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The short answer
In Alberta you register a trade name in person through an authorised Corporate Registry service provider (a registry agent), which charges a government fee plus its own service fee; Alberta says registration is required when an individual does business under a name other than their own personal name. Bring your name details, valid ID and payment; a NUANS name report is recommended but not mandatory, and a federal business number is then issued at no cost, as at October 2026.
Alberta does business registration differently from Ontario. Instead of a single government website for most filings, the province uses a network of private registry agents, the same high-street offices that handle licences and vehicle registrations in Calgary, Edmonton and smaller towns. For a Nigerian newcomer starting a cleaning company in Calgary or a food business in Edmonton, the agent is where the paperwork happens.
Who must register
Alberta's "Register a business name" page (published 20 October 2026) says registration is required:
- for a trade name, when "an individual does business under a name other than their own personal name" (a sole proprietor trading as, say, "Ngozi's Cleaning Services");
- for a corporation doing business under a name other than its legal name;
- for a partnership, when two or more individuals or corporations do business together as partners;
- for limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships, including those based in other provinces that do business in Alberta.
A sole proprietor trading under their own exact name is not caught by the trade name rule on that page. A city business licence is a separate question; see Calgary business licences for home-based businesses.
The registry agent route, step by step
- Choose a name. Check it is not already in use and is not someone's trademark.
- Consider a NUANS report. Alberta says a Business Name Report from an authorised NUANS provider is "recommended, but not mandatory" for a trade name.
- Complete the forms. Alberta publishes fillable PDF forms and says you can also create your own.
- Visit a registry agent in person with your name information, the name report if you have one, valid ID and payment.
- Keep the proof of filing the agent gives you. Limited partnerships and LLPs can instead fax or email forms directly to Alberta Corporate Registry.
What it costs
Alberta's page says service providers "will charge a government fee and a service fee". The page does not list amounts and refers to the registry agent product catalogue for fees. We could not open the current catalogue for this article, so we do not quote a figure. In practice:
- the government portion is set by the province and is the same at every agent;
- the service fee is the agent's own charge, so ask for the total before you hand over your forms;
- a NUANS report, if you choose one, is a separate cost from the NUANS provider;
- the federal business number that follows is free: Alberta's Common Business Number page says "There is no cost to obtain a business number."
The business number comes with it
Alberta issues the federal nine-digit Business Number in partnership with the CRA. Its Common Business Number page (published May 2024) says the BN is issued after your information is entered into the Corporate Registry, you receive a proof of filing, and you get an email when the BN is issued; if you already have a BN, that one is used. You then add CRA program accounts, such as GST/HST, when you need them; see getting a CRA business number.
Incorporating instead
If you want a corporation, you can incorporate in Alberta through the same agent network, or incorporate federally online and then register the federal corporation in Alberta. Federal online incorporation costs $200 with Corporations Canada as at October 2026; see federal or provincial incorporation and extra-provincial registration in Alberta. Check the director rules before choosing: federally, at least 25 per cent of directors must be resident Canadians.
Common mistakes
- Arriving without valid ID, or with ID in a different name from the one on the forms.
- Assuming the registration protects the name across Canada; it is an Alberta registration, not a trademark.
- Registering the trade name in one partner's name when the business is really a partnership, which then needs a partnership registration instead.
- Forgetting the city licence, which Calgary and Edmonton handle separately from the provincial registry.
What to check first
- Will you trade under a name other than your own? If yes, a trade name registration is required.
- Do you have valid ID the agent will accept?
- Have you asked the agent for the total of government fee plus service fee?
- Does your immigration status allow self-employment?
- Does your city require a business licence for your activity or home location?
Alberta Corporate Registry itself can be reached on 780-427-7013, 8:15am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, according to its Common Business Number page.
Where Pryme fits
If your Alberta business buys from or sells to Nigeria, a Pryme Business Account holds NGN, USD, GBP and EUR with local details and can be opened from any country, and invoicing helps you bill in the customer's currency. Pryme's activities outside Nigeria are carried out through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How do I register a business name in Alberta?
Take your name details, valid ID and payment to an authorised registry agent in person. A NUANS report is recommended but not mandatory for a trade name.
How much does a registry agent charge to register a trade name?
The agent charges a government fee plus its own service fee. Amounts are in Alberta's registry agent product catalogue; ask the agent for the total.
Do I need to register if I use my own name in Alberta?
Alberta requires trade name registration when an individual does business under a name other than their own personal name.
Is the Alberta business number free?
Yes. Alberta says there is no cost to obtain a business number; you receive an email when it is issued.
Sources
- Alberta: Register a business name · accessed Oct 2026
- Alberta: Common Business Number program in Alberta · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.