Hello, I am soon finishing my studies to be a home inspector and would like to know what you have done to protect your company name and logo. Do you a have a copyright? Any other legal way to protect it to be sure nobody use the logo or the name?
I was incorporated from the get go Roys Home Inspection LTD .
Make sure all letters,business cards and Reports ect all have the full incorporated name on them .
This just gives you a bit more protection in Canada . Nothing can stop you from a law suit . write Hard talk soft and miss nothing on your Inspection .
To protect you chosen “Business Name” in Canada you have to register a Trademark.
If you should decide at a later time to incorporate your business, the enterprise will then become a “Division” of the limited company. I operated my inspection business under the name “The Professional Building Advisor” a division of Rudolph Reusse & Associates Limited.
Considering the current decline in real estate activities, I would for now only register a Trademark, and wait until your business has become successful. You need a lawyer to incorporate, and a chartered accountant to file the annual tax returns.
**RUDOLF REUSSE - **Home Inspector since 1976 - Retired
do most of you have a trademark? I found out it cost 2000$…
I understand the value of making good inspection, but this gives even more importance to protecting your name. If you’ve worked hard to create a good reputation and somebody starts using your name, or almost exactly like your name, you’ve just got robbed!
It does not require the services of a lawyer to register a Trademark in Canada. I think that the filing fee is currently about $200.00 and another $300.00 when the name is registered.
Thanks for the answer. I checked and you are right. Even thought the company that offer help for trademark charge around 2000$, it’s a simple procedure that can be made online on the cipo website. I’m currently in the process of submitting my trademark. thanks for your help!
I incorperated myself.
The government helped me.
As for a CA for taxes. I do not know. It would be advisable but not required as far as I know Mr.Reusse
We have had a Charted Accountant ( Not a Book keeper ) since 1974 and he has saved us a lot of money over the years .
I agree a CA is needed in Canada if you are in business .
If you can not afford one then you should work for some one, not your self.
I am a full member now, been a lurker for a lot of years! From what I read, the incorporation does not protect your name a lot. It only forbid a business to also be incorporated in the same name. Adding a letter or changing the order of the word would defeat the goal of protecting the name.
A trademark ensure that nobody can use the name you chose, or a name similar enough to confuse clients.