Start Your Business with Confidence
FastStart Your Business is a practical, easy-to-follow guide for Canadian small business owners and the self-employed.
Whether you're just starting out or want to ensure you’ve covered all the essentials, this book walks you through the key financial, tax, and regulatory steps to build a strong foundation so you can avoid costly mistakes, feel confident you’ve done things right, and focus on growing your business.
Maybe you're ready to leave your 9–5 and take the leap into self-employment.
Or you’ve started freelancing or a side hustle, and you want to do it right.
Or perhaps you’re an existing sole proprietorship/small business owner just trying to figure out what you don’t know.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, confused about taxes or registration, or worried about making mistakes, this guide is for you.
A step-by-step guide to help you confidently navigate the regulatory, financial, and tax aspects of starting your business in Canada even if you have zero financial experience.
This book is for anyone who’s:
Planning to start a new unincorporated (sole proprietorship) business in Canada
Lacking clarity on how to proceed
Unsure what regulatory, tax and accounting rules actually applies to their specific situation
By the end of this book, you’ll:
Know exactly what steps to take to start your business
Spot any missing pieces in your current setup
Avoid mistakes that can be costly and stressful.
Understand what you need to do with Revenue Canada (and Revenue Quebec)
Start your business on a strong, organized financial foundation
Unlike general startup guides, FastStart Your Business is:
Written for Canadians in a simple, engaging way without the complicated jargon.
Based on my experience as a CPA and CFA who’s helped hundreds of small business/self employed people start their businesses.
A practical resource you can read cover-to-cover or use as a reference whenever you need it.
Sure. But here’s the problem:
Online info is often unstructured and inconsistent
You might miss key details or rely on outdated or incorrect advice
You don’t always know what questions to ask
This book gives you a clear path, backed by professional expertise, to help you feel confident moving forward.
📌 What to do first — a simple framework that applies to all sole proprietors
📌 Whether (and how) you need to register your business in each province
📌 How much to save for taxes so there are no surprises come tax time
📌 What to know about sales taxes - GST/HST (and QST) to avoid audits and stress
📌 How to hire your first employee
📌 What types of business expenses are deductible and how to maximize your savings
📌 What you need to know about income taxes
📌 When is it time to incorporate
...and much more!
Hi, I’m Ronika Khanna, a CPA, CA, and CFA with over 15 years of experience helping Canadian small business owners, solopreneurs, and freelancers simplify accounting, taxes, and finance. Through my company, Montreal Financial, I’ve helped numerous business owners navigate their finances and feel more confident.
I’m passionate about breaking down complex financial topics and making them accessible for everyone—even if numbers aren’t your thing. My approach is practical and action-oriented, designed to empower you with the tools and knowledge you need to make informed decisions and save time and money.
Whether it’s through my books, courses, or consultations, my goal is to help you stress less about finances and focus more on growing your business.