6 worked Architects 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 architects work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Scaling without breaking
Scaled To 57 Staff With $142,000 Of Working Capital Freed — Boutique Law Firm, Red Deer
Client: A boutique law firm · Where: Red Deer, Alberta · Engagement: 11 weeks, fixed fee
Headcount reached57
Working capital freed$142,000
Missed deadlinesZero
The situation — A boutique law firm, Red Deer, Alberta
A boutique law firm in Red Deer, Alberta was growing fast, with headcount reaching 57 in eighteen months. The back office had not kept up. A chart of accounts that told the owner nothing about architects margin was the first thing to break.
What we did for A boutique law firm, Red Deer, Alberta
We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. We built the compliance calendar for the size the business was becoming rather than the size it had been.
The result — A boutique law firm, Red Deer, Alberta
The business reached 57 staff with no missed remittance and no late filing. $142,000 of working capital was freed in the process.
Case Study 2 · Records and systems rebuilt
Books Rebuilt From Source, $6,800 In Unclaimed Input Tax Found — Surveying Practice, Guelph
Client: A surveying practice · Where: Guelph, Ontario · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Unclaimed tax found$6,800
Records rebuilt19 months
ProcessDocumented
The situation — A surveying practice, Guelph, Ontario
A surveying practice in Guelph, Ontario could not answer basic questions about its own numbers. A previous accountant with no experience of this sector sat between the bank statements and the ledger.
What we did for A surveying practice, Guelph, Ontario
We rebuilt the chart of accounts around how an architects business actually earns and spends. We then documented the process so the work does not depend on any one person remembering how it was done.
The result — A surveying practice, Guelph, Ontario
Records rebuilt and reconciled, $6,800 recovered in input tax credits that the old file could not support, and a documented monthly process now in place.
Client: A translation services company · Where: Edmonton, Alberta · Engagement: 7 weeks, fixed fee
Annual saving$17,500
ReorganisationTax-neutral
StructureMatches operations
The situation — A translation services company, Edmonton, Alberta
The structure at a translation services company in Edmonton, Alberta needed fixing. The file was carrying industry-specific reporting obligations nobody had flagged. Every option for fixing it ran through a reorganisation that had to be done without triggering tax.
What we did for A translation services company, Edmonton, Alberta
We worked with the client's lawyer. Together, we aligned the reporting calendar with the sector’s own seasonal cycle rather than a generic year-end. We also prepared the elections, resolutions and valuations the structure needed to stand up.
The result — A translation services company, Edmonton, Alberta
The structure now matches the business. Annual saving of $17,500, and the reorganisation itself was tax-neutral.
Case Study 4 · Missed incentive claimed
$140,000 In Credits Claimed That Prior Filings Had Missed — Marketing Agency, Saskatoon
The situation — A marketing agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A marketing agency in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan had been filing for 7 years. In that time, the incentives its activity qualified for were never claimed. Behind that sat development and improvement work written off as ordinary overhead.
What we did for A marketing agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We tested each activity against the eligibility criteria rather than the description on the invoice. Then we reviewed every sector-specific deduction against the current rules and claimed the ones that had been missed.
The result — A marketing agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
$140,000 in credits claimed, with the open prior years adjusted as well. The claim passed review without adjustment.
Case Study 5 · Planning that cut the bill
Remuneration Review Saved $26,000 Across Corporate And Personal Returns — Management Consultancy, Victoria
Client: A management consultancy · Where: Victoria, British Columbia · Engagement: 3 weeks, fixed fee
Combined saving$26,000
ScopeCorporate + personal
Future yearsNo rework needed
The situation — A management consultancy, Victoria, British Columbia
Nothing was wrong at a management consultancy in Victoria, British Columbia. The filings were on time and accurate. What they were not was planned. Seasonal revenue reported without matching the costs that produced it had never been reviewed.
What we did for A management consultancy, Victoria, British Columbia
We reassigned the asset classes on the CCA schedule and corrected the opening balances. We ran the numbers across both the corporate and personal returns, so the saving was real rather than deferred into someone else's hands.
The result — A management consultancy, Victoria, British Columbia
$26,000 came off the combined corporate and personal tax bill, and the structure holds for future years without further work.
Case Study 6 · Deadline rescue
9-Week Turnaround Beat The Deadline And Saved $129,000 — Two-Partner Engineering Practice, Lethbridge
Client: A two-partner engineering practice · Where: Lethbridge, Alberta · Engagement: 9 weeks, fixed fee
Late-filing penalty avoided$129,000
Filed with8 days to spare
Next yearPapers ready
The situation — A two-partner engineering practice, Lethbridge, Alberta
A two-partner engineering practice in Lethbridge, Alberta was weeks away from the deadline for architects accounting and tax. Behind that sat equipment and asset classes assigned by guesswork rather than the CCA schedule. The exposure if the date slipped was around $129,000.
What we did for A two-partner engineering practice, Lethbridge, Alberta
We documented the positions to the standard the CRA applies to this sector specifically. The filing went in complete rather than provisional, so there was no amended return to follow.
The result — A two-partner engineering practice, Lethbridge, Alberta
Filed with 8 days to spare. $129,000 in late-filing penalties avoided, and the working papers are ready for the following year.
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.
