Hours:
Monday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday & Statutory Holidays: Closed
Registry @ South Trail Crossing
66, 4307 – 130th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2Z 3V8
Fax: 403-257-1830
CALGARY REGISTRATION SERVICES YOU CAN COUNT ON
CORPORATE REGISTRY
CORPORATE REGISTRY SERVICES IN CALGARY: INCORPORATE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE HELP OF OUR REGISTRY AGENTS
Are you ready to start your own corporation, non-profit or society? At Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd., we can help you register and incorporate your new business. We’re your go-to corporate registry firm in Calgary. Our knowledgeable agents can guide you through the incorporation process, including a government-required business name search. Contact us today to get started.
Business Types
Before registering your business in Alberta, it’s important to understand the different types of business structures available. Each type comes with its own legal, financial, and operational implications. Whether you're starting solo or with partners, choosing the right structure is a key step toward building a successful and compliant business.
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Sole Proprietorship: A sole proprietorship, or trade name, is a business structure where an individual owns and operates the business as the sole owner. In this model, there is no legal distinction between the individual and the business entity, meaning the owner is personally responsible for all aspects of the business, including its finances and liabilities. It’s the simplest and most accessible way to start a business in Alberta.
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Partnership: A partnership is a business structure where two or more individuals manage and operate a business following the terms and objectives set out in a Partnership Deed. Each partner contributes to all aspects of the company, including finances, management, and responsibilities. In a general partnership, each partner is personally liable for the business’s debts and liabilities.
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Limited Corporation: A limited corporation is a legal entity distinct from its owners, known as shareholders. It’s formed to conduct business, with ownership represented by shares of stock. Corporations provide limited liability to shareholders, separating personal and business assets. Incorporation allows for perpetual existence, centralized management, and raising capital by selling stocks. Shareholders can also be easily changed through the transfer of shares. Shareholders elect a Board of Directors to oversee major decisions and vote on significant matters.
We also offer land title and personal property registration services. Contact our agents for more information.
Registering Your Business Name: What You Need to Know
Registering a business name in Alberta is a critical step for all entrepreneurs who want to operate under a name other than their own personal legal name. This registration is required for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations alike.
Here’s what you need to know about registering your business name:
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Uniqueness: Your business name must be unique and not cause confusion with existing registered names or trademarks. A NUANS report is typically required to confirm this.
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Legal Protection: For incorporation, registering your business name grants you the legal right to use that name in Alberta and protects it from being used by others in the province.
Expanding Your Business Journey: Comprehensive Business Registry Services
Starting a business in Alberta is an exciting venture, but it involves several important steps to ensure your business is legally compliant and positioned for success. Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. is proud to provide comprehensive business registry support, offering services ranging from basic to complex business registrations.
Whether you are launching a sole proprietorship or incorporating a complex corporation, our team can guide you through the entire registration process with clarity and confidence. Our services include:
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Business Name Registration: Before you can operate under your chosen business name, it must be registered with the Alberta Corporate Registry. This protects your brand and ensures no other business is using the same or a confusingly similar name. We assist with submitting your business name registration application and help you understand the naming rules and restrictions.
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Basic Business Registrations: For sole proprietorships and partnerships, we handle the straightforward registration process, ensuring your business is officially recognized by the province.
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Advanced and Complex Registrations: For corporations, non-profits, societies, and other entities requiring more detailed documentation and compliance, our experienced agents walk you through the paperwork, filing requirements, and government regulations.
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Business Registry Compliance: We help you maintain compliance with Alberta’s registry requirements, including annual filings, structural changes, and corporate information updates.
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Business Registry Searches: Need to verify if a business name is available or check the status of a corporation? Our registry search services provide you with up-to-date information to make informed decisions.
Services for Existing Business Owners
If you already own a business in Alberta, Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. can help you with all your administrative needs, including:
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Filing an annual return. Filing an Annual Return: Every company must file an annual return with your business’s key information. Failing to do so could get you struck from the registry. Corporate returns are due at the end of the month following the anniversary of your original registry. For instance, if you registered your business in November, your return is due October 31.
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Changing Business Information: Changes in business configurations are common, and you must report them to the registry within 15 days of the change. At Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd., we can help ensure that changes to your corporation’s name, address, directors, shareholders or corporate structure are done correctly and updated in the registry.
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Terminating A Partnership or Trade Name: Businesses can dissolve for several reasons. Whatever the reason, you must notify the registry that the company has ceased and isn’t carrying on under that name. If your business stops operating, we can help you terminate your partnership or trade name. Remember, dissolving a partnership requires an application and signature from only one partner.
