LaunchList
← All Northwest Territories steps

Step 2 of 12

Register your business name with Corporate Registries

Register the name you trade under, unless it is your exact legal name.

Time
1 hour, plus mailing time
Cost
$75 for 4 years, including the name reservation (seen October 2026; confirm current fee)
NWT Corporate Registries — forms ↗

Register your business name with Corporate Registries: step-by-step guide

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

  1. NWT Corporate Registries business names forms tab with the sole proprietorship forms highlighted
    1. Download the sole proprietorship forms and mail or deliver the signed originals. Reservation is $25 and registration $50.

Screenshots captured 2026-10-18. See something different? Report a problem

Who has to register

The Northwest Territories requires you to register a business name unless you trade under your exact legal name. Adding a word such as "Designs" to your name still needs registration.

Paper only

You can't register online. Corporate Registries only accepts original signed forms, mailed or delivered in person, and not faxes or email. Include the name reservation form and its fee if you haven't reserved the name already.

What it costs

A name reservation is $25 and the registration is $50, so $75 in total. These fees are from a 2018 fee schedule, so confirm them with Corporate Registries before you pay.

Renew every four years

The registration lasts four years and costs $50 to renew. An expired registration can't be renewed. You would have to reserve and register the name again.

Keep it

Save the registration. You will need it for the bank account, your business licence and your supplier account.

Your checklist