Things to Know Companies operating in certain industries must comply with specific laws applicable to that industry. This could also involve a requirement to obtain a licence or permit, or to make additional filings. Examples of these industries are: financial services, fisheries and forestry, food and drug, energy, health, franchising, mining, oil and gas, securities, […]
Financing and banking arrangements
Things to Know A Canadian subsidiary can be funded either internally (e.g., by its shareholders or partners) or externally (e.g., financial institutions, banks, private investors or venture capital firms) Unlike the United States, Canada does not have a single federal securities regulator. Each of the Canadian provinces and territories have enacted laws that govern securities […]
Acquiring a Canadian business
Things to Know The two most common structures used to acquire a business is a share purchase or asset purchase. In a share purchase, the entity carrying on the existing business is purchased; all assets and liabilities will be acquired. In an asset purchase, a buyer can pick and choose what assets it would like […]
Foreign investment notifications
Things to Know NOTIFICATIONS Investments by non-Canadians to establish a new Canadian business or acquire control over an existing Canadian business are either notifiable or reviewable under the Investment Canada Act. There are detailed rules that define when an investor is a “Canadian” and when there is an acquisition of control, as well as […]
Filings and registrations: Extra provincial Registration
EXTRA-PROVINCIAL REGISTRATIONS If a Canadian subsidiary has been incorporated under the laws of a particular Canadian province or territory, the subsidiary will need to register in each additional Canadian jurisdiction where business will be carried on. If a subsidiary is a Canadian federal corporation, the subsidiary will need to register in each Canadian jurisdiction where […]
Choosing, registering and protecting your corporate name
If you are incorporating a Canadian subsidiary, you may use a name that you choose or have a numbered name assigned to you. Whether you will be carrying on business through a Canadian subsidiary, or carrying on business in Canada as a foreign corporation, you will need to register in each province and territory in […]
Starting a Business in Canada: Initial structuring and income tax considerations
An important distinction exists between doing business “in Canada” (generally considered to result in a Canadian tax presence) and doing business “with Canada” (which can often be accomplished without any Canadian tax presence). A business may be carried on in Canada directly by a non-Canadian (through what is known as a “branch office”) or indirectly […]
8 Social Media Tips for Small Businesses
The small business world can be a grind working in and on the business to reach goals and milestones and grow. Owners and employees wear a lot of hats and often excel at filling a lot of roles. The day-to-day requirements of sales, operations, payroll, invoicing, service, and fulfillment take a ton of time and […]
How to start a startup community: Venture capitalist shares advice
Startup communities can exist anywhere, not just Silicon Valley or Boulder. But entrepreneurs have to lead what likely will be a long-term effort and welcome anyone who wants to become involved, according to a venture capitalist who literally wrote the book on the subject. Brad Feld outlined what he considers four critical principles for establishing […]
3 Counter-intuitive Customer Service Lessons Entrepreneurs Should Learn
At about 1 a.m. during a memorable trip I took to Australia, I awoke suddenly in a hot sweat in my hotel room at the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay. Supposedly among that country’s leading hotels, the Intercontinental bills itself as “Sydney’s Exclusive Bayside retreat,” where guests stay in luxury. According to the hotel’s website, air-conditioning […]
