Posts

Looming GM plant closure reminds SMEs of the need to adapt to changing customer demand and technology

When General Motors announced plans to shutter its Oshawa assembly plant after more than a century of production, headlines bemoaned the end of an era, not to mention the further decline of the once-impressive Canadian automotive industry. Commentators debated whether the move—which GM said was part of its wider global restructuring plans, and not reflective […]

Longevity crisis: Why entrepreneurs should act now to shore up retirement savings

It’s supposed to be the time of life when you enjoy the fruits of your entrepreneurial labour—taking the time to travel, enjoy hobbies, spend more time with the family—activities that were often impractical or outright impossible when you were working day and night to operate and grow your business. But a recent CIBC poll sheds […]

What’s the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion?

In recent weeks we saw the publication of a landmark investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump’s business dealings surrounding the sweeping real estate empire built by family patriarch Fred Trump, all the way up to the present-day management of the business under Trump scions Donald Jr. and Eric. Indeed, the venerable New York Times declared […]

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s death offers business succession lessons for entrepreneurs

It’s a nightmare scenario for any organization whose brand or operational structure is largely built around the expertise and industry standing of a charismatic owner or leader: that individual’s sudden, untimely passing. Fiat Chrysler (FCA) was forced to deal with just such a crisis in recent weeks when longtime CEO and turnaround wizard Sergio Marchionne […]

New mortgage rules bring challenges for first-time home buying entrepreneurs

When the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ (OSFI) implemented new rules earlier this year designed largely to cool the red-hot housing markets in Toronto and Vancouver, many economists lauded the move. Indeed, housing affordability has emerged as a major issue in Canada in recent years, particularly in our largest cities. Many homes that […]

Studies show that family businesses last longer. Here’s why

Family-owned businesses are a key driving force behind the success of the Canadian economy. As an accounting firm that works almost exclusively with entrepreneurs, we see this widespread reality playing out almost every day. Indeed, we’ve worked with dozens of family-run corporations, many in their second or third generations, that have enjoyed sustained financial success […]

7 common tax mistakes small business owners should avoid

Canadian entrepreneurs are some of the best in the world when it comes to starting, managing and growing their small to medium-sized businesses. But most have little or no accounting experience, particularly in the start-up years when their energy is focused on making their company a success. All too often this results in avoidable–and potentially […]

The 5 most common cash flow challenges for entrepreneurs

There are plenty of reasons why small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) succeed in their respective marketplaces, but perhaps even more why they don’t. From developing products and services that their target clientele really doesn’t need, to strategic miscalculations, Canadian SMEs face a raft of obstacles to achieving business success. There’s one challenge that can be […]

Ontario to hike Land Transfer Tax on some residential, commercial properties

Buying a residential or commercial property in Ontario is about to get more expensive. The Government of Ontario recently announced plans to hike land transfer tax (LTT) rates across the province, effective Jan. 1, 2017. As part of those changes, the LTT rate on any portion of the sale value of a single-family residence exceeding […]

Want to protect your bottom line? Beware online banking

When it was first introduced, online banking was seen as a boon for small and medium-sized businesses. It saved business owners time, money and the stress of having to visit a bank branch to conduct transactions. For that matter, cloud-based accounting software-as-a-service products that allow entrepreneurs to manage billing, bookkeeping and account balancing from anywhere […]