Category
03The tax foundation you should have had on day one.
Corporate Structure
Incorporation, opco/holdco, contracts and shareholder loans. the foundation done right.
A bad structure doesn't hurt in year one. it hurts when you sell, when you transfer, or when CRA reassesses. By then, undoing it costs ten times more than building it correctly from the start. An hour of corporate planning today often saves months of forced reorg later.
- 01
A share structure that already anticipates passing the business to a child or partner
- 02
Shareholder loans documented and compliant with s. 15(2)
- 03
A shareholder agreement read and challenged by a CPA, not just a lawyer
- 04
A foundation you won't have to redo in five years
Frequently asked
Provincial or federal. what really changes?
Provincial (Quebec) is cheaper, faster, and enough if your business stays in Quebec. Federal gives you nationwide name protection and makes expansion easier. For a Quebec entrepreneur staying in-province, provincial is almost always the right call.
When should I add a holdco?
When your corp accumulates cash you don't withdraw immediately, when you want to shield assets from operational risk, or when you're preparing for a sale. A holdco is never the first reflex. it's the consequence of a specific goal.
My lawyer already drafted the shareholder agreement. Why should a CPA read it?
Because the tax clauses (buyback, valuation, share transfer) have six-figure consequences if they're poorly worded. A lawyer protects your rights; a CPA quantifies the consequences. Both readings are necessary.
Ready to talk strategy?
An initial conversation, no fee, no commitment. We look at your situation and identify the concrete levers.