The Origami Blog

There are few questions more shocking to an accountant than “Why do we need financial statements?”

At the end of an Origami on-boarding session, two entrepreneurs who had recently incorporated their service business asked if I had any advice.

Entrepreneurs can choose what they do: a blessing and a curse. They can make plans one day, make new plans the next.

If one of these factors applies, give some thought to closing down. With two, those thoughts turn serious.

Instead of trying to represent both sides of the argument, I recruited one of Origami’s CPAs and co-founders, Kris, to debate the question with me.

I didn’t find the service that fixed my problem on Google. I don’t think they have a website or social media accounts. And yet, they have a business that any homeowner would be glad to find.

Do I need to register? What if I forget to charge it? We answer these questions and more in this post.

For small business owners, the need to balance consistent, traditional retirement investment with enhancing the earning power of their business is exactly the dilemma.

While the answer depends on the individual situation, there are a few general principles at play.

The temporary GST/HST holiday comes at the busiest time of the year for many small businesses. We’ve put together a primer to help you navigate the challenges.

In your Origami Monthly Report, we include targets for Real Profit, Real Sales, and Salary Cap. Here's how we calculate those values.

The cash flow section of Your Origami Monthly Report shows you two things: how much cash you have on hand and how much cash you've generated from your business activities.

How's my business doing? We provide our clients with the answer to this critical question by simplifying traditional financial statements to these key results.

The summary income statement included in your Origami Monthly Report shows you a high level view of your numbers so you can quickly assess and track your performance each month.

Kris Sparrow, an Origami co-founder and CPA, explains what small business owners need to know about compensating themselves at different stages of their business.

This post helps to demystify the small business tax landscape. It gives you the information you need to stay compliant in terms of your business tax filings and payments.

The repayment deadline to qualify for partial CEBA loan forgiveness has been extended by a couple of weeks. We’re letting you know what the announcement means for you.

CPAs provide 3 basic and increasingly valuable services to small business owners. Corporate tax returns are just the first.

One of the most common questions we get asked at Origami by prospective clients is, 'When should I incorporate?' Here's what we tell them.

You only have so much time, patience, and determination in any given day. Do you want to spend it learning bookkeeping or building a successful business?

You want to strike out on your own, but right now you have a job. Pay attention and learn as much as you can about how business works (and doesn't work) while you're there. Future you says thanks.

So you want to start a small business. Great! Actually, wait, not great. Give us a few minutes. We'll do our best to convince you not to.

You started a small business so you and your family could be financially better off. If you're already there, congratulations! If you're not, Origami can help you get there.

Your small business is your number one investment in time and money. The big question: Is the investment paying off? Yes, no, or who knows, you always want to do better.

As the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) programs have now come to an end, we’re letting you know about the new programs intended to replace them.

At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself a simple question: was this expense paid primarily in an effort to earn business income? If the answer is yes, it is deductible, if the answer is no, it is not.

As the owner-manager of a Canadian small business corporation, you have two options when it comes to paying yourself: a dividend or a salary. We discuss the pros and cons of each option in this post.

Bliss Baked Goods offers delicious breads, pastries, and vegan fare. The products are nut and lactose free.

Jennifer Bergman provides clean, elegant, and timeless wedding design to her clients in Alberta and around the world.

The Common is a gastro-lounge where vintage and modern are in perfect harmony together. Where good eats and music are never in short supply.

Breath for Life offers a range of first aid and safety courses in Edmonton including basic first aid, childcare courses, and all levels of CPR.

Rob Clarke and Justin Der started Foosh in the late 90′s. Rob was DJing, touring, and putting out his own records.

Success didn’t come overnight. No one still really knew what Student Suds was. And the sheer amount of rain that season forced him to re-book a lot of jobs, costing him time and money.