Business Name Registration and Service Guarantee Questions and Answers
Go to the start page to register or renew your business name
General Questions
- What programs can I apply for with the Business Name Search, Registration and Renewal application?
- Are there any changes to the business name registration process as a result of the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)?
- What is a Master Business Licence?
- How do I apply for a Master Business Licence?
- What is the Service Guarantee?
- What is an electronic Master Business licence (eMBL)?
- How do I obtain an electronic Master Business Licence and become eligible for the Service Guarantee?
- What forms of payments are accepted?
- How long does it take to register a business name and receive a Master Business Licence (MBL)?
- Does this service apply to business name renewals or any other services associated with IBSA?
- Who do I contact for additional information on the electronic Master Business Licence Service Guarantee?
Service Guarantee Refund Questions:
- How do I qualify for a Service Guarantee Refund?
- How do I apply for a Service Guarantee Refund?
- What information do I require in order to complete the Service Guarantee Refund form?
- How will a refund for the Service Guarantee be processed?
Privacy Questions:
Technical Questions:
- What do I do if I experience a technical problem?
- How do I know that my online transaction was successful?
- My name contains letters with accents. How do I enter these characters?
Answers
General Questions
1. What programs can I apply for with the Business Name Search, Registration and Renewal application?
You can use this application to perform a business name search, register or renew your business name, apply to the Ontario Ministry of Revenue for Employer Health Tax (EHT), and apply to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
2. Are there any changes to the business name registration process as a result of the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)?
As of July 1, 2010 Retail Sales Tax (RST) registration is only required for specific types of insurance companies. All businesses in Ontario must apply for Employer Health Tax (EHT) and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) when applicable, as well as apply for an HST number with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The Integrated Business Services Application can no longer be used for RST application.
If you have questions related to RST and/or EHT please contact 1 866 ONT TAXS (1 866 668 8297). To apply for CRA programs including Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), payroll deductions, corporate income tax and import/export accounts visit Business Registration Online.
3. What is a Master Business licence?
A Master Business Licence confirms that a business name has been submitted to the Ministry of Government Services, Companies and Personal Property Security Branch for registration on the public record. It includes the registration and expiry dates, as well as the Business Identification Number. It can also be used as proof of registration for a business name at financial institutions. A Business Name registration is required to be renewed every five years and a new Master Business Licence will be issued.
When the Master Business Licence is presented to any Ontario business program, the client is not required to repeat information contained on this licence.
4. How do I apply for a Master Business Licence?
You can apply for a business name registration and receive a Master Business licence in any one of the following ways:
- Online from your home or office
- Online at a public location (includes ServiceOntario Centres)
- Private sector assisted services
- Print and mail your registration form
- In person registration
5. What is the Service Guarantee?
ServiceOntario guarantees that an electronic copy of your Master Business Licence (eMBL) will be sent to you by email within two (2) business days after the date you registered a new business name. If you do not receive your eMBL within two (2) business days, upon your request ServiceOntario will refund your business name registration fee if the terms and conditions for a refund have been met.
6. What is an electronic Master Business Licence (eMBL)?
An eMBL is an electronic copy of the Master Business Licence delivered in PDF format via email. The eMBL is a copy of the immediate MBL received during a new business name registration. If an immediate MBL is not received during a business name registration and a valid email address is provided, the eMBL will replace the mailed paper copy.
7. How do I obtain an electronic Master Business Licence and become eligible for the Service Guarantee?
You will obtain and become eligible for the Service Guarantee if you provide a valid email address and successfully register a new business name via the Integrated Business Services Application.
8. What forms of payments are accepted?
Online registrations will only accept VISA, MasterCard or American Express payments. You can make payment by cash, cheque or money order at ServiceOntario Centres.
9. How long does it take to register a business name and receive a Master Business Licence (MBL)?
The Integrated Business Service Application is available through the ServiceOntario website 24/7. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete the registration.
If you complete your registration between 8:30 am and 6:00 pm, an MBL is produced for printing immediately. In addition, if you provide a valid email address you will be sent an eMBL within 2 business days, regardless of when the registration was completed. If no valid e-mail address is provided and the registration is completed outside of these hours, the MBL will be sent through regular mail within ten business days
10. Does this service apply to business name renewals or any other services associated with IBSA?
No, the delivery of the electronic copy of the MBL within two (2) business days applies only to new business name registrations.
11. Who do I contact for additional information on the electronic Master Business Licence Service Guarantee?
For general information, please contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre help line at 1-800-565-1921 toll free or (416) 314-9151, 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Service Guarantee Refund Questions
1. How do I qualify for a Service Guarantee Refund?
If you do not receive an electronic copy of your Master Business Licence (eMBL) within two (2) business days after registering your new business name and you meet all the Terms and Conditions of the Service Guarantee, you can submit a request for a Service Guarantee refund.
2. How do I apply for a Service Guarantee Refund?
You must complete the online Service Guarantee Refund Form in order to apply for a Service Guarantee refund.
You must apply for a Service Guarantee refund no earlier than three (3) business days and no later than 30 calendar days after the date ServiceOntario received the application, as shown on the payment receipt from the online application.
3. What information do I require in order to complete the Service Guarantee Refund form?
To complete the Service Guarantee Refund Form, you will require the following information provided during the business name registration. Most of this information can be found on your business name registration receipt. You will require the following:
- Person who authorized the registration
- Email Address
- Business Name
- IBSA Session ID
- Date that the application was submitted
4. How will a refund for the Service Guarantee be processed?
Once submitted, we will notify you that we have received and are processing your request. ServiceOntario will then review your request and you will be notified by email whether or not you met all the conditions and will be receiving your refund. Business name registration fees paid by credit card will be issued to the same credit card used during the application. If the business name registration fee was paid for by cash, cheque or money order, a cheque will be issued and mailed to you.
Privacy Questions
1. Is my credit card transaction secure?
To protect the security and confidentiality of our customer's information, ServiceOntario uses industry standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to process online credit card payments.
2. Is my email address secure?
Yes, we have strict privacy standards in place. The Privacy Statement provides detailed information about how we are protecting your privacy.
Technical Questions
1. What do I do if I experience a technical problem?
Contact the ServiceOntario Contact Centre help line at 1-800-565-1921 toll free or (416) 314-9151, 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
2. How do I know that my online transaction was successful?
Confirmation that the Ministry of Government Services successfully received your business name registration will be provided through a Summary Registration page, immediate MBL (when applicable) and via the business name registration receipt.
3. My name contains letters with accents. How do I enter these characters?
Please do not use letters with accents when registering your business name using the Integrated Business Services Application. These special characters are not supported.
