There are 965,000 incorporated companies. Studies indicate 30 percent of the businesses will be home-based by 2030. As members of the Canadian Bankers Association, banks are expected to offer basic information on commercial depositors, and are generally cooperative. Methods of retrieval and terminology vary in each province.
Information includes commercial writs, judgments, security agreements, and other public data.
Quebec boasts 25 percent of the businesses but operates under Napoleonic law, which complicates matters. Deemed too expensive, audited financial statements are unusual. Financials reviewed by an accountant may not be accurate. Equifax dominates the market for consumer reports, which are only available for the purpose of granting credit. Some provinces require the consumer be notified when a credit report is requested.