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Reviving a Corporation: You can also revive a corporation previously struck from the registry or dissolved. You’ll need to file all outstanding annual returns and do a NUANS search if the company has been struck or dissolved for over three years. Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. can help revive your company and get you back in business.
Launch Your Corporate Brainchild with Our Help
At Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd., we offer incorporation services at our Calgary location. The incorporation process differs from entity to entity. If you’re unsure how to best incorporate your business, choose the appropriate link below to learn more about our entity-specific services and requirements, consult with our agents or visit Service Alberta’s guidelines page. Be sure to bring all completed and relevant forms to your appointment.
Alberta law requires the requester to be present for the incorporation process. So, make an appointment at our corporate registry office in Calgary today. You can also reach us via email or fill out our online form, and we’ll get back to you.
Our agents will help you finish any incomplete forms and file them appropriately. We also provide clients with a NUANS search for the Calgary area to help them find a name for their newly incorporated business.
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General Information Forms
These businesses promote a cause, such as science, charity, or art.
NUANS Business Name Searches
The first step in incorporation is to select a name and to be certain that the name you have selected is unique and not easily confused with that of another corporation. For advice on selecting names visit the Business Name page of the Service Alberta website. There are naming criteria for all types of corporate entities and it is important that you review the requirements for the type you have selected. All corporations in Alberta must be either named or numbered.
NUANS is a computerized search system that, for the purposes of corporate registry, compares a proposed corporate name to a database of existing corporate names. This comparison determines the similarity that exists between the proposed name and existing names in the database, and produces a listing of names that are found to be most similar. The NUANS report will reserve the proposed name, for a period of 90 days, for the person requesting the report. Business Name Search Reports are different in that, while they provide a list of similar names, there is no exclusive reservation of the name.
NUANS reports, whether they are sent to an authorized service provider or to the Corporate Registry office, must be less than 91 days old and must contain all 6 pages. Either the original or a carbon copy is acceptable.
Corporate Registry Search Services in Calgary
A corporate registry search in Calgary involves obtaining official information from the Alberta Corporate Registry about a specific corporation registered in the province. This search provides detailed information about the corporation’s legal status, structure, directors, registered office address and financial statements.
Applying for corporate registry search with Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd. in Calgary is a good idea if you’re:
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Verifying a corporation’s legal existence, ensuring it’s duly registered and authorized to conduct business in Alberta.
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Looking for information about the corporation’s structure, including its directors, officers and shareholders.
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Inquiring about the corporation’s financial health as an investor, creditor or business partner assessing the company’s stability and viability.
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Entering into a business transaction and need to assess potential liabilities associated with the corporation, such as outstanding debts or legal issues that could impact your business relationship.
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Investigating if the corporation complies with legal requirements such as annual filings and other obligations. Non-compliance may indicate potential risks and legal issues.
Instantly access corporate, personal property, and land title searches online. Get the information you need quickly and conveniently, without the wait.
FILE FOR A SOCIETY WITH THE CORPORATE REGISTRY OFFICE
Please file for society incorporation with the Corporate Registry office, using one of the methods listed below.
Address
John E. Brownlee
10365-97 Street
Edmonton, AB
T5J 3W7
Fax
780-422-1091
RITE: 310-0000
Mailing Address
Alberta Registries
Corporate Registry
Box 1007 Station Main
Edmonton, AB T5J 4W6
Comprehensive Corporate Registry Services in Calgary
At Registry @ South Trail Crossing Ltd., our knowledgeable staff can help you with various business registration and incorporation services. Contact us today for more information or to set up an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I register a trade name, can someone else still use the same name?
Yes, registering a trade name in Alberta does not provide exclusive rights to that name. Trade name registration allows you to operate under a specific name, but it does not prevent others from registering or using the same or a similar name. If you want exclusive rights to a business name, you should consider registering it as a trademark through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). This offers broader legal protection and helps prevent others from using a confusingly similar name, especially in the same industry.
How long does the business name registration process take?
In Alberta, registering a business or trade name through the Alberta Online Business Registry is typically very fast. In most cases, the process can be completed within one business hour when done online. This makes it one of the quickest ways to officially register your business name and begin operations.
Am I allowed to change or update my business name after it’s been registered?
Yes, you can change or update your business name in Alberta.
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For Corporations:
You’ll need to file Articles of Amendment and obtain a new NUANS report to confirm the availability of the new name. The NUANS report must be less than 91 days old. Once approved, you’ll receive updated registration documents reflecting the change.
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For Sole Proprietorships or Partnerships:
The process is simpler and does not require Articles of Amendment, but the new name must still meet Alberta’s naming rules. You can submit a name change request through a registry agent or an authorized online service. The new name must still meet Alberta’s naming requirements.
