How to Register a Sole Proprietorship in New Brunswick

Registering a sole proprietorship in New Brunswick means dealing with the New Brunswick Corporate Registry, operated by Service New Brunswick — but only if you plan to carry on business under a name that is not your own legal name. If you trade simply as yourself, no provincial business name registration is required. If you want to operate as a trade name, you must register a Certificate of Business Name under the Partnerships and Business Names Registration Act.

When New Brunswick requires a business name registration

The Corporate Registry's test turns on the name you use, not on whether you are a sole proprietor. Registration is required when a person carries on business under a designation other than their own name, or under their own name with a term such as 'and company' or another word suggesting a plurality of persons. A solo owner using only their legal name falls outside that requirement.

Two practical points follow. First, registering a business name does not create a separate legal entity: a New Brunswick sole proprietorship remains an extension of you, and you stay personally responsible for its debts and liabilities. Second, many owners register anyway, so they can open a business bank account, invoice under a trade name, or hold a name others cannot simply reuse. For background, see what a sole proprietorship is in Canada.

Step-by-step: how to register with the New Brunswick Corporate Registry

Filing is available online through the Corporate Registry, and the sequence is short:

1. Choose your business name and order a New Brunswick NUANS name search report. The report must be current within 90 days when you file.
2. Register the Certificate of Business Name (Form 5) through the Corporate Registry, within two months of starting business.
3. Pay the $112 fee — $100 for registration plus the mandatory $12 Royal Gazette publication.
4. If you are not a New Brunswick resident, appoint an agent for service using Form 7 at registration; there is no additional fee for this.
5. Diarise the renewal: a Certificate of Renewal is due every five years.

The Registry assesses name suitability against the NUANS report, so a name that is too close to an existing one can be refused. More on the report itself: NUANS report in Canada.

What it costs to register in New Brunswick

The only unavoidable third-party cost is the NUANS report, because New Brunswick does not publish a fee for it — search providers set their own prices. For how this compares nationally, see business registration costs by province.

Renewals, out-of-province owners, and keeping the registration valid

A New Brunswick business name registration is not permanent. A Certificate of Renewal must be filed every five years at a cost of $62, and the Registry can cancel a registration that lapses. Renew on time — a lapsed name may later be taken by someone else.

Owners who live outside New Brunswick must appoint an agent for service in the province using Form 7 when they register. The appointment carries no additional registry fee, but it is mandatory, and it gives the Registry a New Brunswick address for service of documents.

After registration: Business Number, GST/HST, and income tax

Provincial registration and federal tax accounts are separate. Once registered, you will typically want a Business Number (BN) from the CRA, with program accounts added as needed — for example an RT account for GST/HST, or an RP account if you hire employees. You must register for GST/HST once revenues exceed the small-supplier threshold; confirm the current threshold and New Brunswick's HST rate on the CRA website, since both can change.

On the income tax side, a sole proprietorship is not taxed separately. You report business income on Form T2125, filed with your T1 return, and pay CPP contributions on net self-employment income. Self-employed people can opt into EI benefits, but enrolment is not automatic. Keep records of income, expenses, and the NUANS report as long as CRA requires. For how provincial and federal registration interact, see federal vs provincial business registration.

Sole proprietorship or corporation in New Brunswick?

Registering a business name does not incorporate you. If liability protection or a lower small-business tax rate matters more than simplicity, incorporating provincially or federally is the alternative. Compare the trade-offs in sole proprietorship vs corporation in Canada, and review the general naming steps in how to register a business name in Canada.

Other approvals and where to confirm details

Business name registration is not a licence to operate. Depending on your activity, you may also need a municipal business licence, health or safety permits, or sector-specific approvals from a New Brunswick department or a professional body. The fees, forms, and renewal rules described here reflect published Service New Brunswick information as of the current tax year; confirm current amounts with the Corporate Registry before you file. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.