Canada Business Search
Look up a Canadian company by name or registration number — freeWhat this search covers
Canada has no single national corporate register. Each province and territory keeps its own, and Corporations Canada keeps a separate one for federally incorporated companies — so confirming that a business exists usually means knowing which registry to ask first. This search queries the publicly available official registries below in one place, by company name or by registration number:
Searching by name or by number
Company names are matched loosely, so a partial name usually works — searching rocky mountain surfaces every registered name containing those words. Legal endings (Ltd., Limited, Inc., Corp.) are rarely worth typing: they often differ between the name on the register and the name a business actually trades under.
Numbers are matched exactly. A provincial registration or incorporation number — a BC company number, an Alberta Corporate Access Number — identifies one specific company. A nine-digit CRA business number also works, but only the nine digits: the program suffix that follows it on tax correspondence, such as RT0001 or RC0001, identifies a tax account rather than the corporation and will not match a registry record.
What the results tell you — and what they don’t
Each result shows the registered name, the jurisdiction holding the record, that registry’s own status for the company, and where published, the incorporation date. Status wording is not consistent between registries: what one records as Active another expresses as being in good standing, and a company that has stopped filing may appear as struck, dissolved, cancelled or simply inactive depending on who keeps the register.
A search result is a pointer, not proof. It reflects what the registry had published when we queried it, and registries update on their own schedules. For anything that has to stand up — a financing condition, a purchase agreement, a due-diligence file — you need a document issued by the registry itself, such as a corporate profile report or a certificate of good standing, rather than a screenshot of a search.
If a company doesn’t appear
A blank result does not always mean the company doesn’t exist. It may be registered in a jurisdiction this search doesn’t reach — Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and the three territories keep registries that aren’t part of the federal data we query, so a company registered only there will not be found here. It may also be registered under a legal name that differs from its operating name, or be a society, co-operative or not-for-profit, which several provinces hold in a register separate from their corporations.
If you believe a corporation exists and this search can’t find it, tell us the name and the province. We’ll look it up by hand — including the registries above that aren’t searchable here — and come back to you within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one official business registry for all of Canada?
No. Each province and territory keeps its own corporate registry, and Corporations Canada keeps a separate register for federally incorporated companies. This search queries the searchable official registries — Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan and Corporations Canada — in one place.
Can I look up a company by its CRA business number?
Yes — enter the nine-digit business number on its own. Leave off the program suffix such as RT0001 or RC0001, which identifies a tax account rather than the corporation. Note the reverse is not possible: the CRA's own GST/HST Registry requires a business number and cannot search by name alone.
Is this Canada business search free?
Yes. Searching by company name or registration number is free with no account required. Registry-issued documents are separate paid services: a corporate profile report when you need the company's registered details on paper, or a certificate of good standing when a bank or lawyer asks for proof of status.
Why can't I find a company I know exists?
It may be registered in a jurisdiction this search doesn't reach — Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and the territories keep registries that aren't searchable here. It may also be registered under a legal name that differs from its trade name, or be a society or not-for-profit held in a separate register. Tell us the name and province and we'll check by hand within one business day.
What does the company's status mean?
Status wording varies by registry: Active generally means the company exists and is filing as required, while Struck, Dissolved, Cancelled or Inactive mean it has lost that standing, often for missed annual returns. For a decision that matters, confirm with a registry-issued document rather than a search result.
For complete details on data accuracy and limitations, see our Disclaimer.