LaunchList
← All Alberta steps

Step 1 of 12

Choose your structure and business name

Decide how the business is set up and what it is called.

Time
1–2 hours
Cost
Free, or a fee if you order a NUANS name report
Alberta — register a business name ↗

Choose your structure and business name: step-by-step guide

Screenshots use a made-up example business. Official sites change, so yours may look slightly different.

  1. Alberta register a business name page with the Types of business names section and the trade name description highlighted
    1. Read Alberta's Types of business names. A trade name is what you register when you do business under a name other than your own personal name.
  2. Alberta register a business name page with the step about getting a Business Name Report from NUANS highlighted
    2. Before you register, consider a NUANS Business Name Report. Alberta recommends one to find similar names, but it is optional and NUANS members charge for it.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-17. See something different? Report a problem

Structure

Start as a sole proprietorship. It is the cheapest and simplest option, and you can incorporate later if the business grows.

The trade-off is that you are personally liable for the business. Alberta's own guidance says a business name has no legal existence of its own, so your personal assets are on the line for business debts. Insurance (step 6) is how you manage that risk.

Name

  • If you trade under just your own legal name (for example "Jane Smith"), you do not have to register a name.
  • If you use any other name, for example "Jane's Gift Shop", you must register it as a trade name in the next step.

Checking the name

Alberta does not stop two businesses registering the same name, and the owner of a similar name could take legal action against you. A NUANS Business Name Report lists similar business names, corporations and trademarks. Alberta recommends one but does not require it. NUANS members charge for the report, so ask your registry agent or a NUANS member for the price.

Keep it practical

Choose a name you are comfortable seeing on a bank statement, a licence and a shipping label.

Your checklist