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    We want to give you as much value as possible. Our blogs and newsletters cover everything from T slips and tax deadlines, to tips on staying organized, and recommendations on great resources for small business owners.


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    Posts by Matt Peterson

    FAQ about COVID-19 government support for small businesses

    As your small business guide, we’re here to help you navigate through this tough time. We have all been hugely affected by COVID-19 and for small business owners, there are many questions around the...

    Apr 14, 2020

    5 tips for working at home with your partner

    We work with a lot of small businesses run by couples who are familiar with the terrain of working and living together 24/7. As we settle into the new reality of self-isolation, most of us are now...

    Mar 19, 2020

    How to file your taxes online with True North

    We are in uncharted waters with the Covid-19 outbreak. Nothing is more unnerving to small business owners than uncertainty, and there's a lot of it right now. We have big news and lots of important...

    Mar 16, 2020

    2019 personal tax year update

    As we dive into tax season, we want to give you an update on what’s new and different this year.

    The biggest change this year is a new tax credit called the Climate Action Incentive. We've got the...

    Mar 03, 2020

    Healthcare benefits for small businesses

    As a small business owner, healthcare may be a big question mark for you. A traditional health insurance plan can be expensive. But your kid needs braces, and you have a couple of prescriptions. You...

    Feb 07, 2020

    Do I need a business coach?

    Just as a personal trainer helps you reach your fitness goals, a business coach can help you reach your business goals. A business coach will help you clarify your vision, set the right goals and...

    Jan 28, 2020

    Six KPIs for 2020

    With the new year on the horizon, you’re probably thinking about setting your goals for the year ahead. Establishing a few key performance indicators (aka KPIs) will give you clarity into your...

    Dec 23, 2019

    22 books for the business owner in your life

    For the holidays, we’ve got a roundup of our favourite business books for the business owner in your life. These are 22 books that I have relied on during my journey in business. I highly recommend...

    Dec 03, 2019

    6 self-awareness tests for small business owners

    Being an effective leader requires self-awareness. It also helps to recognize the behavioural tendancies and personalities of those you work with.

    Nov 14, 2019

    The legal needs of every small business

    As the owner of a growing small business in Canada, there are just a few things you need to take care of on the legal side to ensure you keep yourself protected. Too often, small business owners...

    Nov 07, 2019

    Estate planning: 4 reasons every small business owner needs to do it

    Small business owners have especially complicated financial situations; you want to be sure your loved ones are taken care of if something were to happen to you. A bit of work with your CPA, lawyer,...

    Oct 14, 2019

    12 entrepreneur courses / schools

    We’ve all got back to school on our mind. Getting back to brainy endeavours isn’t just for the little ones - there are tons of opportunities for small business owners to level up their leadership,...

    Sep 06, 2019

    Bankruptcy: how to get in and how to get out

    Nobody wants to go into bankruptcy, but it happens. The good news is that bankruptcy may not be as bad as you think, and it can be an opportunity to reset and learn. Here’s a clear-eyed look at how...

    Aug 11, 2019

    An inside look at ATBX with Empowerment Inc’s Shelley Hayes

    If you’re a small business owner, you may have heard of ATBX, an accelerator program for businesses that want to grow. The free (!) program offers weekly workshops, mentorship, co-working space and a...

    Jul 08, 2019

    Mid-year small business financial check-in

    We often hear from small business owners that they wish they heard from their accountants throughout the year. This year, we invite you to make a meeting with us for a mid-year small business...

    Jun 20, 2019

    Big marketing tips for small businesses

    This post comes from our Marketing Director, Erica O’Donnellwho has worked in the digital marketing world for nearly 15 years.

    Jun 05, 2019

    What is a personal services business?

    A friend was recently offered a contract position with an oil and gas company, but there was a catch: he needed to form a corporation and get a GST number before he could start working. If you work...

    May 26, 2019

    Small business investing strategy with financial planner Mitesh Patel

    Money. Like it or not, we all need it to live and thrive in this world. Understanding the investments available to you, how markets work and the ins and outs of taxes is super important so that you...

    May 01, 2019

    5 best free apps for small business

    Here are five apps that will make your business sturdier and more organized. There’s so much to track as a small business owner. Stacks of unorganized papers, making up numbers for your accountant,...

    Apr 14, 2019

    Home office organization: Love your home office again

    Remember when you first set up your home office? New desk, shelves, and filing system. Stationery and pens were all organized. Wasn’t it a nice place to be? Weren’t you excited to do some work?

