6 worked Printing & Sign Shops case studies — the position a client typically comes to us with, what we do, and what it is worth. Each is an illustrative example built on the rules that apply to printing & sign shops work, not a specific client's file.
Client: A handyman services franchise · Where: Kelowna, British Columbia · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Proposed tax cleared$87,000
Review duration6 weeks
OutcomeNo change
The situation — A handyman services franchise, Kelowna, British Columbia
A handyman services franchise in Kelowna, British Columbia was selected for review. Equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule had shown up in the CRA's automated matching. The proposed adjustment on printing & sign shops accounting and tax came to $87,000.
What we did for A handyman services franchise, Kelowna, British Columbia
We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. Every figure in the response traced to a source record the auditor could verify without asking a second question.
The result — A handyman services franchise, Kelowna, British Columbia
The review closed with no change. $87,000 of proposed tax came off the table, and the documentation now in place makes the next review a short one.
Client: A home inspection practice · Where: Windsor, Ontario · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Annual saving$22,500
ReorganisationTax-neutral
StructureMatches operations
The situation — A home inspection practice, Windsor, Ontario
The structure at a home inspection practice in Windsor, Ontario needed fixing. The file was carrying sector deductions claimed on a general-business basis rather than the printing & sign shops rules. Every option for fixing it ran through a reorganisation that had to be done without triggering tax.
What we did for A home inspection practice, Windsor, Ontario
We worked with the client's lawyer. Together, we reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed. We also prepared the elections, resolutions and valuations the structure needed to stand up.
The result — A home inspection practice, Windsor, Ontario
The structure now matches the business. Annual saving of $22,500, and the reorganisation itself was tax-neutral.
Case Study 3 · Cash and remittance control
Instalments Rebased, $131,000 Of Cash Returned To The Business — Home Staging Company, Kitchener
Client: A home staging company · Where: Kitchener, Ontario · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Cash returned$131,000
Instalment basisCurrent year
ReviewedQuarterly
The situation — A home staging company, Kitchener, Ontario
A home staging company in Kitchener, Ontario was paying instalments calculated on a prior year. That year no longer reflected the business. Seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it was tying up $131,000 of cash.
What we did for A home staging company, Kitchener, Ontario
We rebased the instalments on the current-year estimate rather than the prior-year default. Alongside that, we rebuilt the chart of accounts around how a printing & sign shops business actually earns and spends.
The result — A home staging company, Kitchener, Ontario
$131,000 of cash stayed in the business, the penalty cycle ended, and the instalment position is reviewed each quarter against actual results.
Case Study 4 · Missed incentive claimed
$41,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Security Systems Installer, Burnaby
Client: A security systems installer · Where: Burnaby, British Columbia · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Credits claimed$41,000
Years adjusted6
Review outcomeNo adjustment
The situation — A security systems installer, Burnaby, British Columbia
A security systems installer in Burnaby, British Columbia had been filing for 6 years. In that time, the incentives its activity qualified for were never claimed. Behind that sat sector incentives that had never been tested against printing & sign shops activity.
What we did for A security systems installer, Burnaby, British Columbia
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice. Then we reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances.
The result — A security systems installer, Burnaby, British Columbia
$41,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 5 · Objection and relief
Notice Of Objection Allowed In Full, $102,000 Reversed — Pest Control Company, Halifax
Client: A pest control company · Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Amount reversed$102,000
ObjectionAllowed in full
Account balanceNil
The situation — A pest control company, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A pest control company in Halifax, Nova Scotia had been reassessed for $102,000. 10 days were left on the objection deadline. The reassessment rested on a previous accountant with no experience of this sector.
What we did for A pest control company, Halifax, Nova Scotia
We filed the objection inside the deadline with a complete submission rather than a placeholder. Alongside it, we aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end.
The result — A pest control company, Halifax, Nova Scotia
The appeals officer allowed the objection in full. $102,000 was reversed and the account returned to a nil balance.
Case Study 6 · Planning that cut the bill
$68,000 Cut From The Annual Tax Bill — Residential Cleaning Company, Winnipeg
Client: A residential cleaning company · Where: Winnipeg, Manitoba · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
First-year saving$68,000
RepeatsAnnually
Filing positionUnchanged in risk
The situation — A residential cleaning company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
A residential cleaning company in Winnipeg, Manitoba was compliant but paying more than it needed to. The prior year had been filed correctly. It still left industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged on the table.
What we did for A residential cleaning company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
We modelled the current position against the alternatives before changing anything. Then we documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically.
The result — A residential cleaning company, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The change saved $68,000 in the first year and repeats annually. Nothing about the filings became more aggressive. The position is simply the one the rules already allowed.
Reviewed by Udit Gupta, Founder and Tax Accountant for the 2025 tax year. These case studies are illustrative worked examples composed from the CRA rules that apply to this type of work, not specific client files; figures are representative and outcomes depend on your own facts.
