This guide provides sound advice on aspects of managing a family-owned firm in Canada.

The authors provide practical insight into how family businesses are different from non-family businesses and how business families function differently from non-business families. Those working in family businesses and their legal and financial advisors must understand these fundamental differences to be better prepared to meet the challenges of a family business.

Drawing upon their own experience and the experiences of their partners, who have worked with thousands of family businesses throughout Canada, the authors provide sound, practical advice on key issues such as:

· Succession and relinquishing control
· The role of outside advisors
· Emotional factors and conflict within the family
· Preparing a strategic plan.

Family businesses, regardless of size or sector, experience many of the same demands and difficulties. By using detailed case studies and real-life examples, the authors create an understanding of these challenges that is the first step towards dealing with them.

Bruce Ball C.A., CFP, Tax Partner at BDO Dunwoody LLP, leads BDO's national Family Business Succession Services and is instrumental in the production and presentation of training material to tax specialists and practitioners. He also provides tax support on technical client issues for local offices, reviews new legislation and prepares submissions for federal and provincial governments. Mr. Ball has written a variety of articles for publication in several trade and professional periodicals. Mr. Ball has a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo and holds C.A., CFP and TEP designations. He has tutored courses in wealth preservation and income tax practice. Mr. Ball is co-author of Guide to the Family Business, Canadian Edition 2003.

Garry R. Duncan, F.C.A., was a senior tax partner with BDO Dunwoody LLP. He retired in 2005 but continues to consult on retirement, estate and expatriate planning. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Estate Planning Council of Toronto. He is also a Director and Past Chairman of the Financial Planners Standards Council.

Mr. Duncan is the author of Canadians Resident Abroad, 2009 Edition, dealing with Canadian expatriates and Guide to the Family Business, Canadian Edition 2003. He has presented numerous seminars and speeches for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Canadian Association for Financial Planners, the International Association of Financial Planners, Ontario Dental Association and the Strategy Institute. In addition, he has been featured in Canadian Lawyer, Your Money, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Offshore Finance Canada and CA Magazine.