Unlock the real value of your company—before the CRA, a buyer, or a deal deadline forces the issue.

In this episode of Your Business Unleashed, host Clayton Achen sits down with a power panel on valuations: Rob Worthington (tax partner, MLT Aikins), Mark Mielke (M&A partner, MLT Aikins), and Gord McFarlane (President, McFarlane Transition Advisors; valuation leader for Achen Henderson). Together they break down why business valuations matter long before a sale—from tax planning, estate freezes, and succession to M&A negotiations, ESOPs (employee stock option plans), and employee ownership structures.

If you’re a Canadian business owner in Calgary (or anywhere in Canada) eyeing growth, transition, or a future sale, this conversation gives you the playbook to maximize value and minimize risk.

Tap play to learn what drives valuation, what tanks it, and the steps to take 2–3 years before you sell—so you don’t leave money on the table. Show notes include guest contacts and resources.

Read the blog

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

If you’ve ever wondered, “What’s my business actually worth?” — this episode is your roadmap to finding out. Whether you’re years away from selling or simply want a clearer picture of your company’s health, understanding valuation is essential for building a smarter, more resilient business.

In this episode of Your Business Unleashed, host Clayton Achen sits down with Gord McFarlane, founder of McFarlane Transition Advisors and former Director of Corporate Development at FYI Doctors, where he oversaw the acquisition of hundreds of clinics across Canada. Together, they break down the science behind business valuation—specifically for small and medium-sized companies in Canada—and reveal why emotion and perception often get in the way of reality.

🔗 Read the full blog

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

In this episode of Your Business Unleashed, Clayton Achen is joined by Michael Sexton from Accountancy Insurance and ex-CRA auditor David Crawford to talk audit risk, defense costs, and how AuditShield can save your bottom line.

Learn why audits are on the rise—especially in construction—and how this powerful fee-waiver service can help cover the cost of defending your tax returns, before it’s too late.

Tune in to get ahead of the audit curve and protect your business!

🔗 Read the blog

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

Are you a medical professional thinking of selling your practice? In this episode of Your Business Unleashed, host Clayton Achen sits down with valuation expert Gord McFarlane to unpack the critical differences between an asset sale and a share sale, and why this distinction could mean hundreds of thousands in tax savings.

They explore how Canada's Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE)—now at $1.25 million per individual—can be a powerful tax tool when selling shares of a professional corporation. But qualifying for the LCGE isn’t automatic. You’ll hear real-world examples, common pitfalls (like excess investment assets or foreign ownership), and actionable tips for ensuring your practice is set up to benefit.

Whether you’re an optometrist, chiropractor, or veterinarian, this episode is packed with must-know insights on valuation, tax strategy, and proper pre-sale planning.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• Why buyers prefer asset sales but sellers benefit from share sales
• How to qualify for the LCGE (and avoid losing it)
• The role of “purification” and working capital in tax planning
• How professionals can multiply exemptions with family members

If you’re preparing to sell, don’t miss this episode. A little planning can go a very long way.

🧷 Read the full blog

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

In this kickoff episode of our special series for medical entrepreneurs, host Clayton Achen is joined by Gord McFarlane—founder of McFarlane Transition Advisors and former Managing Director of Corporate Development at FYI Health Group. Together, they dive into the foundational question every clinic owner must ask: “Have you built a business, or just a job?”

Gord brings insights from hundreds of clinic acquisitions across Canada to reveal:

• Why being unprepared for a sale is the #1 deal killer
• The dangers of personal goodwill and how to build transferable value
• Why your strategic plan (or lack thereof) matters more than you think
• The key timeline: why it takes 2–5 years to truly get sale-ready
• The “hit by a bus” test for practice resilience
• Lessons from deals that succeeded—and those that didn’t

Whether you’re selling in 6 months or 10 years (or not at all), this episode will change how you think about your practice. It’s not just about exit strategy—it’s about building a stronger, more valuable business now.

🔗 Read the full blog

🔗 Connect with Gord:
🌐 transitionadvisors.ca
📧 gord@transitionadvisors.ca

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

In this episode, we explore the new Canadian Entrepreneur’s Incentive (CEI) introduced in the 2024 Federal Budget. The CEI offers a reduced capital gains inclusion rate for entrepreneurs in select industries when they sell their businesses, aimed at mitigating the impact of the general increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 67%.

We'll break down how the CEI works, its phased implementation over ten years starting January 1, 2025, and which industries qualify for this incentive.

Want to learn more about how the CEI can benefit your business?

🔗 Read the full blog
🔗 Watch the detailed video

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

In this episode, we dive into the 2024 federal budget's significant update: the increase of the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) to $1.25 million, up from $1,016,836, for the sale of qualified small business corporation shares and qualified farm or fishing property. Effective for dispositions on or after June 25, 2024.

Curious to learn more about this update and how it could impact your business?

🔗 Read the full blog
🔗 Watch the full video

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/

In our latest podcast, we dive deep into one of the most significant changes from the 2024 Canadian Federal Budget – the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 67%. What does this mean for you and your business? Who will be impacted the most? We break down the key points and explore the implications of this major tax shift set to take effect on June 25, 2024.

📌 Tune in to hear more about:
- The fundamentals of the capital gains inclusion rate
- Who is affected by these changes
- The specific impacts on entrepreneurs and small business owners
- The uncertainties surrounding the legislation and what you need to know


🔗 Watch the full video

🔗 2024 Capital Gains inclusion rate increase (achenhenderson.ca)

https://www.achenhenderson.ca/