AN OVERVIEW OF INCORPORATION What is a Corporation? A corporation is a separate legal entity that exists independently from its owners (the shareholders). A corporation has the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a natural person, so that it can carry on business, own property, borrow money, possess rights and incur liabilities. Commercial activity is...Read More

I tend to meet new clients that have incorporated their business but are unaware of their corporate law responsibilities. Although incorporating is usually the most preferable business structure, one must remember that once you incorporate, you have entered a new domain of laws and obligations. One such obligation is a minute book. Under Section 20...Read More

A shareholder agreement is first and foremost a contract which must be in writing and must be signed by the shareholders who are party to it. Shareholder agreements are a class of contracts that relate specifically to the relationship between some or all of the shareholders of a corporation and, often (although not necessarily), between...Read More

Many businesses enter into lease agreements without professional advice.  The moment you sign a commercial lease agreement, you have most likely made a long term commitment with a variety of obligations and demands – both monetary and otherwise. Many clients I meet do not realize the gravity of the agreement they are entering into. For...Read More

Two of the major differences between operating as a corporation versus other types of business entities (such as a sole proprietorship or partnership), are that the corporation is a separate legal entity or “person” under the law, owned by individuals known as shareholders, who own the corporation through corporation shares.  As a result, the shareholders...Read More

No one likes taxes, but completing your annual tax return is an unavoidable part of life. Once you file your tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the process doesn’t stop there. The CRA will conduct an evaluation and then send you a Notice of Assessment or Reassessment.A Notice of Reassessment is a document...Read More

Overview of Franchising Franchising is a method of distributing products and services based on a brand and customer recognition. Among other things, a franchisor will grant a license to a franchisee for the use of the trademark or the trade name for a specific fee. The franchisee is then able to use the franchisor’s business...Read More