NUANS Report: What It Is & How to Get One
Everything you need to know about the NUANS report in Ontario and Canada. What it does, when you need one, how to order it, how long it takes, federal vs. Ontario NUANS, costs, what the report contains and the mistakes that get your incorporation rejected — written by a licensed Ontario CPA who orders these weekly.
What Is a NUANS Report?
A NUANS report (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) is an official search of existing corporate names and trademarks registered across Canada. The report compares your proposed corporation name against every active and recently dissolved corporation, business name and trademark in the federal and provincial registries to identify potential conflicts. If your proposed name is too similar to an existing name, the filing authority (Corporations Canada for federal or the Ontario Ministry for provincial) will reject your Articles of Incorporation.
The NUANS report is mandatory for every named incorporation in Ontario and federally. It is the first step in the incorporation process if you want a specific corporation name rather than a number name. Without a valid NUANS report, your incorporation application will be rejected — no exceptions. The report must be dated within 90 days of your filing date. If the report expires before you file, you must order a new one.
When Gondaliya CPA incorporates a business for $35 (federal) or $335 (Ontario), the NUANS search is included. We order the report, review it for potential conflicts, advise on name adjustments if needed and file the Articles with the NUANS reference number — all within the same-day process.
What Does a NUANS Report Do?
The NUANS report searches three databases simultaneously and returns a list of every name that is similar to your proposed corporation name.
| Database Searched | What It Contains | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Federal corporate registry | All active and recently dissolved corporations incorporated under the CBCA | Prevents conflicts with federally incorporated businesses across Canada |
| Provincial corporate registries | Corporations incorporated in Ontario and other provinces (Ontario NUANS searches Ontario-biased; federal NUANS searches all provinces) | Prevents conflicts with provincially incorporated businesses in the same jurisdiction |
| Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) | All registered and pending Canadian trademarks | Prevents your corporation name from conflicting with a registered trademark — which could result in a trademark infringement claim |
The report lists every name in the database that is phonetically or visually similar to your proposed name. Each similar name is shown with the jurisdiction of registration, the date of incorporation or registration, and the status (active, dissolved, amalgamated). The filing authority reviews this report when processing your incorporation — if any existing name is too similar, they will reject the application or request a consent letter from the existing name holder.
NUANS Does Not Guarantee Name Approval: A clean NUANS report (no similar names) does not guarantee that the filing authority will approve your name. The ministry or Corporations Canada can still reject a name that is misleading, obscene, too generic (e.g. "Ontario Construction Inc.") or suggests a government connection. The NUANS report is a mandatory prerequisite — not a guarantee of approval. We review every NUANS report before filing and advise if the name carries rejection risk.
How to Get a NUANS Report in Ontario
Choose Your Name
Decide on your proposed corporation name. It must include a legal element: "Inc.", "Ltd.", "Corp.", "Incorporated", "Limited" or "Corporation." The NUANS search must include the legal element.
Choose Ontario or Federal
Ontario incorporation requires an Ontario-biased NUANS report. Federal incorporation requires a federal NUANS report. Using the wrong type causes rejection.
Order the Report
Order through a licensed NUANS search house, through your CPA or through Corporations Canada's online filing system. Gondaliya CPA includes the NUANS search in every incorporation.
Review for Conflicts
Review the report for similar names. If conflicts exist, consider modifying your name, obtaining a consent letter from the existing business or choosing a different name entirely.
File Within 90 Days
The NUANS report is valid for 90 days from the date of the search. File your Articles of Incorporation before it expires. If it expires, you must order a new report.
Keep at Registered Office
The original NUANS report must be kept at the corporation's registered office. Do not send it to the ministry — but have it available if requested.
Free Pre-Search Available: Before ordering a paid NUANS report, you can do a free preliminary search on the Ontario Business Registry at business.ontario.ca to check if your proposed name is already in use by an existing Ontario corporation. This free search does not replace the formal NUANS report — but it prevents you from paying for a NUANS on a name that is obviously taken.
How Long Does a NUANS Report Take?
| Method | Turnaround Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant NUANS (online search houses) | Minutes — delivered by email | $15–$50 | Fastest option. Available 24/7. Most common for standard incorporations. |
| Agent-assisted NUANS | 1–4 hours (business hours) | $30–$75 | A search agent reviews the name and suggests modifications if conflicts exist. Recommended for complex or borderline names. |
| Through Corporations Canada (federal online filing) | Included in the federal online filing process | Included in the $200 government filing fee | The federal online system runs the NUANS search as part of the incorporation filing. No separate order required. |
| Through Gondaliya CPA | Same day — included in incorporation | Included in $35 (federal) or $335 (Ontario) | We order the NUANS, review for conflicts, advise on name issues and file the Articles — all same day. |
Federal NUANS vs. Ontario NUANS — What Is the Difference?
| Factor | Federal NUANS | Ontario-Biased NUANS |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | Federal incorporation under CBCA | Ontario incorporation under BCA |
| Databases searched | All federal corporations + all provincial corporations across Canada + all Canadian trademarks | All federal corporations + Ontario corporations (weighted) + other provincial corporations + all Canadian trademarks |
| Provincial weighting | Equal weight to all provinces | Ontario names given priority weighting — similar Ontario names appear at the top of the report |
| Validity period | 90 days from search date | 90 days from search date |
| Accepted by other jurisdiction? | Not accepted for Ontario provincial filing | Not accepted for federal filing |
| Trademark search included | Yes — CIPO trademarks | Yes — CIPO trademarks |
Do Not Use the Wrong NUANS Type: A federal NUANS report cannot be used for an Ontario provincial incorporation, and an Ontario-biased NUANS cannot be used for a federal incorporation. This is the most common reason for incorporation application rejection. If you order the wrong type, you must order a new report and pay again. When you incorporate through Gondaliya CPA, we order the correct report type automatically.
