April, 2022

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Corporate Records 101: What Is In Your Minute Book?

corporate minute books being pulled off a shelf

Disclaimer: This article is intended for the purpose of providing information about corporate minute books only. It is to be used only for the purposes of guidance. This article is not intended to be relied upon as the giving of legal advice and does not purport to be exhaustive.

When you decide to incorporate, you often do so because it offers numerous advantages for your business. Among these are personal liability protection and the potential for tax benefits. What you may not realize, however, is that incorporation also comes with certain record-keeping requirements.

However, these requirements are not daunting or overly time-consuming if you stay on top of them. 

Let’s take a minute to look at minute books and demystify what you need to retain for your corporate records. Of course, if you have questions about your specific corporation, we encourage you to book a call with our team.

What is a minute book?

Simply put, a minute book is a collection of records that provides a snapshot of your corporation.

It is a corporate record that documents the proceedings of the board of directors and shareholders. The term “minute book” comes from the fact that minutes are typically recorded in this type of book.

A corporation would use a minute book to comply with the Business Corporations Act for Ontario corporations, or the Canada Business Corporations Act for federally incorporated businesses.

Do all corporations need a minute book?

Yes – whether you have a federal or provincial corporation, they all require that you have a minute book and that you regularly update it.

Can my minute book be digital?

The Ontario Business Corporations Act specifically requires records to be kept in a bound or looseleaf book or stored electronically. However, the Canada Business Corporations Act simply requires that records be reasonably available to be inspected by the shareholders, creditors and the Director appointed under that Act.

What goes in a minute book?

Your minute book should include:

  • Articles of Incorporation and any Articles of Amendment
  • Corporate bylaws and any amendments
  • Any forms filed with the applicable government (for example, an Initial Return (Form 1) which is required to be filed upon incorporation and when any specific changes are made to the corporation.)
  • Directors registers
  • Shareholders register
  • Officers register, if applicable
  • Shareholders ledger, which would set out  the name, address, class and number of shares held by each shareholder
  • Minutes of all shareholders’ and directors’ meetings
  • Resolutions passed by written consent in lieu of a meeting
  • Copies of any contracts or agreements to which the corporation is a party
  • Annual reports, if applicable
  • Audited financial statements, if applicable
  • Shareholders Agreement, if applicable
  • Share certificates

You should update your minute book, at a minimum, on an annual basis. If there have been no changes over the past year, the corporation would simply reaffirm, by means of a resolution, that nothing has changed.

Why Keep Your Minute Book Up To Date? 

It is important to keep your minute book up to date for a number of reasons. Let’s outline just three of those reasons.

To ensure the corporation is complying with the law

These records are required by either the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) or the Canada Business Corporations Act (Federal).

The Corporation Profile Report will note if you have not complied with keeping your records up to date. In extreme cases, the Ministry can even involuntarily dissolve your corporation, although that is rare.

To have an accurate record of corporate decisions and shareholdings

Your minute book is a key reference for the directors, shareholders and officers of the corporation. It will document major corporate decisions, such as changes to the articles or bylaws, issuing of new shares, or the sale of property.

The shareholders’ register will identify each shareholder and how many shares they own. This can be helpful if there is ever a dispute among shareholders.

To provide it to third parties upon request

There are some cases where a third party will require that you have an up-to-date corporation profile report.

For example, a lender may request one when you are applying for a business loan.

Or, if you ever sell your business, the buyer will want to see an up-to-date minute book as part of their due diligence.

Keeping Your Corporate Minute Books Up-To-Date

Updating your minute book does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. You can do it yourself. You can also hire a lawyer to ensure that it aligns with all legal requirements.

If you have any questions about your corporate records, and how to keep them updated, book a call today! Our team would be happy to help!

The Dos and Don’ts of Selling a Business

Disclaimer: This article is intended for the purposes of providing information about selling a business in Ontario only. It is to be used only for the purposes of guidance. This article is not intended to be relied upon as the giving of legal advice and does not purport to be exhaustive.

Being an entrepreneur is one of the most challenging experiences, but often the most satisfying. It comes with a lot of risks, but also a lot of rewards. One of the biggest decisions you will make as an entrepreneur is when to sell your business.

Do not take the decision to sell your business lightly, as it can be a very emotional process. You have likely put blood, sweat and tears into building your business. Of course, you want to make sure that it goes to someone who will appreciate and care for it as much as you have.

When selling a business in Ontario, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Here are the Dos and Don’ts of selling a business.

DO: Talk to a lawyer when selling a company

The very first thing you should do is talk to an experienced business lawyer (such as the team from Beeksma Law). It doesn’t matter if you are selling the business to your relative, best friend or child. You absolutely need someone taking a look at the legal aspects of your sale.

Time again, our team sees business owners selling their businesses without legal advice. After the sale, there are issues with liability remaining with the seller. The seller did not expect this because there was not a well-written agreement in place.

Selling a business has many moving pieces. Relying on solid legal advice means that we consider all of these potential issues and nothing falls between the cracks.

Don’t: Forget to consider the tax implications of selling a business

The other professional that you will want to speak to is an accountant. There are tax implications to selling your business that you will want to consider so that you do not end up with a hefty tax bill.

DO: Consider whether its a share sale vs. asset sale

In determining the tax implications surrounding the sale, you’ll need to know if it is a share sale or an asset sale. Generally speaking, a share sale will have more tax implications for the seller and an asset sale will have a greater impact on the buyer.

Make sure it is clear what you are selling and what is and what is not included when you are negotiating the sale. For example, some licences are not assignable, so be sure that you are not including something in the sale that you cannot transfer.

DON’T: Be unclear about the plan going forward

One of the most important questions to answer if you are selling your business is, “What’s the end date for your exposure to liability?” Liabilities can be a broad term and can include any accounts payable or liability if someone is harmed by the business’ machinery, for example.

As well, if the business is not being sold outright and you will be making payments over time, how will you structure those payments? Will there be a General Security Agreement? Will there be a PPSA registration against the buyer? How will you ensure that you will receive the full purchase price?

These are all questions that require answers while negotiating the purchase, and a lawyer can help you negotiate these terms with your best interests in mind.

DO: Obtain any necessary third-party consents

While it may be your business, there are instances where you require third-party consent for portions of the sale.

A few examples come to mind. The first is in the instance of a lease. Your lease may have a provision to the effect that you cannot assign the lease to someone else without the landlord’s permission. In other instances, it could be a situation where you structured your corporation in such a way that you require your shareholders’ consent, or you may need to restructure your business because of the sale.

Get advice that you can trust

When selling your business, don’t just seek legal advice. Get legal advice that you can trust. The team at Beeksma Law has a wealth of experience and will work with you to protect your best interests every step of the way.

Our founder, Shayna Beeksma, is a strategic advocate for business owners across Ontario. Not only is she a mentor for other women-led businesses, but she is also an active member of her business community.

We understand that selling a business in Ontario is a big decision, and we’re here to help you through it. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you sell your business. (As well, stay tuned for our future article on tips for purchasing a business).