Every Canadian SMB question, mapped: financing, banking, cards, payroll, GST/HST, insurance, incorporation, SR&ED. 10 deep-dive guides with real Canadian programs and numbers.
CSBFL, BDC, online lenders · up to $1.15M
→Top Canadian biz cards · cashback by category
→Big-5 business chequing · transaction tiers compared
→Wagepoint vs Wave vs QuickBooks · who pays who
→Threshold gauge + filing schedule + provincial rules
→Liability scenarios · coverage type matrix
→Tax + liability decision tree · when to incorporate
→LOC vs term loan trade-offs · flex vs cost
→Up to 35% R&D refundable credit · eligible activities
→Federal program · government guarantees 85% of the loan. Available at any participating Big-5 + many credit unions.
Crown corp · larger working capital + growth financing. Often more flexible than commercial banks.
Tax credit · up to 35% refundable for CCPCs on eligible R&D. Single biggest gov't program for tech startups.
Pay GST/HST at reduced rate · keep the difference. Small business cash flow boost most don't know about.
Typically once revenue exceeds $80-100k AND profit exceeds your salary needs. Below that, sole prop has lower cost. Tax + liability tradeoffs matter most.
Mandatory if revenue exceeds $30,000 in any 4 consecutive quarters. Below: voluntary (and often beneficial if your buyers are GST-registered).
If you incorporate, get a business card for separation. Sole props can use personal — but a business card builds business credit (separate from personal).
Start with your bank. If they decline or terms are bad, BDC + online lenders (Clearco, OnDeck) come in. BDC is often more flexible but more expensive.