British Columbia Business Name Registration: Your Comprehensive Guide

Before you can incorporate a company or register a business name in British Columbia, BC Registries must approve the name through a Name Request. It costs $30, or $100 extra for priority review in 1–2 business days. An approved name is reserved for 56 days. This guide explains the naming rules, the process and how to avoid the most common rejections.

BC Name Request at a glance

What is the BC Name Request system?

Name Request is BC Registries' process for checking that a proposed name is appropriate, isn't misleading and doesn't conflict with existing names. It must be completed before you incorporate, register, amalgamate, restore or change a name. Approval also creates a public record that others can search.

Name protection differs by business type. Only incorporated companies, cooperatives and societies get exclusive use of their name. A sole proprietorship or partnership name is approved but not protected, and an approved proprietorship name isn't guaranteed to be approved later for a company.

How to get your BC business name approved

Step 1: Search for existing names

Search the BC registry, a NUANS search of names across Canada, and the Canadian trademarks database. Your name must be clearly different from what's already registered.

Step 2: Build the name from three elements

• Distinctive element: what sets it apart, such as a place or a coined word ("Kitimat Tire Shop Ltd.", not "Tire Shop Ltd.").
• Descriptive element: what the business does ("Fernie Brake Shop Ltd."). It isn't required when you combine a made-up word with a place, as in "Altrex Canada Ltd."
• Corporate designation: for companies, Limited, Ltd., Incorporated, Inc., Corporation or Corp. (or the French forms). ULCs end in ULC or Unlimited Liability Company. Partnerships and proprietorships must not use Ltd., Inc. or Corp.

Step 3: Submit the Name Request with up to three choices

Submit online at BC Registries, or on the paper form at a Service BC location, and pay $30. Give up to three names in order of preference: the second and third are considered only if the first can't be approved. Results arrive by email.

Step 4: Use the name within 56 days

Once approved, the name is reserved for 56 days. Incorporate or register within that window. If the reservation expires, anyone can claim the name and you'd need a new request.

BC naming rules that cause rejections

• Too similar descriptive words: if "John's Inn" exists, "John's Hotel" is rejected because hotel and inn are treated as similar. "John's Hotel and Bar" can be approved.
• Single-word names: hard to approve. Add a geographic reference for a company ("Mapchem Canada Inc.").
• "British Columbia" or "B.C." at the start: implies a government connection and needs written consent. Placing it at the end, before the designation ("Pacific Warehouse Storage BC Ltd."), doesn't.
• Government or Crown words: "government" isn't allowed, and words like ministry, bureau, commission or royal (when implying the Crown) need consent.
• Well-known names and trademarks (e.g. Xerox, Coke), and public figures' names, need the holder's written consent.
• Personal names: a full personal name is distinctive enough for a company ("Bill Brown Ltd."), but personal names can't be used for a partnership or proprietorship.
• Special characters such as % or * cause problems. Avoid them.

What if your name is rejected?

You can submit a new request with a revised name, or appeal within 30 days by emailing BC Registries with evidence such as a registered trademark. If the first appeal is denied, one further appeal is allowed within 5 days.

Skip the name entirely: numbered companies

A BC company can use its incorporation number as its name, for example 345678 B.C. Ltd., with no Name Request or fee, which makes it the fastest way to incorporate in British Columbia. You can trade under a registered business name later. Societies and cooperatives can't be numbered.

How much does BC name approval cost?

Want us to handle it? Order a BC name search and Name Request.