Corporation Name Change
Change your corporation’s legal name with Articles of Amendment.
Updating Your Corporation’s Name
Rebranding your company or shifting your business direction? If so, it may be time to officially update your business name. A Corporation Name Change is the legal process used to modify your corporation’s registered name with the provincial or federal government.
This type of update does not affect your legal structure, tax ID, or incorporation date—it simply changes the name on record. Whether you’re modernizing your brand or aligning your name with new services, filing for a name change ensures consistency across all legal and public records.
When Should You Change Your Corporation’s Name?
Many business owners choose to change their corporation’s name for reasons like:
- A strategic rebrand
- Expansion into new markets
- Resolving naming conflicts
- Mergers or acquisitions
- Simplifying a complex or outdated name
It’s important to complete this process properly to avoid legal or tax issues in the future.
How to Complete the Process
The steps to change your registered name include:
- Conducting a name availability search (such as a NUANS report)
- Passing a special resolution by shareholders
- Filing Articles of Amendment with the applicable registry
- Updating your CRA, bank accounts, domain name, and business licenses
Handling each step accurately ensures that your corporation stays compliant with government requirements. If you’d like assistance, we can help you file all the necessary documents and guide you through every step of the name change.
Need more information? Contact Us!!
Common questions about changing a corporation name
How much does a corporation name change cost?
Our corporation name change service is $599 plus HST. If you are changing to a new word name, a NUANS name search report for that name is needed first ($50).
Will a name change affect my business number or tax accounts?
No. It is the same corporation with the same business number, CRA accounts and incorporation date. Only the legal name changes. You will still want to update your bank, suppliers, licences, website and signage with the new name.
Can I change from a numbered company to a named one?
Yes. This is one of the most common reasons for a name change. We run the NUANS search, prepare the Articles of Amendment and file them for you.
Do the shareholders need to approve the change?
Yes. A name change is approved by a special resolution of the shareholders. We prepare the resolution so it can go into your minute book.
Is a trade name an alternative?
If you want to keep your legal name and operate under a different name, you can add a trade name (DBA) to your corporation instead. It costs less and does not change the legal name.
Government Grants Available for Canadian Businesses
Did you know? Your business may qualify for grant funding.
We handle the entire application and deliver the funded services: digital marketing, social media, websites, accounting and bookkeeping. One partner, start to finish.