Overview

Online government services are critical, not only to individual citizens, but also to businesses and not-for-profit corporations of all sizes.

To serve Ontario better, we have launched the Ontario Business Registry, which offers simpler, faster, and more convenient access for organizations that are registered, incorporated, or licensed to carry on business in Ontario.

This online registry is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and makes it easy to interact with the government. Businesses and not-for-profit corporations can complete a wide range of transactions through the online registry, including registering a new business and dissolving an existing one.

Is your company information up-to-date?

It is the responsibility of the corporation or other entity to keep their information on the public record and beneficial ownership information accurate and up-to-date. Find out more and update your information now.

Please note that all information filed on the Ontario Business Registry, such as registered office or other address information, will be placed on the public record and publicly available for searches under the business statutes. Administrative information such as contact information for the filing and the official email address is not shown on the public record.

Access the registry

The Ontario Business Registry offers a number of different services online. Here is the list of our top services:

Find a list of all services offered

Register your business or not-for-profit corporation online

To create a new business entity or not-for-profit corporation, learn more about registering your business online.

Register your business online

Search for an entity

Anyone can do a free search of the Ontario Business Registry to get basic information about a business or not-for-profit organization.

To get more detailed information about an entity (such as a detailed profile report), you can order a search product directly through the ministry or by using one of the government’s authorized service providers.

If you have an existing ServiceOntario account, you can order a search product for your own entity by signing into ONe-Key and selecting “search products” in the drop-down list from your entity’s profile.

Access your existing corporation or other entity

If your corporation or other entity was registered or incorporated before the launch of the Ontario Business Registry on October 19th, the information has been migrated from the old system and it has a profile in the registry.

To access a corporation or other entity profile, make filing under business statutes you will need its company key. A company key is similar to the Personal Identification Number (PIN) you use at the bank or to access other online accounts or services.

Step 1. Get your company key

You will need a company key to access the Ontario Business Registry. The company key will be emailed to the official email address on file. If an email address is not on file, the company key will be mailed to the registered or head office address or principal place of business address on record. If the business address has changed from what is on record, you will need to answer additional questions to have a company key emailed to you.

Step 2. Login into ONe-Key

Once you have your company key, you may proceed to sign in with your ONe-key ID. You will be asked to sign up for a ONe-key ID and create a ServiceOntario account.

A ONe-key ID is a unique electronic credential allowing you to securely access government services. A ONe-key ID also enables you to create your very own ServiceOntario account. With this account you will be able to access different provincial services, including the

ServiceOntario staff do not have the ability to recover a ONe-key account if you forget your:

  • password
  • recovery questions
  • email address on file

You will need to create a new ONe-key ID if you are unable to remember your recovery questions and answers and do not have a recovery email address on file.

Step 3. Create your ServiceOntario account

Once you have signed-up for your ONe-key ID, you will be asked to create your ServiceOntario account.

You can now link your business to your ServiceOntario account using your company key. Once complete your business will be listed on your ServiceOntario account and you can access the Ontario Business Registry from this page.

Notices of filing requirements

If you are incorporating a business or not-for-profit, registering a business name, partnership or extra-provincial company, or wish to make changes or dissolve an existing entity, you can get ready to file by using these guides: Notices of filing requirements.

These notices will tell you what information you need and how you can file under all eight business law statutes:

  • Business Corporations Act
  • Business Names Act
  • Co-operative Corporations Act
  • Corporations Act
  • Corporations Information Act
  • Extra-Provincial Corporations Act
  • Limited Partnerships Act, and
  • Not-for-Profit Corporations Act

Service providers

Government-authorized service providers are available to help you with your transactions on the Ontario Business Registry: 

Follow each provider’s link to learn more about the services they offer.

Law, accounting, and search firms

A corporation or other entity may hire a firm—referred to as an intermediary—to transact on its behalf.

Currently, intermediaries can transact via authorized service provider or by mail. At this point in time, they cannot transact directly in the Ontario Business Registry, however future system updates will address online access for intermediaries.

The following qualified intermediaries can continue to transact via and email:

  • lawyers and paralegals governed by the Law Society of Ontario
  • Chartered Professional Accountants governed by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
  • law clerks filing under the direction and guidance of a lawyer governed by the Law Society of Ontario
  • members of OAPSOR (Ontario Association of Professional Searchers of Records) who regularly file with the ministry on behalf of corporations and other entities, law firms and accounting firms

If you use a trusted, qualified intermediary to transact on your behalf, you will need to share your company key. A company key is similar to the Personal Identification Number (PIN) you use at the bank or to access other online accounts or services.

To request a company key, complete and submit the Company Key Request Form.

Co-operatives

Co-operative corporations have profiles in the Ontario Business Registry and may file their Corporations Information Act notices and returns directly in the registry. 

For more information, on starting or amending the articles of a co-operative, see Notice: Co-operative Corporations Act.

At this time, while co-operative corporations do have profiles in the Ontario Business Registry, these types of corporations cannot transact in the registry. For more information, contact us.

Annual returns

You can file your annual return directly in the Ontario Business Registry.

On May 15, 2021, the Canada Revenue Agency stopped accepting corporations’ annual returns on behalf of the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery (MPBSD).

From May 15, 2021 through October 18, 2021, corporations whose annual returns were due during that period we exempt, meaning these corporations did not have to file an annual return for 2021.

Corporations who have an annual return due after October 18, 2021 must file their annual returns, which they can now do directly in the registry.

To file your corporation’s annual return, go to the corporation’s registry profile and select the “Make Changes” drop-down list. On that drop-down list, you will find the option to file an annual return.

Access your corporation’s Ontario Business Registry profile

Company information

It is the responsibility of the corporation or other entity to keep their information on the public record and beneficial ownership information accurate and up-to-date.

Update your company information

Changes to information can be made by filing a Notice of Change:

To update information for an existing business or not-for-profit corporation, please use the Company Key Request Form for a secure company key that will provide you the access you need.

Beneficial Ownership Information

As of January 1, 2023, corporations are required to keep their beneficial ownership information on file and provide such information upon request by law enforcement, and regulatory and tax authorities. This document must be reviewed at least once a year.

Information on the Public Record

All information filed on the Ontario Business Registry, such as registered office or other address information, will be placed on the public record and publicly available for searches under the business statutes. Administrative information such as contact information for the filing and the official email address is not shown on the public record.

Contact us

Help us improve our service

Take a 2-minute survey about your use of the Ontario Business Registry.

Contact us by email if you have questions about signing up for the Ontario Business Registry. Alternatively, you can call ServiceOntario at: