The Basics of Business

A business may be structured and operated in a number of ways.  Three common structures include: sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation. Click here to learn more about these structures, and how they impact your business.

As a sole proprietor, you may wonder if incorporating your business is the right decision for you. While incorporation provides may advantages, not all businesses will benefit from a corporate structure. Click here for some items to consider when deciding whether to incorporate your business.

Whether you are already a business owner or thinking about becoming one, the decisions you make will have far-reaching implications - not only for your business, but for you and your family as well. This guidebook follows the life cycle of a business and its owner, and explores key decisions at each stage.

Earning investment income through a corporation can present some key planning considerations - there are taxes payable within the corporation, as well as taxes payable when withdrawing funds from the corporation. Click here to review situations where the use of a holding company may be beneficial, and where possible drawbacks may arise.

As a business owner, you are likely to rely on the income generated by your corporation's business to fund your lifestyle. However, what should you do with any surplus cash accumulating? If you have surplus cash in your corporation, click here to review a decision tree which can help you address your personal and corporate needs.