When Do You Need a NUANS Report?
| Situation | NUANS Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporating with a named corporation (e.g. "Your Business Inc.") | Yes | Mandatory for both federal and Ontario incorporation with a named corporation |
| Incorporating with a number name (e.g. "1234567 Ontario Inc.") | No | Number names are assigned automatically — no name search needed |
| Changing a corporation's name (Articles of Amendment) | Yes | A new NUANS search is required for the proposed new name |
| Amalgamating two corporations under a new name | Yes | If the amalgamated corporation uses a new name, NUANS is required |
| Registering a sole proprietorship or partnership in Ontario | No | Ontario business name registration does not require a NUANS search |
| Registering a trademark | No (but recommended) | CIPO does not require a NUANS for trademark applications, but a NUANS search reveals existing similar corporate names and trademarks that could conflict with your mark |
| Reviving a dissolved corporation under the same name | Yes (in most cases) | A new NUANS may be required to confirm no new corporation has taken the name since dissolution |
What Does a NUANS Report Contain?
| Section | What It Shows | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Proposed name | The exact name you searched, including the legal element | Confirm it matches the name you intend to use in the Articles — exactly, character for character |
| Report reference number | A unique identifier for this search | You will enter this number on the Articles of Incorporation form. Keep it accessible. |
| Search date | The date the NUANS database was searched | Must be within 90 days of your filing date. If it is close to expiry, file immediately or order a new report. |
| Similar corporate names | A list of corporations with names similar to your proposed name, with jurisdiction, incorporation date and status | Look for active corporations in your jurisdiction with highly similar names. An identical name is always rejected. Similar names may be rejected or may require a consent letter. |
| Similar trademarks | Registered and pending Canadian trademarks similar to your proposed name | A trademark conflict is serious — even if your incorporation is approved, the trademark owner can sue for infringement. Consider modifying your name if a similar trademark exists. |
| Phonetic matches | Names that sound similar when spoken, even if spelled differently | "Smith Construction Inc." vs. "Smyth Construction Inc." — phonetic matches can trigger rejection even if the spelling differs. |
8 Common NUANS Mistakes That Get Incorporations Rejected
| # | Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NUANS report expired (older than 90 days at time of filing) | Application rejected. Must order a new report and pay again. |
| 2 | Using a federal NUANS for an Ontario incorporation (or vice versa) | Application rejected. Wrong report type is the most common rejection reason. |
| 3 | Proposed name on NUANS does not exactly match the Articles | Application rejected. Even a missing period after "Inc" or an extra space causes a mismatch. |
| 4 | Searching the name without the legal element ("Inc.", "Ltd.", "Corp.") | The NUANS report must include the full name with the legal element. A search without it is invalid. |
| 5 | Ignoring a clear conflict on the report and filing anyway | Application rejected by the ministry or Corporations Canada. Must choose a new name or obtain consent from the existing name holder. |
| 6 | Using a name that is too generic (e.g. "Ontario Consulting Inc.") | Even with a clean NUANS, the filing authority can reject a name that is too generic, non-distinctive or misleading. |
| 7 | Not checking for trademark conflicts on the report | Incorporation may be approved, but a trademark infringement claim can force you to change the corporate name at significant cost. |
| 8 | Ordering a NUANS for a number name | Wastes money — number names (e.g. "1234567 Ontario Inc.") do not require a NUANS search. |
Number Name vs. Named Corporation — Do You Need a NUANS?
| Factor | Number Name (e.g. 1234567 Ontario Inc.) | Named Corporation (e.g. Your Business Inc.) |
|---|---|---|
| NUANS required | No | Yes |
| Name protection | The number is unique but not a brand — no marketing value | Protected against similar names in the jurisdiction of registration |
| Cost difference | $0 for name search | $15–$50 for NUANS (or included with Gondaliya CPA incorporation) |
| Speed | Instant — number assigned automatically | Same day (if NUANS is clean) to 3 business days |
| Can you change later? | Yes — file Articles of Amendment with a new NUANS for the proposed name | Yes — file Articles of Amendment (requires a new NUANS for the new name) |
| Best for | Businesses that will operate under a trade name or DBA, holding companies and entities where the corporate name is not client-facing | Businesses where the corporate name is the brand, appears on invoices and builds recognition |
Our Recommendation: If your business name is your brand and appears on invoices, contracts, signage and marketing — use a named corporation and get the NUANS. If the corporation is a holdco, a real estate holding entity or a vehicle that operates under a separate trade name — a number name is simpler, faster and cheaper. Most of our Ontario incorporations use named corporations. The NUANS search is included in our $35 federal and $335 Ontario incorporation fee. Start Incorporation →
Frequently Asked Questions — NUANS Report
Skip the Complexity. Incorporate with NUANS Included — From $35.
Gondaliya CPA handles the NUANS search, conflict review, Articles of Incorporation, minute book and CRA registration — all for $35 federal or $335 Ontario.