Should I operate as a sole proprietorship or incorporate?
Compares sole proprietorship and incorporation across liability, taxes, and filing duties under federal, Ontario, and Alberta law to help you decide.
Topic
Business structure
Sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, holding company: which form fits, and what changes when you switch.
How do I write a contract that actually protects me?
A step-by-step guide to the federal and Ontario/Alberta rules on signatures, interest, implied terms, limitation periods, and consumer contract requirements.
Can a text message, email, or emoji create a binding contract or signature?
Ontario and Alberta law lets emails, texts, and digital acts count as contract signatures; federal rules apply only to specific document requirements.
What should I look for in a commercial lease before signing?
A plain look at the lease term, rent structure, insurance, and Ontario or Alberta legal protections to check before signing.
Should I incorporate my business or stay a sole proprietor?
Compares sole proprietorship and incorporation across liability, cost, and filing rules in Ontario, Alberta, and federally.
What licences does a small business need?
Explains which federal, Ontario, and Alberta licences a small business may need, and how to find out which apply.
When do I have to register for GST/HST?
GST/HST registration is a federal CRA rule triggered at $30,000 in revenue; Ontario and Alberta follow the same threshold.
What is a holding company and when does an incorporated business need one?
A plain-language look at how the CBCA and Alberta law define a holding company, and why setting one up is optional, not mandatory.
When should I incorporate my business?
Explains what incorporating changes under federal, Ontario, and Alberta law, and the liability, tax, and registration factors that shape timing.
What is a partnership?
Defines a partnership in Ontario and Alberta law and explains how the Income Tax Act taxes partners federally.