For many BC business owners, the business is more than an asset – it’s decades of effort and, often, a family legacy. But a rushed, reactive sale can erode value, while planning ahead helps you control timing, achieve a better tax outcome, and avoid last-minute due diligence problems that weaken your negotiating position.

When a business deal goes sideways, it’s tempting to argue that “everyone understood” what was meant, or that past behaviour should count for something. In British Columbia, where contract language is clear, that argument rarely succeeds. Canadian courts, including BC courts, are generally consistent on one principle: if you signed it, the words in the agreement govern.

While choosing a registered records office might seem like a simple administrative detail, choosing the wrong registered office can lead to missed court deadlines, compliance penalties, and operational headaches.

Signing a contract without understanding its key clauses can lock your BC business into years of unwanted obligations, strip away your legal rights, or make disputes impossibly expensive to resolve. Here are the most dangerous contract clauses you need to identify and should try and negotiate before signing.

A shareholders agreement is a legally binding contract that defines the rights, obligations, and relationships between shareholders. While not legally required, it's essential for any BC corporation with multiple owners.

Appointing the wrong person as a director – or failing to properly disclose conflicts of interest – can expose your BC company to liability, voided contracts, and governance crises. BC's Business Corporations Act ("BCA") sets specific requirements that every business owner must understand before establishing or restructuring their board.

Incorporating in British Columbia involves multiple interconnected decisions about your business structure, share capital, governance, and compliance obligations. Each choice has lasting legal and tax consequences – and tax considerations are often the “tail that wags the corporate dog”.

You're ready to launch your business in BC – but should you incorporate or start as a sole proprietor or partnership? This single decision will impact your personal liability exposure, tax obligations, ability to raise capital, and even whether your business can outlive your involvement.

Your business name is often the first impression potential clients have of your company. But in British Columbia, choosing the right name isn't just about marketing – it's also about legal compliance. Choose wrong, and you could face rejection from BC Registry Services, trademark disputes, or costly rebranding down the road.

There are three common types of business structures in B.C.: Sole proprietorships, Partnerships, and Corporations. Selecting the appropriate

Interested in buying or selling a business? Learn about the options and considerations involved in the purchase or sale of a business.

With COVID-19, businesses reviewing commercial contracts can consider force majeure or frustration to try and mitigate the impacts.