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Who Needs to Register?
Law requires all businesses operating in Nova Scotia to register with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies except:
- New Brunswick corporations and NB partnerships/business names registered in New Brunswick
- Individuals or partners using only their personal names without a descriptive element or attachment such as 'and Associates'
- Partnerships whose sole purpose is farming or fishing
Registration procedures vary depending on what you wish to register: Business Name on Behalf of a Limited Company, Co-operative, Extra-Provincial Company,. Incorporated Company, Partnership, Society, Sole Proprietorship.
You can find more information on the legislation requiring registration from:
- Co-operative Associations Act
- Corporations Registration Act
- Partnerships and Business Names Registration Act
- Societies Act
Definitions
- Business Name on Behalf of an Incorporated Company
-
If a limited company chooses to operate under a name other than its legal name, you must register the name.
- More Information:
- Business Name, Sole Proprietorship or Partnership: Registration
- Co-operative
-
A co-operative is a user-owned and user-controlled business with a minimum of three founding members. It can be either for-profit or non-profit. It is a separate legal entity from the members so that liability is limited to the amount a member contributes to or invests in the co-operative.
- More Information:
- Co-operative: Incorporation (Both Profit and Non-Profit) (Approval and Registration)
- Extra Provincial Corporation
- A corporation incorporated in a province other than Nova Scotia.
- More Information:
- Business Registration: Corporations
- Incorporated Company
-
A business with one or more shareholders, often called a company or corporation. A company offers a separate legal identity for its shareholders, where company debts or personal liability may be limited to the amount a shareholder contributes.
- More Information:
- Business Registration: Corporations
- Partnership
-
A business formed by one or more people or corporations. Within a partnership each partner is potentially liable for all debts of the partnership.
- More Information:
- Business Name, Sole Proprietorship or Partnership: Registration
- Recognized Agent
-
This is the person who receives official correspondence and who may be served, on behalf of the partnership, business name, incorporation or society, with a writ, summons, process, or other legal notice. He or she is also the co ntact for the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. The Agent does not have to be a lawyer, but he or she must be a full time resident of Nova Scotia.
- Form:
-
Recognized Agent Form [
- 491.52 kb]
- Society
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A non-profit organization which is incorporated under the Societies Act. Incorporation is not mandatory for societies, but the benefits, such as limited liability for members, sometimes make this a good option.
- More Information:
- Society Incorporation (and Registration)
- Sole Proprietorship
-
A business operated by one person, under a name other than his/her own first and last name. Also called a "partnership of one."
- More Information:
- Business Name, Sole Proprietorship or Partnership: Registration