    Apr 09, 2019

    Rental properties and rental property tax

    Landlords, need a breakdown what to do come tax season? Find out exactly what you can write off and why you should expect to owe taxes. What happens when you sell a rental property or do major...

    Mar 27, 2019

    What is tax planning?

    Accountants, lawyers, financial planners and insurance advisors all throw this term around: tax planning. But what exactly is Tax Planning? And how is it done?

    Mar 07, 2019

    Q&A with Megan Sutherland, financial planner in Calgary

    With the RRSP deadline coming up this Friday, March 1, we wanted to bring in the perspective of an investment advisor to shed some light on the topic of investing and taxes. Megan Sutherland is an...

    Feb 24, 2019

    2018 personal tax update

     As you get ready to prepare your 2018 taxes and think about the tax year ahead, here are the big changes to personal taxes. Many of them will keep more money in your pocket, so make sure you’re...

    Feb 13, 2019

    6 tips to getting financially fit

    What does a financially fit business owner look like? They confidently take advantage of every write-off and have a tight paper trail. They've automated their instalment payments and save enough from...

    Jan 30, 2019

    True North Accounting: The best in small business accounting and bookkeeping

    At True North Accounting, we’re proud to provide accounting, bookkeeping and small business advisory services for small businesses in Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta. 

    Jan 25, 2019

    Canada Pension Plan (CPP) changes for 2019

    Last week I sent an email out to all our clients telling them January 15 is their last chance to make their 2018 CPP remittance. The maximum amount for 2018 is $5,187.60. I hope you got in while it...

    Jan 15, 2019

    Small business owners: celebrate your 2018 accomplishments!

    The year is winding down. Although it’s a good time to look ahead, make resolutions and plot goals for the new year, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the year you’re...

    Dec 19, 2018

    The universal gift of beer

    Did you know that beer is becoming one of the most appreciated holiday gifts? Beer is really an all-season beverage, but in my house it’s become one of my favourite Christmas traditions; this...

    Dec 04, 2018

    Side hustle to real deal

    Lots of people have a side hustle these days (check out Avenue’s recent article The Art of the Side Hustle). When your heart’s in the game and you start to make a few bucks, you may start to wonder:...

    Nov 26, 2018

    Starting a brewery: getting a brewery off the ground

    We’re hosting Tears, Fears & Beers* at Ol’Beautifulbrewery next Thursday, November 15, an event about how start and survive small business ownership (because we’re all about small businesses )....

    Nov 08, 2018

    Should your business own your vehicle?

    If you’ve ever asked your accountants whether you should own your vehicle in your corporation, or personally, I’m betting they didn’t tell you much. They probably said, “well it depends”. If you are...

    Oct 17, 2018

    17 small business documents to keep safe this year

    We all get bombarded with so much mail and email that it can be difficult to sort the important from the unimportant. Documents that are important for tax purposes arrive throughout the year, or...

    Oct 05, 2018

    Meet our new Partner - Curtis Gabinet

    We’re excited to introduce Curtis Gabinet as a new Partner at True North Accounting. Curtis has been with us for a couple years, so our clients know him well. But to everyone that hasn’t met him yet,...

    Sep 28, 2018

    Small business bookkeeping and tax tools that we use

    My name is Madeline and I am a co-owner of True North Accounting. I am responsible for the day-to-day administrative duties and wanted to write a blog about how True North Accounting handles its own...

    Sep 28, 2018

    We’re with you all the way

    "Running my own business is hard. While the rewards and freedom are great, I get really stressed out at tax time and am always worrying about paying enough tax, and not getting in trouble with the...

    Sep 06, 2018

    Not another brown envelope: CRA support

    Those brown envelopes with the little black Canada flag in the top left corner can raise the heart beat a little. Sometimes they contain a cheque! Other times you rip it open and it's a letter with a...

    Aug 29, 2018

    Sponsorship: how to be a smart sponsor

    If you own a business, chances are you get requests to sponsor events and teams. We want to give you our thoughts on what to sponsor, and when to say ‘no.’

    Jul 23, 2018

    How to build business credit

    The most important thing a small business owner can do is maintain a good personal credit score. But it's still very important to build good business credit. We’ll explain some of the benefits and...

    Jul 11, 2018

    Money-smart kids: how to raise financially literate children

    Money isn’t something a lot of families like talking about at the dinner table, but my family did. Growing up, my dad was (and still is) always on the lookout for a good deal and he drilled the value...

    Jun 28, 2018