To register a business in Manitoba, you file with the Manitoba Companies Office. A sole proprietorship or partnership reserves its name for $45 and then files a Business Name Registration for $60. A corporation reserves its name and files Articles of Incorporation for $350. Fees are in Canadian dollars, as of October 2026.
The Companies Office handles both business names and corporations, so the first decision is which route you're on. Here's how each one works, from the office's own pages, and the shortcut sole proprietors often don't know about.
The two routes side by side
| Sole proprietorship or partnership | Manitoba business corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Owner or partners personally liable for business debts | Shareholders liable only up to their investment |
| Name reservation | $45 for a named business | $45 regular, $90 expedited |
| Main filing | Business Name Registration, $60 | Articles of Incorporation, $350 regular, $550 expedited |
| Tax | Income taxed as the owner's personal income | Separate tax return for the corporation |
| Ongoing admin | Lighter | Annual shareholder meetings and annual returns |
All fees are from the Companies Office as of October 2026.
The shortcut for sole proprietors
This is the detail people miss. The Companies Office says registering a business name may not be required if you carry on business under your own family name or surname, as long as it doesn't suggest more than one person is in the business. So a solo bookkeeper trading under their own surname may not need to file at all, while one trading as Prairie Books does.
Partnerships are different. The office says all partnerships must be registered.
What each structure means for you
The Companies Office sets out the trade-offs on its own pages, and a few of them are easy to miss:
- A sole proprietorship's early losses can be deducted against the owner's personal income, which can help while the business isn't yet profitable. The office suggests getting specific advice from an accountant before converting to a corporation later.
- If a sole proprietor dies, the business becomes part of their estate, and there may be immediate tax consequences.
- In a partnership, each partner is liable for all the debts and obligations incurred by the other partners in the course of the business.
- Without a partnership agreement, the partnership must be dissolved when a partner leaves or dies, or when a dispute can't be resolved.
- A corporation's life isn't affected by a shareholder's death, which is one reason it suits a business you want to pass on or sell.
How to register a sole proprietorship or partnership
- Choose a name, or ask for a numbered business. A numbered business gets a number followed by the word MANITOBA.
- File a Request for Name Reservation with the $45 fee to check a named business is available. You can do this online.
- File a Business Name Registration with the $60 fee before the name reservation expires. Online filing gives the fastest processing times.
How to incorporate in Manitoba
- Choose a name ending in Ltd., Limited, Inc., Incorporated, Corp. or Corporation, or choose a numbered corporation such as 123456789 MANITOBA LTD.
- File a Request for Name Reservation for a named corporation, with the $45 fee.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the $350 fee before the reservation expires.
- Hold the first directors' meeting after the certificate is issued.
At that first meeting, the Companies Office says directors may make by-laws, adopt forms of security certificates and records, authorize the issue of securities, appoint officers, appoint an auditor until the first shareholders' meeting and make banking arrangements.
Named or numbered: which should you pick?
Both routes let you skip choosing a name. A numbered business or corporation doesn't need a name reservation, because the office assigns the number for you, so you save the $45 reservation fee and the wait. The trade-off is that customers see a number, not a brand. If customers will know you by a brand, a named business is usually the better fit. A numbered company suits a holding company or a situation where speed matters more than branding.
If you do pick a name, the office reviews it to make sure it isn't confusingly similar to ones already on its record. The registry is public and searchable, so check it yourself before you pay for a reservation.
Things to check before you file
- If no director or officer of a Manitoba corporation lives in the province, you need to appoint a Power of Attorney. The filing fee is $40, or $80 expedited.
- A corporation that already exists in BC, Alberta or Saskatchewan can register through the New West Partnership route.
- The Companies Office has a Manitoba Business Structures Wizard to help you choose.
Once you're registered, you'll still need a federal business number for tax. My guide to the CRA business number covers that step. If you're hiring, read up on employment standards in Manitoba and the Manitoba minimum wage before your first payroll.
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My verdict
If you're working alone under your own surname, check whether you need to register at all before paying anything. If you're using a trading name or going into partnership, the $45 plus $60 route is cheap and quick. Incorporate when the liability protection is worth $350 and the extra admin, not before.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a business in Manitoba?
A named sole proprietorship or partnership costs $45 for the name reservation plus $60 for the Business Name Registration, as of October 2026.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Manitoba?
Articles of Incorporation cost $350, or $550 expedited, plus $45 for a name reservation if you want a named corporation, as of October 2026.
Do I need to register a sole proprietorship in Manitoba?
Not always. The Companies Office says registration may not be required if you trade under your own family name or surname and it doesn't suggest more than one person.
Do partnerships have to register in Manitoba?
Yes. The Companies Office says all partnerships must be registered.
What is a numbered company in Manitoba?
It's a business or corporation named with a number assigned by the office followed by the word MANITOBA, such as 123456789 MANITOBA LTD.
Who registers businesses in Manitoba?
The Manitoba Companies Office registers information about corporations and business names and reviews proposed names.
What happens to a Manitoba partnership if a partner leaves?
Without a partnership agreement, the Companies Office says the partnership must be dissolved when a partner leaves or dies, or when a dispute can't be resolved.
