Canadian · Business registry
Check if a business is registered in Ontario.
A guide to the official Ontario Business Registry: what it covers, what to enter, and a checklist for confirming a business is registered in Ontario.
Short answer: Anyone can search the Ontario Business Registry for free to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit. The registry result, not this page, is the answer.
Check a number’s format
This is a shape check that runs in your browser. It does not look anything up and nothing you type is transmitted anywhere.
Search the official register
The OBR is the authority on whether a business is registered in Ontario. This page does not copy or proxy registry data and cannot verify anyone.
What the official sources say
- Anyone can search the Ontario Business Registry (OBR) for free to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit organization.
- Most filed information, such as the registered office or other address information, is public. Filing contact information and the official email address are not shown.
- Paid products ordered directly from the ministry: profile report $8, document copies $3, certificate of status $26. Intermediaries may add service fees.
- The 9-digit company key used to link a business to an OBR profile is private. It is not a corporation number and never belongs in a search box.
Name notes
Search the exact legal name first, then shorter fragments. A trade name and a corporate name can differ, so a miss on one does not prove the business is unregistered.
Is this company registered in Ontario? A checklist
- Search Ontario’s official register (link above), not a third-party directory.
- Use the exact legal name from the contract, invoice or certificate. Then try shorter fragments.
- Confirm the legal name, entity type and status shown on the record match what you were given.
- Note whether the record is active or inactive, and the registered address.
- If you need formal proof, order the register’s certificate or summary rather than relying on a screenshot.
- Remember a CRA Business Number is a federal identifier. It does not by itself show registration in Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Is searching the Ontario Business Registry free?
Yes for basic information. Ontario.ca says anyone can search the OBR for free. Profile reports ($8), document copies ($3) and certificates of status ($26) are paid products.
Is a Business Number the same as an Ontario corporation number?
No. The Business Number is issued by the CRA. The OBR record is what shows whether an entity is registered in Ontario, so use the registry search rather than inferring it from a BN.
What is the company key and should I search with it?
The company key is a private 9-digit code used to link a business to its OBR profile. Ontario.ca says to keep it private, so never enter it in a search or share it.
Does a registry hit prove the business is active?
A hit shows the entity is on the register. Check the status shown on the record, and order a certificate of status if you need a formal statement of standing.
Official sources
Retrieved 15 October 2026. Fees and procedures change; confirm on the official site before relying on them.
Guide only — not verification
TNAADO is not affiliated with any government registry. This page links to the official register and checks number formats only. It does not confirm that any business exists or is in good standing. Use the official register for that.