6 worked KPI Dashboard Development 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 kpi dashboard development work, not a specific client's file.
Case Study 1 · Records and systems rebuilt
9 Months Reconciled And $7,200 Of Input Tax Recovered — Succession-Planning Family Business, Halifax
Client: A family business planning succession · Where: Halifax, Nova Scotia · Engagement: 5 weeks, fixed fee
Months reconciled9
Input tax recovered$7,200
Close time6 days
The situation — A family business planning succession, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nothing reconciled at a family business planning succession in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Every filing started with 9 months of cleanup. The file was carrying a monthly report that stopped at the income statement, with no balance sheet and no cash view.
What we did for A family business planning succession, Halifax, Nova Scotia
We rebuilt from source rather than correcting on top of the existing file. We set a quarterly tax provision, so the instalments and the year-end balance were funded before they came due. Then we set the routine that keeps it clean.
The result — A family business planning succession, Halifax, Nova Scotia
9 months reconciled to the bank. The close now takes 6 days, and $7,200 of previously unclaimable input tax was recovered in the process.
Case Study 2 · Deadline rescue
$18,000 Late-Filing Penalty Cancelled On Relief Application — Subscription Business, Regina
Client: A subscription business tracking churn · Where: Regina, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Penalty cancelled$18,000
Relief applicationGranted
ReturnAccepted as filed
The situation — A subscription business tracking churn, Regina, Saskatchewan
A subscription business tracking churn in Regina, Saskatchewan had already missed one deadline and was about to miss a second. Behind it sat revenue up 40% year over year and a bank balance that kept falling. A penalty of $18,000 was accruing.
What we did for A subscription business tracking churn, Regina, Saskatchewan
We split the work into what had to happen before the deadline and what could follow it. Then we modelled the covenant ratios monthly and restructured the debt before the next test date rather than after it.
The result — A subscription business tracking churn, Regina, Saskatchewan
The outstanding return was accepted as filed, and the taxpayer relief application cancelled $18,000 of the penalty already assessed on the earlier year.
Case Study 3 · Objection and relief
$88,000 Of Penalties And Interest Cancelled On Relief — Expanding Manufacturer, Moncton
Client: A manufacturer planning a plant expansion · Where: Moncton, New Brunswick · Engagement: 8 weeks, fixed fee
Penalties and interest cancelled$88,000
Relief groundsAccepted
AssessmentAdjusted to filed position
The situation — A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Moncton, New Brunswick
An assessment of $88,000 landed at a manufacturer planning a plant expansion in Moncton, New Brunswick following a desk review. It turned on pricing set by feel, with no visibility into margin by service line. The auditor had not seen the records behind it.
What we did for A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Moncton, New Brunswick
We traced each borrowing to what it actually funded and kept the interest deduction on the portion used to earn business income. We then set out the legislative basis for the position alongside the documents supporting it.
The result — A manufacturer planning a plant expansion, Moncton, New Brunswick
$88,000 of penalties and interest was cancelled under the taxpayer relief provisions, and the underlying assessment was adjusted to match the filed position.
Case Study 4 · Structure rebuilt
Corporate Structure Rebuilt For $73,000 Of Annual Savings — Multi-Line Service Business, Toronto
Client: A business whose margin varies by service line · Where: Toronto, Ontario · Engagement: 6 weeks, fixed fee
Saving per year$73,000
DocumentationComplete
Transfer basisRollover
The situation — A business whose margin varies by service line, Toronto, Ontario
The structure at a business whose margin varies by service line in Toronto, Ontario dated from years earlier. It had been set up for a business that no longer existed. A covenant breach discovered only when the bank called had become expensive.
What we did for A business whose margin varies by service line, Toronto, Ontario
We built a rolling thirteen-week cash-flow model, tightened collections, and renegotiated supplier terms so the growth stopped consuming the bank balance. The reorganisation used the rollover provisions rather than a taxable transfer, so no tax fell due on the restructuring itself.
The result — A business whose margin varies by service line, Toronto, Ontario
$73,000 of annual saving, achieved on a tax-deferred basis. The minute book, elections and valuations are all in the file.
Case Study 5 · Backlog brought current
Collections Halted And $19,000 Cut From A 6-Year Backlog — Acquiring Clinic Group, Ottawa
Client: A clinic group acquiring a competitor · Where: Ottawa, Ontario · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Balance reduced by$19,000
Backlog cleared6 years
CollectionsHalted
The situation — A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Ottawa, Ontario
By the time a clinic group acquiring a competitor in Ottawa, Ontario called, 6 years were outstanding. The CRA had assessed on estimates. Underneath it sat an owner making hiring decisions on last quarter’s bank balance.
What we did for A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Ottawa, Ontario
We reconstructed the records year by year. We produced a board-ready monthly package — cash, margin, pipeline and covenant headroom — that replaced a spreadsheet nobody trusted. Each filing replaced an arbitrary assessment with a real one.
The result — A clinic group acquiring a competitor, Ottawa, Ontario
The account is current. Filing on real numbers rather than CRA estimates reduced the balance by $19,000, and a relief application addressed part of the accumulated interest.
Case Study 6 · Sale and succession
$410,000 Sheltered By The Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption — Practice Adding Partners, Saskatoon
Client: A professional practice adding partners · Where: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan · Engagement: 4 weeks, fixed fee
Gain sheltered$410,000
ClosingOn schedule
Share qualificationMet
The situation — A professional practice adding partners, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A professional practice adding partners in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan had an offer on the table and 18 months to close. The shares did not qualify for the capital gains exemption. Passive assets sitting inside the operating company, disqualifying the shares was part of the reason.
What we did for A professional practice adding partners, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
We purified the corporation so the shares met the qualifying tests. We added the balance sheet and a cash view to the monthly package, so the owner saw working capital move rather than only profit. All of it was done well ahead of the closing date.
The result — A professional practice adding partners, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The sale closed on schedule with $410,000 sheltered by the lifetime capital gains exemption across the shareholders.
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.
