Quick answer: New Brunswick business registration is handled by the Corporate Registry at Service New Brunswick. Sole proprietors and partnerships file a Certificate of Business Name for $112, renewable every five years for $62. A provincial corporation is registered by filing Articles of Incorporation for $262 when filed electronically. A company already incorporated federally or in another province or U.S. state registers extra-provincially for $212. Most filings are approved within a few business days.
New Brunswick business registration at a glance
| Registry | Corporate Registry, Service New Brunswick (SNB) |
| Governing statutes | Partnerships and Business Names Registration Act; Business Corporations Act |
| Business name filing | $112 (includes $12 Royal Gazette publication) |
| Provincial incorporation | $262 electronic filing |
| Extra-provincial registration | $212 |
| Annual return | $60 per year for corporations |
| Name search | New Brunswick NUANS report required for corporate names |
| Non-resident rule | A New Brunswick agent or representative for service is mandatory |
Who has to register a business in New Brunswick
You must register if you carry on business in the province and any of the following apply:
- You operate under a name that is not your own personal legal name.
- You are forming a corporation that will be based in New Brunswick.
- You are a partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership.
- You are already incorporated elsewhere — federally, in another province, or in the United States — and you solicit business, advertise a New Brunswick address, hold a provincial licence, or maintain an office, warehouse, or resident representative in the province.
That last point catches a lot of U.S. and out-of-province companies by surprise. Selling into New Brunswick from Boston or Toronto does not automatically trigger registration, but placing staff, inventory, or an advertised local address there generally does. If you are weighing New Brunswick against other jurisdictions first, our guide to the best provinces to start a business in Canada compares tax rates, incentives, and filing costs side by side.
Choosing your structure first
| Structure | Best for | Liability | Government cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | Freelancers, consultants, single-owner trades | Unlimited personal | $112 |
| Partnership | Two or more owners sharing profits | Unlimited, joint | $112 |
| NB corporation | Companies raising capital, hiring, or holding contracts | Limited | $262 |
| Extra-provincial registration | Existing federal, provincial, or U.S. corporations expanding in | Limited | $212 |
A business name registration does not create a separate legal entity or limit your liability. If asset protection matters, incorporate — our breakdown of sole proprietorship vs corporation in Canada walks through the tax and liability trade-offs, and you can also review how to start a partnership in Canada if you are going in with co-owners.
How to register a new business in New Brunswick
Step 1 — Clear your name
Run a New Brunswick business registration search on the Corporate Registry to see whether your name is already in use. For any corporate name, order a New Brunswick NUANS report — a national database search that compares your proposed name against existing corporations and trademarks. Distinctive names clear far more easily than generic descriptive ones; these tips for choosing a business name in Canada cover what the registry typically rejects.
Step 2 — File with the Corporate Registry
Filings are submitted through SNB’s online filing centre. Sole proprietors and partnerships file the Certificate of Business Name. Corporations file Form 1 (Articles of Incorporation), Form 2 (Notice of Registered Office), and Form 4 (Notice of Directors). Extra-provincial applicants file Form 26 (Statement of Registration) along with Forms 25 and 25.1 appointing and confirming an attorney for service. The mechanics mirror the federal process described in our guide to registering a corporation in Canada.
Step 3 — Establish a New Brunswick address
A provincial corporation needs a registered office physically located in New Brunswick — a P.O. box alone is not accepted. Non-resident applicants must appoint a resident agent or representative for service, which is where most cross-border founders use a professional service provider or a compliant Canadian virtual office address.
Step 4 — Get your CRA accounts
Registration produces a 15-digit Business Number (BN). Layer on the program accounts you need: GST/HST registration if your taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive quarters (New Brunswick’s combined HST rate is 15%), payroll if you hire, and import/export if you move goods across the border.
Step 5 — Handle licences and banking
Municipal permits, WorkSafeNB coverage, and sector licences (food service, construction, trucking, financial services) sit outside the registry. Open a Canadian business bank account once your certificate is issued — most banks require the registration document and director identification. Compare your options among the top banks in Canada for business banking.
New Brunswick business name registration
New Brunswick business name registration is the route for anyone trading under something other than their own legal name. The $112 fee covers the $100 filing plus $12 for the mandatory notice in the Royal Gazette. The certificate stays valid for five years and renews for $62. If you close the business or stop using the name, file a cessation for $12. The provincial rules sit within the wider national framework covered in our guide to registering a business name in Canada.
