Definition and Rules Applicable to the Name of an Enterprise

“Enterprise name” is a word or group of words used to designate an enterprise and distinguish it from other enterprises.

An enterprise's name must respect the Charter of the French Language and therefore be in French. It should be noted that an enterprise name in French is a prerequisite for obtaining a legal personality for a legal person constituted in Québec.

The enterprise name can refer to:

• a legal person
• a natural person operating a sole proprietorship ^{Read the content of the note 1}
• a partnership
• an association or other group of persons

Another name under which an enterprise is identified in Québec (hereinafter “other name”) is commonly referred to as an “assumed name”. This is a name used in Québec to designate an enterprise other than under its constitutive name.

You must declare in the enterprise register any other name if the enterprise uses it or plans to use to identify itself when carrying on its activities in Québec. However, such names must be removed from the register once they are no longer used.

If the enterprise's constituting documents do not contain a French version of the name, you must declare a French name by which the enterprise will be identified when carrying on its activities in Québec in the section entitled “Autre noms utilisés au Québec” (other names used in Québec) of the enterprise register.

To be accepted by the Registraire des entreprises and deposited in the enterprise register, the constituting name and other names of the enterprise must comply with certain compliance measures under the law and certain regulations.

For more details on the rules governing the creation and use of enterprise names, see document Les noms d’entreprises au Québec (IN-531)   (in French only).

Other information tools are available on the Office québécois de la langue langue française  (in French only). Consult them to learn more about trademarks on public signs and the use of French in Québec.

1. The name or other name must be French. To obtain additional information, please refer to the Charter of the French language  .
2. The name or other name must not contain an expression that the law or regulations have reserved for others or whose use. They prohibit (e.g.: centre de la petite enfance).
3. The name or other name must not contain an expression that evokes an immoral, obscene or scandalous idea.
4. The name or other name must not incorrectly indicate the legal form of the enterprise.
5. The name or other name must not falsely imply that the enterprise is a non-profit group or public authority, or that it is linked to such an organization.
6. The name of a legal person constituted under the laws of Québec must not be used by any other person, corporation or group of persons in Québec.

In analyzing the names declared by an enterprise, the Registrar reserves the right to question or verify the real use of other names declared by the enterprise.

Other elements to consider when choosing an enterprise name

A name must not falsely suggest that the enterprise is linked to another person, corporation or group of persons in Québec.

The name must not be likely to be confused with a name used by another person, corporation or group of persons.

The name must in no way mislead third parties. In such cases, administrative recourse may be used, administered by the Registraire des entreprises.

An enterprise name contains or can contain the following components.

Generic component

This is the component (word or group of words) of the name providing an enterprise’s general designation.

Specific component

This is the component (word or group of words) of the name the distinguishing one enterprise from another.

Particle component

This is the component of the name, often in abbreviated form, specifying the legal form of the enterprise.

Examples of an enterprise name and its components

Here are two examples of enterprise names and their components.

Example 1

Quincaillerie (generic) Saint-Jean (specific) Inc. (particle)

Example 2

Distribution (generic) Prodav (specific) S.E.N.C. (particle)

Most common examples of the use of the particle component

Each example is followed by its English translation in parentheses.

• Unlimited Liability company or corporation or U.L.C./ULC
• Limited Liability company or corporation or L.L.C./LLC
• Incorporated or inc.
• Limited or Ltd/Ltd.
• Limited partnerships or L.P./LP
• Limited liability partnership or L.L.P. /LLP
• General partnership or G.P./GP
• Undeclared partnership
• Corporation or Corp.