The Basics of Business Registration In Ontario Canada

With diverse cultural backgrounds, varied landscapes, thousands of lakes, and fantastic tourist spots, Ontario has a lot to offer. These panoramic beauties will not only please your eyes but will also open profitable opportunities. If you are thinking of starting a business in Canada, then Ontario can provide you with lots of resources and prospects. 


The population increase in Ontario encouraged various industries to grow. While the Northern part of Ontario still relies on natural resources, the Southern section is already highly industrialized what with thousands of companies dealing with construction, mechanics, automotive, digital technology, plastics, aerospace, and telecommunications. Ontario’s contribution to the national GDP is around 40%. With the National Trade Agreement between United States of America, Canada and Mexico, Ontario has gained a frequent and free access to trade markets of Mexico and the US. 

Since the Canadian government also welcomes direct foreign investors, Ontario has become a good venue for investment to non-Canadian citizens or immigrants. Like any other country, doing a business in Ontario comes with various laws and procedures like business registration, tax account applications, and others. 


A huge number of small businesses in Ontario offer home-based to biotech services. There are also joint ventures, provincial corporations, and federal corporations. Small businesses include sole proprietorship and partnerships (general, limited, and limited liability). 


The Master Business License or MBL is issued to business entities such as sole proprietorship and partnerships but not to extra-provincial limited liability companies. Similarly, the process of liability in case of termination or solvency of the business also varies.  

When registering a business in Ontario, you need to obtain an MBL, which confirms that a business name has been submitted to the Companies and Personal Property Security Branch (CPPSB), under the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) for the registration on the public record domain. 


The license includes the registration number and expiry date along with the Business Identification Number. One can apply for a Master business license online from office or home, can send a printed form to the authority or can visit the office in person to submit the form. 


Registering a business in Ontario requires one to provide certain information like business address, the types of business activities, and the owner or owners' personal details such as complete name, individual addresses, and telephone numbers. Be sure to indicated a valid company address as a PO box will not be granted.

It would be a great help if you would visit Ontario first before proceeding with business registration process to have a feel of the province's market and the environment. You should also get more information about the entire process including incorporation. You will find a host of useful resources on the Internet, one of which would be www.ontariobusinessregistration.com. This website offers a handful of infos, tips, advices, and informative articles.