Business Number FAQs

Please visit the Manitoba Business Portal for information on starting a business.

What is the Business Number?

The Business Number (BN) is a common identifier for businesses to simplify dealings with federal, provincial and municipal governments based on the idea of “one business, one number”. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) generates the BN and provides it to provincial BN partners, which includes Manitoba.

The BN is a 9-digit number, also known as the BN9, that identifies the Business Owner/Legal Entity.

When a business registers/opens certain accounts under the BN9, it creates a BN15 consisting of

• a 9-digit BN9;
• a 2-letter Program Area identifier; and
• a 4-digit sequence number to indicate the number of accounts you have within each program.

123456789
9-digit root (BN9)

MC
2-letter Program Identifier

0001
4-digit sequence number

123456789MC0001
Program Account – BN15

Do I need a Business Number?

A Business may need to fulfill a regulatory requirement and seek service from a government agency that will obtain and assign a Business Number during the account or registration process. For example, if:

• a business needs to register their business name or incorporate with Companies Office
• a business needs to open a GST account with Canada Revenue Agency
• a business needs to open an RST account with Manitoba Taxation Division
• a business needs to open a Workers Compensation Board account

the business will be assigned a business number.

In Manitoba the government agencies/programs that can obtain and use the BN as an identifier are:

• Companies Office
• Financial Institution Regulation Branch
• Taxation Division
• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
• City of Winnipeg
• Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit

Do I have to get a Business Number?

If you need to seek service from a government agency that assigns and uses the BN, you will get one.

If you have no need to seek service from a government agency that assigns and uses the BN, you will not get one.

If unsure whether you need to seek service from a government agency and get a BN, please reach out to one of the Contacts.

How do I get a Business Number?

In Manitoba, if you seek service from a government agency that uses the BN as an identifier, you will get a BN during the registration or application process.

If you seek service from the Canada Revenue Agency, you may get a BN during the registration or application process.

If my business is registered and I have a Business Number, do I automatically have a GST account?

You still need to apply to the Canada Revenue Agency to open a GST account.

If I incorporated a Manitoba company, how do I get a Business Number?

The Companies Office would have obtained your BN during the incorporation process.

If I opened a GST account and have a Business Number from CRA, have I fulfilled all requirements to operate a business in Manitoba?

The Canada Revenue Agency cannot register a Manitoba business name or incorporate a Manitoba business. You need to contact the Manitoba Companies Office for more information.

My bank asked me for proof of registration and Business Number in Manitoba. How do I get these?

If your business is registered with the Companies Office, submit a Request for Copies form and return it to the Companies Office with the required fee.

If your business is not registered with the Companies Office, please visit their website for more information. Once registered, you will receive proof of registration and a BN letter.

Do I get a new 9-digit Business Number (BN9) every time I seek service from a government agency that issues Business Numbers?

• Assignment of a BN9 is based on business structure.

The information below covers general rules about Business Numbers and business structure:

• Sole Proprietors: assigned one BN9; used for all businesses registered or accounts opened.
• Corporations: assigned one BN9; used for all business names registered or accounts opened.
• Partnerships: can opt to use the same BN9 for different businesses or get a new one.
• Trusts: usually assigned one BN9 but it could depend on the type of Trust.
• Other: usually assigned one BN9; used for all registrations or accounts opened but it might depend on the type; i.e., informal non-profits or joint ventures.

If unsure whether you need to get a BN9, already have a BN9, or should use your existing BN9, please reach out to one of the offices in the Contacts section.

Understanding the Business Number and Business Structure

Ownership type/business structure is an important decision when setting up your business that creates your Business Number. For more information on business structures, check out our Business Structure article.

Who needs to know I have a Business Number?

If you seek service from a government agency that uses the Business Number as an identifier and already have one, you will need to provide your Business Number to avoid creating a duplicate.

How much does it cost to get a Business Number?

Obtaining a Business Number is free of charge. If a government agency has a fee for their program’s services, you will have to pay those fee(s).

Contacts

For information about how to register or open accounts with government programs that use the Business Number as an identifier, see links below for contact information:

• Companies Office - Incorporations/Business Name Registration
• Taxation Division - RST and other MB Tax Programs
• Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba - Employer Accounts
• City of Winnipeg
• Manitoba Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit
• Financial Institution Regulation Branch - Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires
• Canada Revenue Agency- GST, Payroll, and other CRA program accounts

For general information about the Business Number, please contact:

Manitoba Business Links
204-945-0514
Toll Free: 1-866-205-1657
Email: onenumber@gov.mb.ca