Resources
Insights & Resources
Practical legal guides and checklists written for Ontario business owners — no jargon, just clear answers to the questions that matter most.
33 articles
How to Revive a Corporation in Canada
How to revive a dissolved corporation in Canada: articles of revival for Ontario and federal corporations, deadlines, and what revival restores.
How to Trademark a Business Name in Canada
How to trademark a business name in Canada: why registration beats common-law rights, what CIPO can register, and how the search-to-renewal process works.
Best Practices for a Canadian With American Business Partner
Cross-border best practices for a Canadian with American business partner: incorporation, director residency, tax, immigration, and shareholder agreements.
The Business Agreements Every Ontario Company Needs, From Startup to Sale
From founder agreements to NDAs, MSAs, and loan documents, the business agreements every Ontario company needs — and what makes them enforceable.
Trademark Canada vs USA: What Businesses Need to Know
Trademark Canada vs USA: rights are territorial, so a CIPO registration won't protect you in the US. Learn the use rules, Madrid Protocol, and when to file.
Can an American Be a Director or Shareholder of a Canadian Corporation?
Can an American be a director or shareholder of a Canadian corporation? Learn how CBCA and Ontario OBCA residency rules shape the choice, plus tax flags.
Copyright in Canada for Business: What Every Owner Should Know
Copyright in Canada for business is automatic on creation — but the code, logos, and content your contractors make belong to them unless assigned in writing.
Director Conflict of Interest in Canada: Disclosure Rules, Duties, and Consequences
Director conflict of interest rules in Canada: fiduciary duties, OBCA and CBCA disclosure obligations, abstention, and how boards should document conflicts.
Cross-Border Shareholder Agreements: What Changes When Your Co-Owner Is American
A cross-border shareholder agreement needs extra care when a Canadian and US founder co-own a company. Learn the clauses that matter most before you sign.
How to Patent an Invention in Canada: Process and Requirements
A plain-English guide to how to patent an invention in Canada: what's patentable, first-to-file rules, the CIPO process, the 20-year term, and going global.
US LLC vs Canadian Corporation: Why the Entity Choice Trips Up Canadian Owners
US LLC vs Canadian corporation: the CRA treats a US LLC as a corporation, which can trigger double taxation for Canadian owners. Compare your options here.
Protecting Startup Intellectual Property: A Founder's Guide
A founder's guide to protecting startup intellectual property in Ontario — trademarks, copyright, patents, trade secrets, and IP assignment investors require.
Related-Party Transactions in Canada: Rules Every Private Corporation Should Know
Related-party transactions in Canada attract CRA, creditor, and shareholder scrutiny. Learn what counts as non-arm's length and how to document deals properly.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Incorporate in Ontario?
Do you need a lawyer to incorporate in Ontario? You can self-file or use an online service, but here's when a lawyer pays for itself and DIY is fine.
How to Remove or Buy Out a Shareholder in Ontario
How to remove a shareholder in Ontario: buy-sell and shotgun clauses, negotiated buybacks, share redemptions, valuation, and the oppression remedy explained.
Are Non-Compete Clauses Enforceable in Ontario? Non-Competes and Non-Solicits
Are non-compete clauses enforceable in Ontario? The Working for Workers Act bans most employment non-competes, but sale-of-business restrictions still hold.
Is a Letter of Intent Binding When Buying a Business?
Is a letter of intent binding when buying a business in Ontario? Learn which LOI provisions bind you, which do not, and how courts read intent.
Corporate Name Change in Ontario: Every Legal Step From NUANS to CRA
Planning a corporate name change in Ontario? Learn the legal steps — NUANS search, shareholder approval, articles of amendment, and CRA and bank updates.
How to Franchise Your Business in Ontario
Thinking about how to franchise my business in Ontario? A franchisor-side roadmap: is it franchisable, building the system, the agreement, and FDD disclosure.
How to Pay Yourself From Your Corporation in Ontario
How to pay yourself from your corporation in Ontario: salary, dividends, shareholder loans and the resolutions, records and governance each method needs.
Corporate Amalgamation in Canada: How the Legal Process Works
A plain-language guide to corporate amalgamation in Canada — short-form and long-form routes, shareholder approval, articles of amalgamation, and liabilities.
How to Dissolve a Corporation in Ontario
How to dissolve a corporation in Ontario: voluntary wind-down steps, settling debts, distributing assets, final CRA filings, and the risk of doing it wrong.
Not-for-Profit Articles of Incorporation in Canada: ONCA vs. CNCA Explained
Learn how to prepare not-for-profit articles of incorporation in Canada, choose between Ontario's ONCA and the federal CNCA, and what comes after filing.
Corporate Compliance Checklist for Canada: What Every Corporation Must Do Each Year
A practical corporate compliance checklist for Canada: annual resolutions, annual returns, transparency registers, CRA accounts, and common failures.
Director Resignation in Canada: How to Step Down Without Lingering Liability
Director resignation in Canada takes more than walking away. Learn how to resign properly, update corporate records, and limit lingering liability.
Corporate Minute Books: Why Every Ontario Corporation Needs One
Ontario corporations must keep a corporate minute book. What goes in it, what happens if you neglect it, and how to bring one up to date.
Selling Your Business in Canada: Tax Planning and Legal Essentials
Selling a business in Canada: asset vs. share sales, the lifetime capital gains exemption, and how to prepare for a successful exit.
Commercial Lease Negotiation: 10 Key Terms Every Business Owner Should Know
10 critical terms to understand before signing a commercial lease in Ontario — from net vs. gross leases to demolition clauses.
Understanding the Arthur Wishart Act: A Guide for Ontario Franchisees
Ontario's Arthur Wishart Act protections for franchisees: disclosure requirements, the 14-day cooling-off period, and rescission rights.
Buying a Business in Ontario: The Complete Legal Checklist
A complete legal checklist for buying a business in Ontario — asset vs. share purchase, due diligence, key agreements, and common pitfalls.
7 Essential Clauses Every Shareholder Agreement Needs
The 7 essential shareholder agreement clauses — from buy-sell provisions to exit planning — every Ontario corporation should have in place.
Incorporating in Ontario vs. Federally: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Ontario (OBCA) vs. federal (CBCA) incorporation — compare costs, name protection, and residency rules to make the right choice.
Why Founder Agreements Are Essential for Canadian Startups
The key founder agreement clauses — equity splits, vesting, IP assignment — and why Ontario startups can't afford to skip one.
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