How to Register a Business in the Northwest Territories
Updated: July 2026. Government fees and procedures were checked on July 13, 2026.
Registering a named sole proprietorship in the Northwest Territories normally costs $75 in government fees: $25 for the name search and reservation and $50 for the business-name registration. The registration is renewed every four years.
The filing is still paper-based. Sign the original documents and mail or hand deliver them to Corporate Registries; do not send scans by email or fax.
Do you need to register the name?
An individual carrying on business only under their exact personal name can generally use the personal-name exception. Adding descriptive words, using a brand name or operating a partnership under a firm name normally requires registration.
A name registration records who uses the name. It does not create a corporation, protect a trademark or prove that every licence has been obtained. If limited liability and a separate legal entity are important, read How to Incorporate in the Northwest Territories.
NWT registration costs
| Step | Government fee | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| Name search and reservation | $25 | Obtain before registering a word name |
| Business-name registration | $50 | File original signed documents |
| Typical initial total | $75 | Before professional, courier or licence costs |
| Renewal | $50 | Every four years |
Confirm the current fee schedule and form on the NWT Corporate Registries business-names page. Search existing records through the online system linked from the Corporate Registries page before committing to signs, domains or advertising.
Register the business name
- Decide whether a sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation fits the risk, tax and ownership plan.
- Search the proposed name and submit the $25 name-search and reservation request.
- Complete the applicable business-name declaration using the exact approved spelling.
- Provide both postal and physical address information where the form requests it.
- Sign the original, include the $50 fee and mail or hand deliver the package to Corporate Registries.
- Keep the filed evidence and calendar the four-year renewal date.
Name approval can still be refused or restricted. A registry search also does not replace a Canadian trademark search or professional clearance where the brand is valuable.
Choose the structure deliberately
A sole proprietorship is legally the owner: business income is normally reported on the owner's T1, and the owner is personally responsible for debts and claims. A partnership shares those responsibilities under the partnership agreement and applicable law.
An NWT corporation is a separate legal person with shares, directors, a physical registered office, corporate records, a T2 return and a $150 territorial annual return. Incorporation starts at $300 for a numbered company or $325 with an NWT name reservation.
Register CRA accounts separately
Register a Canada Revenue Agency Business Number when the business needs GST/HST, payroll, import/export or another program account. Registration with NWT Corporate Registries is not a substitute for those accounts.
The NWT uses the federal 5% GST and has no territorial sales tax. GST registration is generally mandatory after the business stops qualifying as a small supplier; voluntary registration can make sense earlier when input tax credits outweigh the extra filing work. Confirm the facts with the CRA's GST/HST guidance.
Check WSCC and operating licences
Determine whether the business must register with the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission. Coverage and employer obligations are separate from name registration.
Check the relevant community for business-licence, zoning, home-occupation and development rules. Regulated industries can also require territorial or federal permits. BizPaL is a useful starting point, but the issuing authority makes the final decision.
BIP registration is a separate choice
The Northwest Territories Business Incentive Policy gives qualifying northern businesses preferences in certain government procurement. It is not automatic and it is not the same as registering a sole proprietorship or corporation.
The BIP registry applies local residency, ownership and operating tests. Use it only if the business meets the current criteria and wants to compete for eligible procurement work.
Maintain the registration
Renew every four years and update Corporate Registries when the owner, address or other filed information changes. Also maintain tax, payroll, WSCC, licence and permit obligations on their own schedules.
Ribbon Business does not provide NWT business registration, NWT incorporation or a local registered office. File directly with the territory or use qualified NWT legal and accounting help when the structure, ownership or contracts warrant it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a P.O. box?
The filing asks for postal and physical address information. A P.O. box may serve as a postal address but does not replace a requested physical location.
Does the $75 include a business licence?
No. It covers the name search/reservation and business-name registration. Community, sector, WSCC and tax requirements are separate.
Does the registration protect the name across Canada?
No. It is an NWT registry filing, not a Canadian trademark. Search trademarks and other jurisdictions when broader brand protection matters.
Budget for more than the registry fee
The useful starting number is $75, but the complete launch budget can also include licences, insurance, tax setup, bookkeeping, professional advice and four-year renewals.