Federal announcement · April 28, 2026 The $10M EOT capital gains exemption is now permanent. Canadian business owners can plan succession without a deadline. What this means for you →
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Northern BC Business Advisors

Your business.
Your legacy.
Your next chapter.

We help business owners across Northern BC plan and fund successful ownership transitions — keeping great local businesses thriving for generations to come.

Explore your options Meet the team →
📍 Proudly serving Northern BC

Local advisors. Local knowledge.

  • Born and raised in Prince George
  • Deep roots in Northern BC business community
  • We understand the unique challenges of Northern markets
  • Committed to keeping businesses local
20+
Years combined experience
$10M
EOT tax exemption
PG
Based in Prince George

Our region

We work with businesses across all of Northern BC

From Prince George to the Peace Country, from the Bulkley Valley to the Northwest Coast — if your business is in Northern BC, we're here to help you plan what comes next.

Prince GeorgeSmithers TerracePrince Rupert Fort St. JohnDawson Creek KitimatBurns Lake QuesnelVanderhoof Houston+ surrounding areas

What we do

A multidisciplinary approach
to business transition

With over 20 years of combined experience, our advisors provide tailored, strategic guidance for Northern BC businesses navigating the complexities of ownership change.

📋

Succession planning

Expert guidance structuring your plan, protecting your legacy and preparing the next generation of leadership.

🤝

Ownership transition

From employee ownership to family succession — we find the path that best fits your goals and values.

📊

Financing & valuation

Custom financing solutions and accurate business valuations to ensure a financially sound transition.

🗺️

Transition strategy

A personalized, actionable plan built around your personal, financial, and legacy goals.

👥

Community & leadership

Identifying key employees for leadership roles so your business stays strong within its Northern community.

💼

CFP® financial advisory

Certified financial planning for business owners transitioning into retirement, including tax and cash flow planning.

Transition pathways

Exploring your options when
it's time to sell

Every business owner's exit path is unique. Here are the most common approaches — each designed to protect your legacy and keep your business in good hands.

Now permanent — no deadline

Employee Ownership Trust

Let your employees gradually purchase the business through a special trust structure. Reward long-term staff, maintain culture, and transition over time — with up to $10M in capital gains exemption, now permanently available to qualifying owners.

Deep dive into EOTs →
Stay local

Sell to a local buyer

Selling to a local entrepreneur ensures your business stays rooted in the Northern BC community you helped build — preserving jobs, client relationships, and local impact.

Talk to us →
Keep it in the family

Family succession

Handing your business to a family member keeps your legacy alive across generations. With careful planning, you can balance family harmony with long-term business success.

Talk to us →
Custom

Build your own plan

Every business is different. Whether your ideal transition blends multiple approaches or follows a unique path, we design a plan that's right for you.

Talk to us →

Employee Ownership Trust

What is an EOT?
Watch the overview.

New to Employee Ownership Trusts? This short video walks through how they work, why Canadian business owners are choosing them, and what the transition process looks like in practice — before we talk.

Introduced in Canada in the 2023 federal budget
Up to $10M capital gains exemption for qualifying owners
Employees don't need upfront capital to buy in
Keeps your business locally owned and community-focused
Full EOT deep-dive →
EOT video thumbnail

Our team

People who've been there

Our Northern BC advisors bring real-world business ownership and financial planning experience — not just theory.

Garrett Dobson

Garrett Dobson, B.Comm, CFP®

Consultant

Born and raised in Prince George, Garrett is a Certified Financial Planner with 14+ years in financial services. He specializes in helping Northern BC business owners sell and transition into retirement, with expertise in financing, operations, and cash flow planning. UNBC alumnus and active community member.

📞 1-250-981-0008 ✉ garrett@btadvisors.ca
Tom Sentes

Tom Sentes

Consultant

Decades of hands-on experience spanning a national retail chain, a franchise business, a public company, auto dealerships, and restaurants. Tom brings deep, practical knowledge of business transitions and the full range of funding opportunities available to Northern BC business owners today.

📞 1-250-981-6820 ✉ tom@btadvisors.ca

Get in touch

Let's talk about your transition

We'd love to hear about your business and where you want to take it next. Reach out — we're local, we're available, and we know Northern BC.

Prince George, BC

104 – 1087 6th Avenue, V2L 0E5


garrett@btadvisors.ca

+1-250-981-0008

Thank you! We'll be in touch shortly.

Home · Transition options · Employee Ownership Trust

Employee Ownership Trust

Now permanent — April 28, 2026

Keep your business local.
Reward the people
who built it.

The federal government has made the $10M capital gains exemption for Employee Ownership Trusts permanent. For the first time, Northern BC business owners can plan a values-driven succession without any deadline looming overhead.

Talk to us about EOTs Watch the overview ↓
🏘️

Keeps ownership local

Your business stays in the community — not sold to outside investors or a distant corporation.

💰

Significant tax advantages

Qualifying owners may be eligible for up to $10M in capital gains exemption under the EOT structure.

