Tips & Advice

The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) is a federal initiative that helps small businesses obtain financing to start, expand, modernize, or improve their operations. Administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the program encourages lending institutions to provide loans to small businesses by sharing the risk with the government.

When advances or loans are made to shareholders this should be recorded in a general ledger account set up for this purpose. If a loan is made for which the interest would be tax deductible for the shareholder, it is important to track this loan separately from other advances or loans.

In Canada, capital gains are taxed when you sell an investment or property for more than its purchase price. However, there are several strategies to reduce or avoid capital gains tax. Here’s how you can manage it:

In Canada, a Personal Services Business (PSB) is a type of business that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) designates under certain conditions. The rules governing PSBs are stringent, and the tax treatment of a PSB is less favorable compared to other types of corporations. Here’s an overview of what constitutes a PSB and its implications:

Deciding whether a sole proprietor should incorporate in Canada depends on various factors, including tax considerations, liability protection, business growth plans, and administrative responsibilities. Here are some key points to help make that decision:

An up-to-date business balance sheet is a critical financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time. It lists the company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity. Here are several scenarios where having an up-to-date balance sheet is particularly beneficial:

For small businesses in Canada, simplicity and efficiency are key when choosing an accounting procedure.

Tax instalments are payments you make throughout the year to cover the taxes you normally pay in one lump sum on April 30th of the following year. You pay these instalments during the year while you are earning the income, similar to how an employer deducts tax directly from each pay period.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows businesses to deduct certain entertainment expenses from their taxable income. However, there are specific rules and limitations on what can be deducted. Here is an overview:

Certified Professional Bookkeepers (CPB), bookkeepers in general, and accountants may overlap in their tasks, yet they possess distinct skill sets. Here's what you need to know:

Bookkeepers also play an important role in helping companies manage their financial records, ensuring accurate and up-to-date financial information, and providing valuable insights that can drive strategic decision-making when combined with your accountant. Some of the ways bookkeepers contribute are:

Mission statements are not just for large corporations. As an owner of a small business, you can benefit from going through the exercise of writing your mission statement. It can not only re-connect you with your “why,” it can also communicate an important part of your business to all of your stakeholders.  

Effective record-keeping is crucial for the success of any small business. Proper records not only help you track your financial performance but also ensure compliance with tax regulations and provide valuable insights for making informed business decisions. Here are some best practices for record-keeping in a small business:

In Canada, gifting a capital property is considered a disposition for tax purposes. When you gift a capital property to someone, it is treated as if you have sold the property at its fair market value (FMV) at the time of the gift. This means that you may be subject to capital gains tax on any accrued gains in the property's value up to the date of the gift, even though you didn't receive any cash in return.

As we spoke about in our last post, as your bookkeeper, we handle the day-to-day financial transactions and record-keeping. Your accountant takes a more analytical and strategic role in interpreting the data, providing financial advice, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

We play a distinct, yet interconnected role with your accountant in managing your company's financial affairs. Here's how we typically collaborate to ensure your financial records are accurate, compliant, and optimized.

When considering a fuel-efficient vehicle such as a hybrid, or an alternative fuel model you should know that the Canadian Government, as well as some provinces, provide rebates. 

Once tax season is over, tax preparers, bookkeepers, and accountants head to beach resorts for 6 months of relaxation and resting on their laurels... Well, OK, not really, but here are some common things they do undertake:

As the 2022 tax year is behind us, it is a good idea to start early and plan for 2023. Here are some suggestions on how you can save money on your Canadian income tax for this year:

Cash is king is a common expression in business. Surprisingly though, few owners or managers take the steps needed to manage their cash flow. By ignoring it, they will sometimes find an empty bank account and nothing to pay their bills with.

Controlling your cash flow helps prepare you for slow periods and plan for needed financing. Peace of mind is also a by-product of proper planning.

Reducing the fees associated with the work your accountant does is possible! The great news is that savings are often quite easy to achieve for many owners. If you were only to do one thing, it would be to ensure your records are complete and organized. There are other ways to save as well.