The decisions that affect this year's filings are made during the year
Not at year end. That is the reason for how this practice is structured. This page explains what that looks like in practice: how an engagement starts, how the year runs, and who this model is not built for.
A single record for the entire relationship
Decisions made in August should not have to be reconstructed in April. Documents uploaded in January should not be hunted down in March. We built this practice so that neither scenario happens.
Every engagement runs inside a dedicated client portal, created for your corporation alone. Communications, documents, meeting recordings, filings, and decisions accumulate in one searchable place for the full life of the engagement.
You do not need to learn new software to use it. Access is through a browser link, with no account setup required on your end.
From introduction to ongoing engagement
We discuss your business, your current accounting and tax situation, and whether we're the right fit to work together.
The fee is set once the file condition is known, not before the review. A file that looks straightforward on a phone call can turn out to need cleanup, and a file that looks complicated can turn out to be in good shape.
A fixed-fee proposal based on the actual condition of your file. If we proceed together, a new engagement agreement governs the working relationship going forward.
A secure, dedicated space for your file is created during the review stage, before the engagement letter is signed. It carries forward for the life of the engagement, so there is no second setup step and no migration to a different system once work begins.
Ongoing work happens inside that portal, whether the engagement is a one-time setup, a monthly retainer, or a wind-down.
One portal, per client
Email is for introductions only. Once an engagement starts, working communication moves to the portal, for one reason: it keeps a complete, dated record of what was asked, what was sent, and what was decided.
That record is what protects you if a position you took is ever questioned later. Nothing is shared with other clients.
What you bring. What you get back.
Your responsibilities
Bank statements, invoices, receipts, and contracts go into the portal throughout the year, not sorted and submitted once a year during the filing window.
Questions about tax, invoicing, or structure go through a request or message tied to your file. Email and the contact form are for new inquiries; once an engagement begins, all working communication moves to the portal.
At each monthly close, outstanding items or clarifications are posted in the portal. Timely responses keep the books current.
Filings, remittances, and other decisions are posted to the portal for review before submission. Approval happens there too.
What you get back
A structured place for every topic. Async-first communication means you reach out when it suits you, responses arrive in context, and calls happen with recordings saved when used.
When CRA reviews a decision, the record exists: message, document, or transcript. No reconstruction from memory, no missing email chain.
The portal supports encryption, access controls, and a dated record of every request and response. Your financial data does not live in anyone's personal inbox.
Why we work on a monthly retainer
Most accounting practices see their clients once a year, at tax time. Documents arrive in a pile, questions accumulate, and decisions that could have been made in March get handled in April under deadline pressure. We built this practice to work differently.
A monthly retainer means the relationship is active throughout the year. When current information flows into the workspace continuously, we can see the financial picture as it develops, not after the fact.
The file is always current
When documents arrive throughout the year, context is not lost to time. There is no reconstruction exercise before each filing. The numbers are already there.
Ongoing visibility into the numbers
Changes in revenue, new contract structures, or shifts in expenses are visible as they happen. We monitor the picture throughout the year, not at the end of it.
Preventive decisions, not reactive ones
Salary versus dividend planning, HST threshold exposure, instalment obligations: these questions have real answers when the books are current. They become guesswork when addressed in hindsight.
This is not the right fit for everyone
We are direct about this because the engagement model is fixed. Understanding where we do not fit saves time on both sides.
Annual drop-off tax preparation, with no contact between filings, is not this practice's model. The New Client File Review and portal apply to every engagement.
If you will not use a structured system for document requests and communication, another firm will be a better fit.
Last-minute deadline filings without a prior File Review are not accepted, because the review is what catches problems before they become penalties.
Using the portal
Do I need to install anything?
No. The portal is accessed through a browser link sent to your email. There is nothing to download and no separate login to create.
Why not just use email?
Email threads get long, get forwarded, and get lost across tax years. The portal keeps one dated record per file instead of scattered attachments, which matters if a position needs to be defended later.
What happens to my documents after the engagement ends?
Your records remain accessible to you. Ask about export options during offboarding if you are moving to a new accountant.
Can someone else on my team use the portal?
Yes, access can be extended to a bookkeeper, business partner, or other team member on request.
Are calls recorded only with consent?
Yes. Recordings are initiated only when both parties are aware and agree, and they are stored in the portal rather than on any personal device.
If this way of working suits you, we are likely a good fit
We ask every prospective client to read this page before making contact. If you are comfortable working through a structured portal instead of email, send us a brief description of your situation and book a 15-minute introduction.