If you are looking for a NUANS search for your business. Be sure to contact Resources for Canadian Businesses

2.  The New Upgraded Automated Name Search,
commonly referred to by the acronym NUANS, is
a Canada-wide registry of all of the business and
corporate names in Canada. The NUANS name
search system is a tool that generates a seven-
page report that compares a proposed trademark
or corporation name with existing names that have
already been registered throughout the Canadian
provinces.

3.  The NUANS business name search is a comprehensive
computerized search system that includes every
corporation name, sole proprietorship, business name,
partnership, and trademark that has been registered
throughout every Canadian federal and provincial
jurisdiction. The sole purpose of the system is to accurately
track every registered business entity across Canada.
 By comparing a chosen business name against names
registered in the NUANS name search system, every
similarity between the names in the database and the
proposed name will appear on the NUANS report. This
allows prospective business owners to determine whether
their proposed name is unique enough to stand out and
compete in the marketplace.

4.  Some Canadian provinces and territories, such as Quebec, have their own
name search database and do not accept the NUANS name search report.
However, anyone interested in opening a business in one of these locations
should still perform a NUANS report to ensure their name is still available. A
preliminary NUANS business search will suffice, and there is no fee for a
preliminary search. The following jurisdictions accept NUANS name search
reports:
 Federal
 Ontario
 Alberta
 New Brunswick
 Prince Edward Island
 Although each of these jurisdictions accepts NUANS reports, each one has its
own NUANS report. Therefore, someone incorporating an Alberta company is
required to obtain an Alberta NUANS report. New Brunswick and Prince Edward
Island companies must have an Atlantic NUANS report. If a company will
operate on a federal level, then a federal NUANS report is required. Each of
these reports may be different, but each of them searches the NUANS database
for similar names throughout all of Canada.

5.  Articles of incorporation must accompany any NUANS name
search report in order to incorporate in the federal, Ontario,
Alberta, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island jurisdictions.
A business cannot be incorporated under a name that already
exists in the system. The government must know if the name has
already been taken before you can incorporate a business. Thus,
the government must see a NUANS report or similar report to
ensure that the chosen name is free to use.
 If the name chosen for the incorporation shows up on the
NUANS business name search report, a business will not be
allowed to incorporate with that name. To avoid the cost and
hassle of finding this out after the fact, a business owner should
perform a free preliminary NUANS search to ensure the
availability of their chosen name.

6.  When reviewing the NUANS report, the names appear in order of importance. The first
name on the report is the proposed name that a person hopes to incorporate. The
proposed name is also entered into the NUANS name search system to show others that
the name has already been selected, even though it is not yet incorporated. The proposed
name is then reserved by the NUANS name search system and all of the Canadian
jurisdictions that accept the NUANS reports will not allow the reserved name to be
incorporated by another business entity.
 A NUANS report remains reserved for a period of 90 days. A company with a preferred
name that has yet to incorporate their business can renew the search prior to or
immediately after the expiration of the report in order to keep the name reserved.
Additionally, if someone has a business idea and a terrific name picked out, they can
request a NUANS report to protect the name from being used by anyone else. They can
simply renew the NUANS name search report every 90 days until they are ready to
incorporate.
 There are tremendous benefits to incorporating a business. Unfortunately, unless a name
is chosen, the Canadian government will simply issue a number as the name of the
incorporated business, which can have terrible results for every business. Having a
distinguishable name is imperative to the successful branding of any business. A NUANS
business name search helps business owners select a name that is unlike any other. A
unique name not only enables a business to separate itself from the pack, but it decreases
the likelihood of a possible lawsuit as well.

7.  When reviewing the NUANS report, the names appear in order of importance. The first
name on the report is the proposed name that a person hopes to incorporate. The
proposed name is also entered into the NUANS name search system to show others that
the name has already been selected, even though it is not yet incorporated. The proposed
name is then reserved by the NUANS name search system and all of the Canadian
jurisdictions that accept the NUANS reports will not allow the reserved name to be
incorporated by another business entity.
 A NUANS report remains reserved for a period of 90 days. A company with a preferred
name that has yet to incorporate their business can renew the search prior to or
immediately after the expiration of the report in order to keep the name reserved.
Additionally, if someone has a business idea and a terrific name picked out, they can
request a NUANS report to protect the name from being used by anyone else. They can
simply renew the NUANS name search report every 90 days until they are ready to
incorporate.
 There are tremendous benefits to incorporating a business. Unfortunately, unless a name
is chosen, the Canadian government will simply issue a number as the name of the
incorporated business, which can have terrible results for every business. Having a
distinguishable name is imperative to the successful branding of any business. A NUANS
business name search helps business owners select a name that is unlike any other. A
unique name not only enables a business to separate itself from the pack, but it decreases
the likelihood of a possible lawsuit as well.