Registration
How to Register a Sole Proprietorship in the NWT
Northwest Territories business registration for sole proprietors: name search, the $50 filing, four-year renewals and your CRA steps to take today.
Northwest Territories business registration for a sole proprietorship is handled by NWT Corporate Registries, part of the Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories. For most owners it means two steps: a $25 name search and reservation, then a $50 application to register the business name — filed on paper, by mail or in person, because the territory does not accept electronic filings. If you trade under your exact legal name alone, no registration is required. As of the current tax year the process is inexpensive but paper-based, so budget for mailing time. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Do you need to register a business name in the NWT?
A Northwest Territories sole proprietorship is not a separate legal entity; you and the business are the same taxpayer. Registration under the Partnership and Business Names Act is about the name the public sees. If you operate under your exact legal name — for example, “John Tsetso” — registration is not required. Add anything to that name, including words such as “Consulting”, “Services” or “and Associates”, and it becomes a business name that must be registered. The rule applies whether you work from Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Smith or a remote camp. For background on how this structure works, see what a sole proprietorship is.
Step 1: Search and reserve your business name
The first filing is the Application for Name Search and Reservation, submitted to Corporate Registries with the search fee. Per the registry's published fee schedule, the name search and reservation is $25, and the reservation is valid for 90 days. The registration must be filed inside that window; if the reservation lapses, you begin again with another search.
NWT Corporate Registries runs its own name search rather than requiring a NUANS report, the federal-style search report used for incorporation and in some provinces. If you are weighing a federal or territorial route, or want to understand name searches generally, see NUANS reports in Canada and how to register a business name in Canada.
Step 2: File the Application to Register Business Name
Once the name is reserved, complete the Application to Register Business Name (Sole Proprietorship). The registry's instructions are specific:
- Submit the original signed forms in duplicate.
- File by mail or in person at the Yellowknife office — fax, email and other electronic delivery are not accepted.
- Pay by cash, cheque, Visa or Mastercard.
- Include the registration fee: $50 where the name was reserved first (the normal route), or $75 where the name was not reserved.
Because the online system is for searches only, filings cannot be submitted digitally. Confirm the current fees and forms with Corporate Registries before mailing, since amounts and requirements can change.
NWT business registration fees at a glance
| Item | Fee (confirm with the registry) |
|---|---|
| Name search and reservation | $25 |
| Registration, name reserved first | $50 |
| Registration, name not reserved | $75 |
| Renewal, every 4 years | $50 |
These amounts come from the GNWT Partnership and Business Names Act fee schedule. To see how the territory compares, read business registration cost by province.
Renewing your registration every 4 years
An NWT business name registration must be renewed every 4 years at a fee of $50 under the current schedule. Diarise the expiry date; the registry does not chase owners. An expired registration cannot be renewed, so the owner must start over with a new name search ($25) plus a new registration ($50), assuming the name is still available. That is the practical reason to renew early rather than late.
After registration: CRA, your Business Number and GST/HST
Registering a business name with the GNWT does not create a Business Number (BN). That comes from the CRA. Depending on your activities you may need a GST/HST account, payroll deduction accounts if you hire employees, or a corporate income tax account if you later incorporate. Sole proprietors report business income on form T2125 with their personal return, and amounts paid to contractors may be reported on a T4A. Accounts are managed through CRA My Business Account. Whether GST/HST registration is required depends on the small supplier rules — confirm the current threshold on the CRA website. Also check municipal licensing, zoning and workers' compensation coverage in the NWT, which are separate from business name registration. See federal vs provincial business registration, and if you are comparing territories, registering a sole proprietorship in Yukon.
Why NWT filings get rejected
- Only one copy of the signed application is sent instead of the required duplicate originals.
- The name on the application does not match the reserved name exactly.
- The form is faxed or emailed, which the registry does not accept.
- The 90-day reservation expired before the registration was filed.
If anything is unclear, contact Corporate Registries before mailing rather than after. Corrections cost mailing time twice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Northwest Territories business registration cost for a sole proprietorship?
Under the GNWT Partnership and Business Names Act fee schedule, a name search and reservation is $25, and registration is $50 where the name was reserved first or $75 where it was not. Renewal every four years is $50. These amounts are set by the registry and can change, so confirm the current fees with NWT Corporate Registries before you file.
Do I have to register a sole proprietorship in the NWT if I use my own name?
No. If you operate under your exact legal name with nothing added, registration is not required. Adding descriptive words such as “Consulting”, “Services” or “and Associates” creates a business name that must be registered under the Partnership and Business Names Act. If you are unsure whether your intended name needs registration, ask Corporate Registries directly.
Can I register an NWT sole proprietorship online?
No. The territory's online system is used for searches only, not filings. The Application to Register Business Name must be submitted as original signed forms in duplicate, by mail or in person at the Yellowknife office. Fax, email and other electronic delivery are not accepted, so allow mailing time and keep copies of everything you send.
How often must I renew an NWT business name registration?
Registration must be renewed every four years at a fee of $50 under the current schedule. An expired registration cannot be renewed, so an owner who misses the date must re-register with a new name search ($25) plus the registration fee ($50), provided the name is still available. Track your expiry date and renew before it lapses where possible.
Do I need a NUANS report to register a business name in the Northwest Territories?
Generally no. NWT Corporate Registries conducts its own name search and reservation rather than relying on a NUANS report, which is more commonly associated with federal incorporation and some provincial registries. Requirements can vary with the type of filing, so confirm with Corporate Registries what search documentation your application needs before you submit it.