Register a Sole Proprietorship

A business name search, called a NUANS report, is the process of checking whether a proposed business name is available and legally usable for registration. The NUANS report compares the desired name against existing corporate names and trademarks to ensure it does not conflict with other registered entities.

When you register a business in Alberta, it is automatically assigned a Business Number (BN) at no additional cost. This CRA-issued number is used to access various federal, provincial, and tax-related programs and services.

It is a method used to categorize and classify businesses based on the products or services they offer. You can describe your business activities in a few words. Example: Construction Services, IT Service Provider, Restaurant, Auto Repair Services.

Alberta regulations for registering a Sole Proprietorship require that a valid Photo ID be submitted with the application. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license, passport, or permanent resident card.

You have to register for a GST account if your business revenue is more than $30,000 in a single calendar or if you make taxable sales, leases or other supplies in Canada.

You need to register for a payroll program account if you pay salaries, gratuities, bonuses or allowances to your employees. Even if you as the owner of the business is the only employee who takes out salary, you will need to register a payroll account.

If you import goods into Canada or export goods to other countries, you need to register for an import-export program account.