Formation & Structure

Focus: Establish a clear foundation. A clear structure makes it easier to operate, explain, and maintain your business.

Choose Your Next Step

Choose the guide page that matches where you are now.

🟢 Choose Your Structure

I Am Deciding

Comparing a sole proprietorship and corporation, or questioning whether your current structure still fits.

Choose Your Structure


🔵  Set Up Your Structure

I Am Setting It Up

I have chosen a structure and now need to put registrations, accounts, and records in place.

Set Up Your Structure

🟡  Review Your Structure

I Am Reviewing

The business is operating, but I need to check whether the original setup still fits its size, risk, ownership or complexity.

Review Your Structure

Quick Check: Unsure About Incorporation?

If you are debating whether to remain a sole proprietor or explore incorporation, use the two-minute assessment to review your current situation.

Take the 2-minute assessment to see which fits your revenue and risk.

Review Whether to Incorporate

Why This Matters

Structure problems often begin quietly. Personal and business funds get mixed, responsibilities remain informal, or the original setup is never reviewed.

Structural gaps can make tax filing, growth, ownership changes or a future sale more difficult to manage.

Clear structure reduces friction by:

  • Ensuring records exist to support important decisions.
  • Defining who is responsible for what.
  • Separating business money from personal money.

Putting it into Practice

Once you choose a guide above, use the Matching Tools where useful:

  • Structure Review Worksheets
  • Comparison Checklists
  • Setup Requirement Lists
  • Boundary Maps
View Formation & Structure Tools

Structure is set, but the books are messy?

If your setup is clear but you are stressed about records, GST/HST, or year-end readiness, continue here: Tax & Financial Discipline

Educational Note

Built to Thrive provides educational information and tools, not legal or tax advice. Business structure, incorporation and liability depend on your circumstances. Consult a qualified professional before making significant structural decisions.t legal or tax advice. Business structure, incorporation, and liability depend on your specific circumstances. Consult a qualified professional before making significant structural decisions.