
An Ontario NUANS report is an Ontario-biased name search of the national NUANS database, required for incorporating under the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA). It searches the database with a weighting toward Ontario-registered names to identify potential conflicts with your proposed company name.
Ontario-biased means the NUANS search is configured to weight results toward Ontario-registered business names, corporations, and trade names. This provincial bias is specifically required by the Ontario corporate registry (ServiceOntario) for all Ontario OBCA incorporations.
Our Ontario NUANS reports start at $19 CAD for Standard delivery (within 3 hours), $29 CAD for Express (within 1 hour), and $49 CAD for Instant delivery upon payment. All prices include the official Ontario-biased NUANS report PDF and reference number.
Depending on your chosen plan:
- Standard: Delivered within ~3 business hours
- Express: Delivered within ~1 hour
- Instant: Automatically delivered upon payment confirmation
No. ServiceOntario specifically requires an Ontario-biased NUANS report. A standard federal NUANS report will not be accepted for Ontario OBCA incorporation. You must order the Ontario-biased version.
An Ontario NUANS report is valid for 90 days from the date it is generated. You must complete and file your Ontario incorporation application within this 90-day window. If you miss the deadline, you will need to order a new Ontario NUANS report.
The NUANS reference number (also called a reservation number) is a unique 8–10 digit number printed at the top of your Ontario NUANS report PDF. This number is required when you file your Ontario Articles of Incorporation with ServiceOntario. It confirms the name search was conducted and your proposed name is temporarily reserved.
Service Ontario refers to the Ontario government's own portal where you can order a NUANS report directly. Our service is an authorized private alternative that offers faster delivery, a more user-friendly order process, and competitive pricing. The report we generate is the same official NUANS document.
Yes! We offer a free NUANS pre-search that lets you do a preliminary name check before committing to the full NUANS report. This helps you identify obvious conflicts and refine your name choice before paying for the official report. Note: the pre-search is not an official NUANS report and cannot be used for incorporation.