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Registry of Joint Stock Companies
Business Name, Sole Proprietorship or Partnership:
Registration
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| Who Needs This Registration? |
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Anyone who wants to carry on business in Nova Scotia, either
on their own or with partners, and who wants:
1) to operate without legally incorporating the business; and
2) to use a business name that is different from their personal
name(s). (For example, Alice Doe wants to operate a business and call
it " Alice's Catering Service" or " Hantsport
Caterers".)
Note : A "sole proprietor" is anyone who is
carrying on a business which is not incorporated and who is doing so without
any legal partners, that is, carrying on business by oneself. In
Nova Scotia, a sole proprietorship is actually registered as a "partnership"
-- but with only one partner listed, in other words, it is a partnership
of one.
Note: It is legal to carry on business in Nova Scotia
without getting this Registration provided that you use only your own
personal name in your business dealings. (For example, Alice does catering
but uses only her own personal name -- Alice Doe -- on all business
cards, documents, forms, cheques, ads, etc. and does not use a name
like "Alice's Catering Service" or "Hantsport Caterers".)
New Brunswick: Individuals and firms whose primary business registration
is in the Province of New Brunswick do not have to register their business
name in Nova Scotia in order to legally operate in this province. |
| Issuing Department / Agency: |
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Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations |
| Where can you get this Registration and /
or further information? |
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Contact: |
Registry of
Joint Stock Companies
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations |
| | Website: |
http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/rjsc/contact.asp |
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Phone: |
(902) 424-7770 or the Access Nova Scotia toll free number: 1-800-225-8227
(All office locations)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (except holidays)
This telephone number connects you to an automated answering system, which gives you several options, including speaking to a member of the Registry
staff.
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Visit: |
Any
Access Nova Scotia Centres
OR
Head office location:
Maritime Centre, 9 North
1505 Barrington Street (at Spring Garden Road)
Halifax, N.S. B3J 3K5
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (except holidays)
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Email: | joint-stocks@gov.ns.ca |
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Write: |
Registry of
Joint Stock Companies
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
P.O. Box 1529
Halifax, NS B3J 2Y4 |
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Fax: | (902) 424-4633 |
| Application Forms & Process |
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With this Registration, there are two different ways to submit
your application form:
A) You can send in a hard copy. You can get a form
by:
(1) downloading
a form from our website;
(2) visiting any Access
Nova Scotia Centre; or
(3) calling, writing or visiting
the Registry of Joint Stocks office listed above.
B) You can fill it out on-line. To do this, you
must be able to pay as follows:
(1) by Visa, MasterCard or American Express Credit
Card; or
(2) with an already established positive
balance account with the Nova Scotia Business Registry.
We cannot accept any form of Debit
cards online at this time.
If you wish to apply on-line, click here.
The applicant begins by reserving a business name. (See Business
Name: Search and Reservation.)
Once a business name has been reserved, the applicant must then file an
application for registration of the business name.
Heads up! The application forms use the term "partnership" -- but
they CAN be used for registering sole proprietorships (and business names)
because, legally, a sole proprietorship is actually a "partnership of
one."
Once completed, the forms can be submitted by mail, or in person at
the Registry office or any Access Nova Scotia centre, along with the applicable
fee (see Price below). Fax is not accepted.
If all requirements are met and the application is approved, the Certificate
of Registration will be sent to the applicant by mail.
OR... If you prefer, you may go in person to the Registry or
an Access Nova Scotia centre, and the Certificate of Registration can
be issued while you wait, provided the name has already been reserved
and all conditions (if any) are met.
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| Waiting Period: |
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In person: none (provided that the business name has already
been reserved and all conditions, if any, are met).
By mail: approximately 1-2 weeks (provided that all the items that must
accompany the application have been received). |
| Expiry & Renewal |
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This registration is valid for 1 year. It can be renewed,
and the renewal time is 11 months from the date it was first issued. The
Registry will send a renewal form to the firm before the registration expires.
Renewals cannot be submitted by fax. |
| Price: (No tax is
charged) |
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Initial Application and Annual Renewal: $59.86
Note: Fee must accompany application. |
| Related Requirements: |
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Some or all of the following may be required:
- If the business will be retailing taxable goods or services, they
will need an HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) Registration with Canada Revenue Agency.
- Most businesses operating in Nova Scotia must pay Business Occupancy
Tax to the municipality where they are located.
- Within one week of opening, a business must notify the Regional Director
of Assessment, Service
Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
- If the business hires any employees, it is responsible for deducting
and remitting personal income tax, unemployment insurance premiums and
Canada Pension Plan deductions to Canada Revenue Agency
- Taxation.
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| Additional Information: |
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It is legal to carry on business in Nova Scotia without a
Registered Business Name provided that you use only your own personal
name. (For example, Alice operates a catering service but uses only
her own personal name -- Alice Doe -- on all business ads, documents, forms,
cheques, letters, etc.) In Nova Scotia, you do not need a Registered
Business Name to get an HST
(Harmonized Sales Tax) registration . It can be issued in an individual
name. |
| Legislative Authority: |
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Partnerships
and Business Names Registration Act, Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia,
1989, Chapter 335 |
