Choosing between a named and a numbered Ontario corporation comes down to branding versus speed. A numbered corporation is assigned a number by the province and starts immediately with no name search. A named corporation uses a distinct name you choose but requires a NUANS report. Both cost the same $300.
The short answer for GTA founders
Legally, the two are identical. Both give you limited liability, a separate legal identity, and the ability to open business bank accounts, sign contracts and hire staff. The only differences are branding, name protection, and one extra step: the NUANS name-search report.
So the real decision is simple. If your brand matters now and you want to protect a distinct name, choose a named corporation. If you want the fastest, simplest setup — or you are forming a holding company where the name does not matter — choose a numbered corporation and add a public name later if you ever need one.
Named vs. numbered at a glance
| Factor | Named corporation | Numbered corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate name | A distinct name you choose (e.g. "Maple Lane Consulting Inc.") | A province-assigned number (e.g. "1234567 Ontario Inc.") |
| NUANS name-search report | Required, valid 90 days | Not required |
| Government incorporation fee | $300 | $300 |
| Extra cost | NUANS report, roughly $13.80–$75 | None |
| Speed to incorporate | Slightly slower — depends on the name search | Fastest — you can start immediately |
| Name protection | Yes, your distinct name is protected | Only the number; add a business name later for public branding |
| Best for | Brand-first businesses, customer-facing companies | Holding companies, speed-first setups, branding-later plans |
What a numbered corporation actually is
A numbered corporation is exactly what it sounds like: instead of choosing a name, the province assigns you a number. Your legal name becomes something like "1234567 Ontario Inc."
Because there is no name to search, you skip the NUANS report entirely. That makes a numbered corporation the fastest and simplest way to incorporate — there is nothing to check, clear or approve first, so you can start immediately.
This is why numbered corporations are popular for:
- Holding companies, where the entity holds assets or shares and never markets itself.
- Speed-sensitive setups, where a founder needs a corporation in place right away.
- Branding-later situations, where you have not settled on a name but want the legal structure now.
Crucially, a numbered corporation is not a lesser company. It has the same rights and protections as any named corporation.
What a named corporation gives you
A named corporation uses a distinct name you choose — for example, "Maple Lane Consulting Inc." That name becomes your legal identity and, importantly, gives you name protection: a stronger, cleaner brand that you control from day one.
The trade-off is one extra step. Before Ontario will approve a distinct name, you need a NUANS name-search report. NUANS compares your proposed name against existing corporate names and trademarks to reduce conflicts. The report is valid for 90 days, so you should incorporate within that window.
Numbered corporations do not need this report — the NUANS step is unique to named corporations.
Choose a named corporation when:
- Your brand is central to how customers find and trust you.
- You want name protection locked in from the start.
- You are building a customer-facing business where the name appears on signage, invoices, a website and marketing.
Cost: the same $300, plus one line item
Here is the part that surprises people: both structures cost the same $300 Ontario government incorporation fee. A numbered corporation is not cheaper on the government side.
The only cost difference is the NUANS report that a named corporation requires, which typically runs roughly $13.80 to $75 depending on how you obtain it. So the math is:
- Numbered corporation: $300 government fee, no NUANS.
- Named corporation: $300 government fee plus the NUANS report cost.
That modest NUANS cost is usually a worthwhile investment when branding matters — but if it genuinely does not, a numbered corporation lets you avoid it.
You can review the official filing process and requirements through the Ontario Business Registry.
You are not locked in: the operating name option
One of the most useful facts for founders is this: a numbered corporation can still operate publicly under a name.
After incorporating, a numbered corporation can register a business name — also called a trade name or operating name. That lets "1234567 Ontario Inc." do business publicly as, say, "Maple Lane Cafe" on its storefront, website and invoices, without ever renaming the corporation itself.
This gives you real flexibility:
- Incorporate now as numbered to move fast and keep costs down.
- Add an operating name later once you have settled your brand.
- Keep the corporation lean while presenting a polished public identity.
Many founders use exactly this path — form a numbered company first, then bolt on a public-facing name when they are ready.
So, which should you choose?
Use this simple rule of thumb:
- Choose a named corporation if your brand matters now, you want name protection built in from day one, and you are comfortable with the small NUANS cost and the extra name-search step.
- Choose a numbered corporation if you want the fastest, simplest setup, you are forming a holding company, or branding does not matter yet — knowing you can always add an operating name later.
For a customer-facing Markham or GTA business, a named corporation usually earns its keep. For a holding company or a founder who just needs a corporation in place today, a numbered corporation is the clean, quick choice.
Whichever fits, the details — the NUANS search, the articles of incorporation, registering an operating name and your first compliance filings — are exactly the kind of thing that slows new founders down. Markham Office offers a done-for-you incorporation service that handles named and numbered setups, the name search and the compliance basics end to end, so you can focus on launching. Reach out and we will get your corporation set up correctly the first time.