The quick answer
Buyer verification combines several checks. A website, registration number or video call alone does not establish creditworthiness or guarantee payment. Check that the legal entity, person placing the order and payment arrangements fit together.
Use official registries where available, independent contact routes and appropriate bank or credit-risk support. Corporations Canada covers federal corporations; provincial or territorial entities may require their corresponding registries.
Before you begin
- Buyer’s exact legal name, registration and address.
- Order specification and authorised contact details.
- Bank/payment arrangements and risk-adviser input.
See how the pieces connect
Identity
Check the legal entity and registry.
Authority
Verify the contact and trading role.
Risk
Assess commercial and payment exposure.
Agreement
Confirm terms before dispatch.
Work through the steps
Check the legal name
Ask for the exact entity and registration jurisdiction. Search the appropriate official registry and compare status and address. A similar company name is not enough, and a registry entry is not a credit assessment.
Verify independent contact routes
Use the company’s established website or verified telephone details to confirm the person and order. Review unusual domains or last-minute changes. Do not rely only on the contact who supplied the documents.
Understand the business role
Confirm what the buyer imports, distributes or uses and why your goods fit. Request a clear specification, volume and delivery destination. A very large vague first order deserves careful qualification.
Check payment arrangements
Compare beneficiary details with the agreed legal entity and confirm changes independently. Review advance, documentary or other terms with your bank. Do not assume a payment screenshot or document image proves cleared funds.
Assess credit and fraud risk
Seek suitable references and professional checks where proportionate. Ask about applicable ECGC cover or bank support and its conditions. No single badge, membership or registry search replaces the combined assessment.
Document the agreement and decision
Keep the verification evidence, accepted terms, delivery basis and document responsibilities. Stop and resolve inconsistencies before dispatch. Recheck material changes rather than relying forever on the first verification.
A worked example
A verification record should combine evidence
Illustrative checks for a Canadian prospect.
| Check | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Appropriate registry | Recorded legal identity and status |
| Independent contact | Whether the contact/order is recognised |
| Commercial discussion | Product need and delivery requirements |
| Bank/risk review | Payment structure and assessed exposure |
Each check has limits. Combine them and document unresolved questions; incorporation alone does not prove that the buyer will pay.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating a registration certificate as a payment guarantee.
- Searching only the federal registry for every Canadian company.
- Accepting changed bank details through one email.
- Shipping before resolving legal-name discrepancies.
Questions you might have
Is every Canadian company in Corporations Canada?
No. The federal search does not cover every provincial or territorial registration; use the correct jurisdiction.
Does a verified buyer remove all risk?
No. Credit conditions, disputes and market changes can still affect payment. Use appropriate contractual and payment safeguards.
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Sources and further reading
Official rules and portal screens can change. Use the linked authority for the current requirements; the figures in our worked examples are illustrative.