The Decision to Accept Cryptocurrencies
Shortly after I started Wires Law I was introduced to Ryan Lazanis, a CPA from Montreal. All the way back in November 2013 Ryan announced his accounting firm, Xen Accounting, would accept Bitcoin. Here is the original press release. He was (and still is) ahead of his...
Can you use a Competitor’s Trademark in Your Website’s Metatags?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Paying Instagram “Influencers” to Endorse Products Online
Social Media Endorsement Deals: More and more e-commerce retailers are turning to social media influencers on Instragram for product endorsements.
The Digital Minute Book for Corporations – Time to Convert?
At Wires Law we operate a paperless legal practice, which includes the management of corporate minute books. A corporate minute book is a record of the rules and decisions the company’s board of directors and shareholders make. It also contains, among other things,...
12 Areas of Potential Liability for e-Commerce Businesses – Website Terms and Conditions
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Don’t Forget About Old Fashioned, Government Backed, Startup Financing
Small business financing options are changing quickly these days - crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending portals are on the rise. The exceptional growth of crowdfunding portals is undoubtably linked to the fact that financing a new business, particularly after 2008,...
Founder Stories (Gongshow Hockey): Tips on Picking a Domain Name and Avoiding Domain Name Disputes
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Does your Company Actually Own its Domain Name?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Founder, Director and Officer Compensation in Crowdfunding Companies
How Much Should Equity Crowdfunding Directors Be Paid? In their proposed "Crowdfunding Offering Document" from March 20, 2014 the Ontario Securities Commission requires crowdfunding companies to disclose how much money the directors and officers of the corporation...
Equity Crowdfunding Exemption Scheduled for Q1 2015
I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel this morning with Gerrard Buckley of Maple Leaf Angles, Jos Schmidt of Aequitas Innovations Inc. and Jim Turner the Vice Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission. The event, Igniting Entrepreneurship and Capital Flow in...
A Canadian Online Marketplace To Sell Your Small Business (Founder Stories)
Its not easy to sell your business. Like any other Entrepreneurship student, Nunzio Presta, Graduate of The Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, aspired to leave school with a fresh business idea that would jump start a successful career. His first...
Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credits
Howard Lerner is an Chartered Professional Accountant with Richter LLP who has offices adjacent to Wires Law. Howard services a diverse range of clients, with particular expertise in high-tech businesses, construction companies, and some of Ontario’s top professional...
The Looming Sale of Baby Boomer Businesses
Distinct Capital Partners ("DCP") is an Oakville, Ontario based investment banking firm that provides corporate finance, M&A and advisory services to small and mid-market Canadian private companies. Their clients are primarily owner operated businesses, meaning...
Selling a Business in Ontario
Selling a Business in Ontario There are two ways to sell a business in Ontario: (1) Selling the underlying assets of the business; or (2) Selling the shares of the corporation that owns the assets and operates the business. Usually, it is preferable for the seller to...
Should I have a Holding Company?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
New Domain Names
Are new top level domains becoming available this year the biggest change in internet history? You can now pre-register your new domain name including .inc
Deducting Legal Fees for Tax Purposes
Deducting Legal, Accounting and Other Professional Fees Many startups do not realize that their legal and accounting fees can be deducted as a business expense for tax purpose. Here is the CRA's full archived guide to deducing legal and accounting fees. The CRA's...
Crowdfunding: Are We Really that Mad?
This article was originally published in an abbreviated form on the Financial Post website. By John Wires and Craig Asano Utter the word “crowdfunding” to anyone trying to raise capital for a worthwhile start-up and you’ll see a sour face turn hopeful. While it’s hard...
SEC Opens Crowdfunding Invitation to Canadian Securities Regulators
The US Securities and Exchange Commission made its big announcement on Wednesday setting out a comprehensive proposal for how equity Crowdfunding rules would actually work. As a Canadian lawyer who has been writing about the importance of finding a way to harmonize...
Time for an Accountant? Head to the Cloud
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Tips and Tricks on How to Pick a Business Name
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Should I Trademark It?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is not (and is not intended to be) legal advice. This is legal information only. Reviewing information about the law may help you understand whether you need legal assistance. Whether and how this information applies to your...
Corporate Share Classes
Why Have Different Share Classes? Not all shares are created equal. Start-ups can issue different types (or classes) of shares with different rights attached to them. Having different classes of shares can be used for a number of different reasons but more often that...
Protecting Your Startup from Disputes with a Shareholder Agreement
Lawyers hear the same horror stories all the time. A client starts a company 50/50 with a good friend or business associate and one of two things inevitably happens. The new venture is either successful or within the first few years it struggles to generate revenue...
10 Areas Websites Face Liability & How to Create Terms and Conditions
Why have website Terms and Conditions? The key functions of your website terms and conditions is to try to reduce your exposure to a lawsuit, attempt to limit your liability in the event of a lawsuit and set the ground rules for how disputes with users will be...
How to Create a Privacy Policy for your Canadian based Internet Company
Why Have a Privacy Policy? Learning how to create a privacy policy, and properly implementing it, will reduce the risk of a lawsuit or government sanctions in Canada. Privacy policies are required by law for companies collecting user data in the course of business. If...
Company By-laws in Ontario
Company By-laws in Ontario What Are They? The by-laws of a corporation are rules which establish how the business and affairs of a corporation are conducted. Common by-laws address things like: how documents will be signed (and contracts entered) on behalf of the...
5 Tips for Equity Crowdfunding Success (Once Its Legal)
Getting to the heart of what factors contributed to a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise equity financing.