Registering a name secures your right to file and trade under it — it is not a trademark. If your brand matters commercially, file a separate application to register a trademark in Canada with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.
New Brunswick business registration search
The Corporate Registry’s public search is free and useful in three situations:
- Before filing — confirm no existing entity holds a confusingly similar name.
- Due diligence — verify that a supplier, contractor, or acquisition target is registered and in good standing.
- Compliance checks — confirm your own annual return status and registered office details are current.
Search results show registration status and key filings, but they do not guarantee name approval — the registry makes that call at filing.
Documents required for New Brunswick business registration
| Entity type | What you file |
|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship / partnership | Certificate of Business Name; owner legal names and addresses; business activity and effective date; Form 7 appointing a representative if the owner lives outside NB |
| NB corporation | NUANS report; Form 1 Articles of Incorporation with share structure; Form 2 Notice of Registered Office; Form 4 Notice of Directors; director names, addresses, and consent |
| Extra-provincial | NUANS report in the corporation’s exact name; Form 26 Statement of Registration; Forms 25 and 25.1 for the attorney for service; certificate of status or good standing from the home jurisdiction |
U.S. founders should expect to supply a certificate of good standing from their state of incorporation and government-issued ID for each director. No Canadian residency requirement applies to directors of a New Brunswick corporation — only the registered office and service address must be local. Depending on how you want the Canadian entity to sit under your U.S. parent, compare registering a subsidiary in Canada against opening a branch office.
Cost of registering a business in New Brunswick
| Item | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Business Name | $112 |
| Business name renewal (every 5 years) | $62 |
| Incorporation — electronic filing | $262 |
| Incorporation — paper filing | $312 |
| Incorporation — expedited paper filing | $362 |
| Extra-provincial registration | $212 |
| Corporate annual return | $60 |
| NUANS name search report | Approx. $30–$75 through a search house |
| Resident agent / registered office service | Approx. $300–$1,200 per year |
Filing fees are only part of the picture. Budget separately for bookkeeping and a T2 corporate return, which typically starts around $1,500 annually for a straightforward company with clean records — see current corporation tax rates in Canada to model your effective rate. Fees are current as of 2026 and set by Service New Brunswick; confirm the schedule before filing.
Staying compliant after registration
- Annual return — corporations file yearly with the registry ($60). This is separate from the CRA T2 income tax return.
- Business name renewal — calendar the five-year date; a lapsed name loses protection.
- Change filings — update the registry when directors, the registered office, or the agent for service changes.
- Tax filings — HST remittances on their assigned schedule, payroll source deductions monthly, and the T2 within six months of year-end. Keep the full calendar of CRA filing deadlines for businesses handy.
If you would rather not track any of it in-house, IncPass offers ongoing compliance services in Canada covering registry filings, bookkeeping, and tax returns.
Register your New Brunswick business with IncPass
IncPass handles New Brunswick business registration end-to-end for Canadian and U.S. founders — name search and NUANS, registry filings, registered office and agent for service, CRA Business Number and HST setup, and ongoing annual return compliance. Talk to our team about your structure and target launch date, and we will confirm the exact fees and documents for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident register a business in New Brunswick?
Yes. There is no director residency requirement for a New Brunswick corporation. You must, however, maintain a registered office in the province and appoint a New Brunswick resident as agent or attorney for service.
How long does New Brunswick business registration take?
Electronic filings are typically processed within a few business days once the name is cleared. Paper filings take longer, and processing times vary with registry volume.
Should I incorporate federally or in New Brunswick?
Federal incorporation gives national name protection and mobility, but you will still register extra-provincially in New Brunswick if you operate there — so it adds a second layer of filings. If New Brunswick is your only base of operations, provincial incorporation is usually simpler and cheaper. Our guide on how to register a company in Canada compares both routes in detail.
Do I need a NUANS report for a sole proprietorship?
No. A NUANS report is required for corporate and extra-provincial names. For a business name registration, a registry search is sufficient — though a NUANS check is still worth doing if you plan to build a brand around the name. See how the process works for a sole proprietorship in Canada.
Is a business number the same as a business registration?
No. Provincial registration creates your legal entity or trade name; the CRA Business Number is your federal tax identifier. Most founders need both.