Separate the registrations from the ledger
Calgary requires business registration and location approval; a business licence depends on the activity. Those municipal steps are separate from provincial registration, CRA accounts and accounting software. We can organize the associated documents and fees while you confirm the approvals with the relevant authority.
Your chart of accounts should describe useful distinctions: project income, customer advances, subcontractors, inventory, operating overhead and owner funding. Too many categories can be as confusing as too few; the right detail supports a real reporting decision.
Start with documented balances
We identify cash introduced by owners, equipment transferred into use, unpaid setup invoices and any existing loans. The accountant reviews the appropriate treatment of incorporation costs, assets and owner transactions. A fresh software file does not mean every opening balance is zero.
Illustrative example: a home-based advisory practice
A Calgary consultant purchases a laptop personally, pays for an annual software plan and receives a client advance before opening a business bank account. A setup schedule preserves who paid, what period the purchase covers and what work remains due to the customer. That makes the first month understandable without guessing from the first bank deposit.
Questions about this work
Do you apply for a City licence for us?
Our bookkeeping scope can include organizing costs and records. Licence applications, location approvals and professional permissions remain separate unless specifically agreed.
Should we register for GST immediately?
Registration depends on your supplies, revenues and circumstances. We gather the information needed for that decision and confirm the treatment with the responsible adviser.
Put this into practice
Sources and current guidance
A practical next step
Bring the records you have.
We can identify missing information, agree on the scope and organize the next bookkeeping step.
Request a bookkeeping review