By Karim Eshqoor, BBA, LLB, LLM · Barrister & Solicitor (LSO #83032R) · Barbarian Law® · October 2026
A numbered company takes the number Ontario assigns, so it reads “[number] Ontario Inc.” and needs no name search. A named company carries the name you choose and needs an Ontario-biased NUANS report first. At Barbarian Law® a numbered company is $1,000 + HST and a named one is $1,250 + HST with the NUANS search; both include the $300 government filing fee.
What is the difference between a numbered and a named company?
Legally, only the name. Both are corporations under Ontario’s Business Corporations Act (OBCA), with the same limited liability, the same share options and the same yearly filings. If the articles don’t give a name, the corporation is assigned a number name (OBCA s. 8(2)). A chosen name has to include a legal element: Limited, Incorporated or Corporation, or Ltd., Inc. or Corp. (s. 10(1)).
| Numbered company | Named company | |
|---|---|---|
| Name on the certificate | [number] Ontario Inc. (or Ltd., Corp.) | The name you choose, plus a legal element |
| Name search | None | Ontario-biased NUANS report, no more than 90 days old |
| Barbarian Law® fee | $1,000 + HST | $1,250 + HST, NUANS search included |
| Government filing fee | $300, included | $300, included |
| Trading under a brand | Register the business name: $87.50 + HST plus the $60 government fee | Not needed if you trade under the company name |
| Adding or changing a name later | Articles of amendment ($150 government fee) | Same |
| Common uses | Holding companies, real estate, businesses that trade under a brand | Operating businesses whose clients see the name |
When does a numbered company make sense?
When nobody outside the company needs to see its name. Holding companies, companies that own real estate and businesses that will trade under a brand are usually numbered. It’s also the faster route: there’s no name to search, so nothing to wait on or have rejected.
When is a named company worth the extra $250?
When the name will appear on contracts, invoices, the lease and the bank account, and it’s the name your clients know. A named company can trade under its own name without registering anything else. The $250 covers the NUANS report and our review of it: we read the similar names it turns up and tell you whether yours is likely to cause a problem.
Can a numbered company use a business name?
Yes, once the name is registered. A corporation can’t carry on business or identify itself to the public under a name other than its corporate name unless it registers that name (Business Names Act, s. 2(1)). Registration through the Ontario Business Registry costs $60 in government fees and lasts five years. We register it for $87.50 + HST (15 minutes at $350/hour) plus disbursements, including that $60.
Does the company name protect my brand?
Not on its own. A corporate name or a registered business name doesn’t stop someone else from using a similar name elsewhere in Canada. Stronger protection comes from registering a trademark with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. If the name is the brand, search it as a trademark before you incorporate.
Can I switch from numbered to named later?
Yes, by filing articles of amendment. The government fee is $150 (Ontario fee schedule), a new name needs its own NUANS report, and the minute book, bank, CRA account and contracts then need the new name. We bill amendments at $350/hour + HST against a written estimate. Starting numbered and adding a name later is common; it just costs more than choosing the name at the start.
Incorporation at Barbarian Law®
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Ontario incorporation, numbered company (incl. government filing fee) | $1,000 + HST |
| Ontario incorporation, named company (incl. government filing fee and NUANS search) | $1,250 + HST |
| Business name registration (plus the $60 government fee) | $87.50 + HST |
| Articles of amendment, minute books, shareholder agreements | $350/hour + HST |
Prices exclude HST and disbursements. Hourly work is billed against a written estimate you approve before work begins.
For the full setup, step by step, see how to incorporate in Ontario, and for everything else a company needs, corporate law at Barbarian Law®.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to incorporate a numbered company in Ontario?
At Barbarian Law®, $1,000 + HST, including the $300 government filing fee, the by-laws, the organizing resolutions, the share issuance and the minute book.
How much does a named company cost?
$1,250 + HST: the same work plus the NUANS search.
Does a numbered company need a NUANS report?
No. Only a named company does.
How long is a NUANS report good for?
The articles have to be filed within 90 days of the report’s date.
Where Art Meets Corporate Interest.
Choose the structure before the company signs anything.
Tell us what the business does and who owns it, and you get a written price before any work starts.
This article is general information about Ontario law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Every situation is different; speak with a lawyer about yours.
