Business name, corporation or trademark: what each one protects
A business name registration lets you trade under a name, a corporation creates a separate legal entity, and a trademark protects your brand across Canada. Most growing businesses need the first two at launch and the third before they invest in the brand.
People often assume that registering a name protects it. It does not, at least not as a brand. Here is what each filing does.
| Business name registration | Incorporation | Trademark (CIPO) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Lets you trade under a name | Creates a separate legal entity | Gives exclusive rights to a brand for listed goods and services |
| Protects the brand? | No | Only the corporate name in the registry | Yes, across Canada |
| Government fee (CAD) | 60 for 5 years (Ontario) | 300 (Ontario) or 200 online (federal) | 491.06 first class, 149.04 each extra (2026) |
| Time | Usually immediate online | 1 to 2 business days (Ontario) | 12 to 24 months |
| Who files | You or us | You or us | You, a licensed trademark agent or a lawyer |
The order we recommend
- Check the name in the registry and the trademarks database at the same time.
- Register the structure: business name or corporation.
- Open CRA accounts and set up the books.
- File the trademark before you spend on signage, packaging or a website.