Overview — What You'll See in Your NUANS Report
When your NUANS report PDF arrives in your inbox, it may look dense and technical at first glance. It is typically a 2–5 page document formatted in a structured layout with several distinct sections. Once you know what each section means, it becomes straightforward to interpret.
Your NUANS report has four main parts:
- Header / Search Information — The top of the report with your proposed name, search date, reference number, and jurisdiction.
- Phonetic / Equivalent Name — The phonetic translation of your proposed name used by the search algorithm.
- Name Search Results — The main list of similar existing names found in the database, ranked by similarity.
- Trademark Results — A separate section listing similar Canadian trademark registrations.
Section 1 — Header & Search Information
The very top of your NUANS report contains the key administrative details. Here is what each field means:
NUANS REPORT — SEARCH RESULTS
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA · ISEDThe Reference Number is the Most Important Field
Save and copy the Reference Number from Section 1. This is what you enter on your corporate registry's Articles of Incorporation form. You generally do NOT need to attach the full PDF — just this number.
Note the Expiry Date Immediately
Your NUANS report expires 90 days from the Search Date. Put the Expiry Date in your calendar now so you don't miss your filing window.
Section 2 — Phonetic Equivalent Name
Immediately after the header, your report shows a phonetic equivalent of your proposed name. This is how the NUANS algorithm "hears" your name when comparing it to others in the database.
For example, "Maple Tech Solutions Inc." might be phonetically rendered as something like "MAPL TEK SOLUTN". The algorithm then uses this phonetic version — not the exact spelling — to find similar names.
This is why two names that look different in text can still conflict in a NUANS report — because they sound the same. "Meiple-Tek" would be flagged as similar to "Maple Tech" through phonetic matching.
Section 3 — Name Search Results (The Main List)
This is the heart of your NUANS report. It lists all existing registered names that are similar to your proposed name, ranked from most similar to least similar. Each entry in the list includes:
- The existing name — The full registered name of the conflicting business
- Jurisdiction — Which province or federal registry it is registered in (ON, AB, Fed, etc.)
- Entity type — Corporation, business name, partnership, etc.
- Status — Active, dissolved, or inactive
- Similarity score — A numerical indicator of how similar it is to your proposed name
Understanding Similarity Scores
The similarity score tells you how close each existing name is to yours. Higher scores = more similar = higher risk of conflict or rejection.
Very likely to conflict. Registry may reject your name.
Review carefully. Industry context matters.
Unlikely to cause a problem in most cases.
Here is an example of what the results list looks like:
NAME SEARCH RESULTS — PROPOSED: MAPLE TECH SOLUTIONS INC.
Active vs. Dissolved Names
Pay close attention to whether flagged names are Active or Dissolved:
- Active names — These are the most important conflicts. An active corporation or business with a very similar name is a strong indicator your proposed name may be rejected.
- Dissolved names — Recently dissolved corporations may still block new registrations for a period of time. A name dissolved many years ago is much less likely to cause issues. The registry makes the final call.
Why Jurisdiction Matters
The jurisdiction of a conflicting name matters — but not in the way you might expect. A federal corporation with a similar name is typically more likely to block you than a name only registered in a single province. However, the corporate registry also considers:
- Whether both businesses are in the same industry or sector
- The geographic market each business operates in
- Whether the similar name is widely known or operating locally
Section 4 — Trademark Results
The final section of your NUANS report lists Canadian trademark registrations from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) database that are similar to your proposed name. These are separate from the corporate name conflicts above.
Trademark conflicts are serious. Even if no corporation has a similar name, an existing trademark on a similar name in the same industry could:
- Cause your incorporation to be rejected by the corporate registry
- Expose your business to trademark infringement claims after you incorporate
- Result in costly rebranding later
What Does a "Clear" NUANS Report Look Like?
A clear NUANS report — one where your name is likely safe to use — typically has:
- No identical or near-identical names (no scores of 90+) in the same jurisdiction
- No active corporations with very similar names in the same industry
- No trademark conflicts in a related product or service category
- Medium or low similarity scores that are in different industries or dissolved
What to Do After Reading Your NUANS Report
- No conflicts found? — Proceed with your incorporation. Note your reference number and file your Articles of Incorporation before the 90-day expiry.
- Minor conflicts found (low scores, different industries)? — You can likely proceed, but consider getting legal advice to confirm your name is distinguishable.
- Major conflicts found (high scores, same industry)? — Choose a different proposed name and order a new NUANS report before incorporating.
- Trademark conflicts found? — Consult a trademark lawyer before proceeding.
- Not sure? — Contact our team. We can review your report with you and help you decide whether to proceed or modify your proposed name.
Need a New NUANS Report?
Order a fresh search if your proposed name has conflicts or your report has expired.