Definition and Rules Applicable to the Name of an Enterprise
The name of an enterprise is a word or group of words that designates an enterprise and distinguishes it from other enterprises.
The name of an enterprise must be in French and compliant with the Charter of the French language. Note that an enterprise must have a French name in order to obtain the juridical personality of a legal person constituted in Québec.
The name of the enterprise can refer to:
- a legal person
- a natural person
- a partnership
- an association or other group of persons
Components of the name of an enterprise
The name of an enterprise contains or can contain the following components (a word or group of words):
- The generic: A component of the name providing an enterprise's general designation
- The specific: A component of the name clearly distinguishing one enterprise from another
- The particle: A component of the name, often in abbreviated form, specifying the legal form of the enterprise
| Examples of particles |
|---|
| French version |
English version |
|---|
| Compagnie or société à responsabilité illimitée |
Unlimited liability company or corporation or U.L.C./ULC |
| Compagnie or société à responsabilité limitée |
Limited liability company or corporation or L.L.C./LLC |
| Incorporée or inc. |
Incorporated or Inc. |
| Limitée or ltée |
Limited or Ltd/Ltd. |
| Société en commandite or S.E.C. |
Limited partnership or L.P./LP |
| Société en nom collectif à responsabilité limitée or S.E.N.C.R.L. |
Limited liability partnership or L.L.P./LLP |
| Société en nom collectif or S.E.N.C. |
General partnership or G.P./GP |
| Société en participation |
Undeclared partnership |
| Société par actions or S.A. |
Corporation or Corp. |
An example of the name of an enterprise and its components
Other names used in Québec
Another name by which an enterprise is identified in Québec (hereinafter, "other name") is commonly called an “assumed name.” It is a name (other than the name in the constituting document) used in Québec to designate an enterprise.
You must declare in the enterprise register any other name that the enterprise uses 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 document does 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 and deposited in the enterprise register by the Registraire des entreprises, the name and other names of the enterprise must comply with certain compliance measures pursuant to the law and certain regulations. The table below indicates the general standards applicable to names.
For more information on creating and using an enterprise's names, see document IN-531, Les noms d'entreprises au Québec (available in French only).
Other information tools are available on the Office québécois de la langue française website to help you learn more about trade marks on public signs and the use of French in Québec.
| Compliance measure |
Applicability |
|---|
| Name |
Other names |
|---|
| The name must be in French. To obtain additional information, please refer to the Charter of the French language. |
X |
X |
| The name must not contain an expression that the law or the regulations have reserved for others or whose use they prohibit, e.g. centre de la petite enfance. |
X |
X |
| The name must not contain an expression that evokes an immoral, obscene or scandalous idea. |
X |
X |
| The name must not incorrectly indicate the legal form of the enterprise. |
X |
X |
| The name must not falsely imply that the enterprise is a non-profit group or a public authority or that the enterprise is linked to such an organization. |
X |
X |
| The name of a legal person constituted pursuant to the laws of Québec must not be used by another person, corporation or group of persons in Québec. |
X |
|
- Notes
- A natural person who operates an enterprise without resorting to a legal structure may simply decide to register under his or her last name and first name.
- A name must not falsely suggest that the enterprise is linked to another person, another corporation or another group of persons in Québec. Moreover, this name must not be likely to be confused with a name used by another person, another corporation or another group of persons. Lastly, it must in no way deceive third parties. In such instances, administrative recourse may be used, administered by the Registraire des entreprises.
- For the purposes of analyzing the names declared by an enterprise, the Registraire des entreprises reserves the right to question or verify the real use of the name and the other names that the enterprise has declared.