Business & Agri-Business

January 27, 2007

Take Proper Steps for Incorporation

Matt is a 25-year old roofer who has his own roofing company.  Living and working in Medicine Hat, times are good.  The housing business is booming and as a result, there is more work available than Matt’s small business can […]
October 24, 2007

Family Trusts and Corporations

Previous articles in this column have looked at probating a Will and alternatives to probating a Will. This article looks at family trusts and corporations as alternatives to probating a Will. Probate is a court procedure established to protect the […]
June 4, 2008

Litigation Proofing Your Business

Going to court can be expensive.  Presently in Alberta, claims under $25,000 can be addressed through Small Claims (Provincial) Court, while matters above $25,000 go through the Court of Queen’s Bench.  It is not uncommon in Medicine Hat for a […]
October 18, 2010

Value of a Written Agreement

“A Short Pencil is Better than a Long Memory” This is something my father used to always say, and I, in turn, say it to others now.  What he meant, of course, is write it down so you don’t forget.  […]
June 18, 2011

Interest at Closing Time

This article is not referring to Leonard Cohen or last call at your favourite watering hole.  It is about real estate transactions where for one reason or another, the purchase price is not able to be paid on the closing […]
May 19, 2012

How to Guide Your Business Through a Divorce

It’s challenging to go through a separation or divorce no matter what your circumstances. When one or both of the people involved in the divorce own, operate, or hold shares in a business, their divorce can affect a much wider […]
September 15, 2012

Preparing Your Business for the Worst

People go into business to succeed.  While there are different driving factors which cause people to go into business – for example, financial motivation, a passion for business, or having expertise in a particular field – nobody goes into business […]
October 20, 2012

Estate Planning is Essential to Your Family Business Legacy

If you own a successful family business, that success is likely the result of a lot of hard work, and it probably didn’t happen overnight. And if you enjoy running your family business, you’ll likely want to do so as […]
December 15, 2012

“But, you promised…”: Clear, Enforceable Contracts

When you were a child, do you ever remember saying “But you promised…”? As children, none of us were required to sign formal agreements. The three reasons I often hear for failing to create clear, enforceable agreement are: “I trusted […]
January 22, 2013

Communication and Successful Family Business Succession Planning

The relationship between family and business creates challenges for succession planning for the family business.  The University of Alberta’s Family Business Institute has determined family businesses generate about 60% of Canada’s GDP and create 20% of all new jobs in […]