Corporate Registry
Business Names - Business Name Registration
Some confusion is created by the fact that the requirement to register a business name is contained at section 48 of the Partnership Act. Despite the fact that this provision is within the Partnership Act, it requires every person who is engaged in business in the Northwest Territories to register their business name.
The purpose of this section is to help you submit the declaration required to register a business name. The required form is the Declaration of Use of a Business Name available here. The instructions give you some practical suggestions on how to fill out the form. By ensuring that you provide all the required information with your initial registration, you can help the Corporate Registry process your registration swiftly.
Please note that this form is not to be used for the incorporation of a business (for business incorporations, please see the Incorporation Package on this website). Also, the form is not to be used by those who are associated in partnership with each other and using a common business name (for registration of a partnership, please see the Partnership Registration Package on this website).
- Instructions for Completing the Required Forms
- Contacting Corporate Registries
- Agency Contact Information
- Forms
Instructions for Completing the Required Forms
The business name declaration is to be completed by any person or company carrying on business in the Northwest Territories who is currently using a business name other than their own name or who is using their own name but with an element added which indicates that more than one person is operating the business. For example, a person operating a sole proprietorship under their own name "Jean Doe" need not register, but a person using the name "Jean Doe & Company" must register.
Please read the following instructions before completing the form:
- Print clearly or type.
- The business name user must sign the form in ink.
- The originally signed form must be forwarded by mail or by hand to Corporate Registries (faxed delivery is not acceptable).
- The full name of the business name user must be provided—initials as first names will not be accepted for registration.
- Ensure that the complete postal and street addresses are provided (including postal codes). If a street address is not available, some other form of physical address, such as a house number or legal description (Lot, Block and Plan) must be provided.
- The date the business name was first used cannot be a future date.
- The filing fee is $50.00, made payable to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Please note that Corporate Registries does not conduct searches to see if the same or a similar name is being used by another person or company.
All required forms are available here.
Please send completed forms to Corporate Registries.
If you have any concerns or comments about this publication, please contact Donn MacDougall, Registrar of Corporations.
