Header bg
  • section background

    How to Register a Business in Manitoba

    Hero bg 2
    registering a business in Manitoba

    A step-by-step guide of how to register your business in the province of Manitoba.

    Now that you’re ready to bring your business idea to Manitoba and beyond, it’s important to register a name that’s memorable and meaningful. Registration benefits your business in a number of ways, from building up your brand identity to being able to hire employees.

    In this article, we’ll be breaking down everything you need to know about how to register a small business in Manitoba, including:

    • What it costs to register a business in this province

    • The importance of small business insurance


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Manitoba?

    Incorporating in Manitoba is a relatively inexpensive procedure, but the cost depends on whether you’re registering a business that’s unincorporated, provincially incorporated, or federally incorporated. However, all are easy tasks that can be done in just a few simple steps.

    Registering an unincorporated business

    Step 1

    For registering an unincorporated business, such as a sole proprietorship or partnership, you’ll first have to send in a request to reserve your desired name. This $45 procedure ensures that the name isn’t already taken, and that it follows certain guidelines.

    For example, some restrictions for business naming practices in Manitoba include:

    • No using the terms “Golden Boy” or “Manitoba Tartans”

    • Only using certain special characters

    • No using “Manitoba” as the first word of any business

    • No names that could possibly be mistaken for having any affiliation with the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba, members of the Royal Family, or the Crown

    Assuming that your name passes the guidelines laid out by the Government of Manitoba, and it’s not already taken, it will be reserved for the next 90 days for you to register. Unfortunately, you’ll have to resubmit another $45 if the one you’ve proposed gets rejected, or if you wait longer than 90 days.

    This is why it’s important to study the guidelines for accepted business names. Plus, you should only reserve your name if you’re sure you’re ready to register it, as not doing so could cost you a lot of unnecessary fees.

    Step 2

    Now that you’ve reserved your business name, you’ll have to pay another $60 and send in some registration forms to complete the process.


    Need Insurance for Your Small Business?

    Get a Free Quote


    Registering a provincially incorporated business in Manitoba

    Registration of an incorporated business means you’ll have to choose between provincial or federal incorporation. While provincial incorporation is cheaper and simpler, it doesn’t offer as much business name protection, and may also prevent future federal or even international expansion.

    Step 1

    First you’ll have to reserve your desired business name for $45. This is just like the procedure for reserving your name for an unincorporated business above.

    Step 2

    Now that you’ve reserved your name, you’ll have to file articles of incorporation. For corporations with share capital, the fee is $350, and for those with no share capital, it’s only $120.

    Registering a federally incorporated business in Manitoba

    Step 1

    Incorporating federally in Manitoba requires that you do a New Upgraded Automated Name Search (NUANS) report. This report will show you all the names of federally incorporated businesses that are similar to the one you are trademarking, to ensure that they are distinct enough from yours.

    Step 2

    Along with your NUANS report, you’ll have to file your articles of federal incorporation. While this costs $250 to file on paper, you can save yourself some money by completing the registration online at a cost of only $200.

    Make Sure You’re Insured

    Starting up a small business will always come with certain inherent risks, so make sure you protect your assets with a good business insurance policy.

    Having the correct policy is important for covering costs associated with property damage and liability claims – expenses that could potentially cripple your young business.

    Complete your APOLLO Insurance application today and have your new business insurance policy sent directly to your inbox in real-time.


    APOLLO Has You Covered

    Get the protection you need in minutes with custom Business Insurance from APOLLO.

    Get a Free Quote


    Originally published September 9, 2022, updated August 25, 2023

    Back to APOLLO Magazine
    Share this article

    Get Tenant Insurance in less than a minute

    Get no-nonsense coverage that's the best value for your money. Purchase policies from your computer or phone, receive your documents instantly, and save when you buy online.

    Get a free quote

    4.6 rating

    Google Logo

    Get Tenant Insurance in less than a minute

    Get no-nonsense coverage that's the best value for your money. Purchase policies from your computer or phone, receive your documents instantly, and save when you buy online.

    Relevant articles

    section background
    section background

    Getting insured is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3

    Tell us (very little) about yourself
    1

    Tell us (very little) about yourself

    Just tell us your address, your name, email and phone number. And that's it. We'll give you a price in less than a minute.

    Pay online easily and securely
    2

    Pay online easily and securely

    You can choose to pay monthly or save money by paying for the entire year in one easy payment.

    Get your documents in your inbox - instantly
    3

    Get your documents in your inbox - instantly

    As soon as you complete your purchase, you'll find your proof of insurance and policy documents waiting for you in your inbox.

    Get covered today - it couldn’t be easier

    We’ve provided more than 1,000,000 quotes to Canadians just like you. Give it a try!

    Google Logo

    Reviews

    4.6 rating

    1,556 reviews

    view all

    Across Canada

    Contact Us
    Apollo logo

    © 2024 APOLLO Insurance Solutions Ltd.

    111 Water Street, Unit 210, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 1A7

    APOLLO Insurance Agency Ltd. (o/a APOLLO Brokerage in the province of Ontario only) is a licensed retail brokerage, offering our clients with a comprehensive set of insurance solutions to meet their individual needs. APOLLO Insurance Agency Ltd. maintains necessary corporate licensing in provinces across Canada. Availability of products and service depends on licensing and product availability. The information that appears on this page is provided for information purposes only. Advertised products and prices are not guaranteed and vary based on insurance provider and/or insurance company's discretion and product availability.

    Transparency and Disclosure: APOLLO Insurance Agency's role is to provide you with exceptional service and the best insurance products that suit your needs. As a licensed retail brokerage, our compensation is based on a commission basis already built into your insurance premium and varies based on the product purchased through our platform. For a description of how APOLLO Insurance Agency is compensated and how this is calculated, please refer to our Compensation Disclosure document. For consumers in Ontario, please review the RIBO Conduct Fact Sheet and the RIBO Conduct Guidance document.