👷

No upfront capital needed

Employees don't need personal funds to buy in — the business repays the seller through future profits.

🔄

Gradual, flexible transition

You can stay involved as long as you like, stepping back on your own timeline.

Overview

Watch: What is an Employee Ownership Trust?

New to EOTs? This short video walks through how they work, why Canadian business owners are choosing them, and what the transition process looks like in practice.

Quick facts

  • EOTs were introduced in Canada in the 2023 federal budget
  • The $10M capital gains exemption is now permanent — no deadline
  • Modeled after the UK, where 1,000+ businesses have transitioned
  • Seller receives fair market value — the trust pays over time
  • Maximum vendor take-back period of 15 years
  • No upfront capital required from employees
EOT video thumbnail

The transaction journey

Five stages from discovery to close

A typical EOT transition takes 9–12 months from discovery to close, with the trust repaying the seller over up to 15 years from business profits.

01

Discovery

Months 1–2

Owner goals, business profile, eligibility screen, and valuation range established. BT Advisors assesses fit.

02

Feasibility

Months 2–4

Cash-flow modelling, debt capacity, vendor take-back terms, and advisory team assembled.

03

Design

Months 4–7

Trust deed, governance structure, post-sale owner role, and employee communication plan developed.

04

Close

Months 7–10

Bank financing secured, share sale completed, $10M exemption claimed, trust takes ownership.

05

Transition

Years 1–15

Debt paid down from profits, employee engagement deepens, governance matures over time.

Is it right for you?

When does an EOT make sense?

These thresholds reflect BT Advisors' working ranges for Northern BC private companies. Every business is assessed on its own facts — these guideposts narrow the conversation rather than replace it.

Strong fit

Stable, profitable mid-market

Enterprise value$5M – $50M
EBITDA$1M – $8M
Headcount20 – 250
EBITDA margin12%+ consistent
  • Predictable free cash flow to service vendor debt
  • Strong second-tier management already in place
  • Owner values legacy, culture, and local jobs
  • No outside buyer offering a clear premium

Worth exploring

Smaller or transitioning

Enterprise value$2M – $5M
EBITDA$400K – $1M
Headcount10 – 20
EBITDA margin8% – 12%
  • Tax savings can outweigh transaction complexity
  • Vendor take-back lengthens — model carefully
  • Manager bench may need building before close
  • Often paired with partial third-party financing

Poor fit

Reconsider the structure

Enterprise valueUnder $2M
Cash flowVolatile / declining
HeadcountUnder 10
ProfileAsset-heavy / passive
  • Setup cost ($75K–$250K+) erodes net benefit
  • Professional corporations are statutorily excluded
  • Real estate and holdcos generally do not qualify
  • Family succession or local buyer often a better path

Tax advantages

Now permanent — plan on your timeline

On April 28, 2026, Ottawa made the $10M capital gains exemption for EOTs a permanent fixture. For the first time, Canadian business owners can plan a values-driven succession without a sunset deadline looming overhead.

"A defining moment for employee ownership in Canada. For the first time, business owners can plan an EOT transition with complete certainty." — Employee Ownership Canada · April 28, 2026

$10M
Capital gains exemption per sale
51%+
Minimum shares sold to the trust
15 yrs
Maximum vendor take-back period
$2T
Canadian SMB assets in transition by 2035

$10M capital gains exemption — now permanent

Qualifying business owners who sell to an EOT are eligible for up to $10 million in capital gains exemption on top of the standard $1.25M lifetime capital gains exemption — with no expiry date.

AMT exemption on EOT-exempt portion

The EOT-exempt portion of the gain is also exempt from Alternative Minimum Tax — a significant additional benefit for owners with large capital gains.

No capital requirements for employees

Unlike MBO structures, employees don't need to contribute personal funds — eliminating a major barrier and avoiding complex individual financing arrangements.

Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances. This is general information only — not tax or legal advice. BT Advisors works alongside your accountant and legal counsel to ensure your transition is structured correctly. Information current as of April 2026.

Who is involved

Who is at the table

An EOT transaction involves five key parties, each playing a distinct role in making the transition work for everyone.

Party One

The Seller

The current owner. Sole authority to choose this succession path. Receives proceeds at close and over the take-back period.

Party Two

The Trust

A new legal entity that holds the shares on behalf of all qualifying employees. Trustees govern; employees benefit.

Party Three

The Corporation

The business itself. Its future profits service the debt owed to the seller and any bank — the cash flow engine of the deal.

Party Four

The Employees

Beneficiaries of the trust. They keep their jobs, share in profits, and over time gain meaningful voice in the company's direction.

Party Five

The Financier

Typically a bank. Provides upfront capital so the seller receives cash on day one — repaid first, before vendor take-back is settled.

Next steps

Ready to explore an EOT?

We work with Northern BC business owners at every stage — from initial curiosity to a completed transition. Let's start with a no-obligation conversation.

Talk to us about EOTs Explore other options