Trade Contracting | Multi-Entity | Cross-Border
Snow Cleared — Multi-Entity Snow & Ice Clearing Contractor
British Columbia, Canada | Canada & USA Operations
From Missed CRA Filings, Lost GST Credits & Audit Stress → Clean Monthly Closes Across 5 Entities
Snow Cleared group works with well-known organizations including The City of Surrey, Big Steel Box, Tesla Motors, Frasher Health, Safeway, National Bank, and other reputable local and national businesses.
As the business grew rapidly, financial complexity grew faster.
Despite working with multiple bookkeepers and a tax firm, Snow Cleared struggled with missed filing deadlines, inconsistent bookkeeping, and increasing CRA pressure. GST credits were lost, interest and penalties were paid on overdue filings, and founders were operating under constant compliance stress — rating it 8/10 when they reached out to Transcounts.
Challenges
Snow Cleared’s challenges were typical of fast-growing trade contractors with multiple entities — but amplified by scale and cross-border operations:
- Intercompany funds were moving across entities with no formal reconciliation process
- Incomplete and inconsistent bookkeeping prevented reliable month-end closes
- GST/HST and corporate tax filings were delayed, triggering CRA demand letters
- Active GST/HST and limited corporation tax reviews increased audit risk
- Founder & Ops Manager were spending dozens of hours each month chasing numbers instead of running the business
With multiple service providers involved, there was no single point of accountability — and no clear ownership of compliance, reporting, or CRA communication.
Solutions
Transcounts stepped in to provide a structured accounting and compliance framework with one accountable team overseeing the full financial picture.
1. Multi-Entity Structure & Monthly Discipline
- Implemented a formal monthly intercompany reconciliation process
- Cleaned up historical bookkeeping and standardized ongoing workflows
- Established consistent, on-time month-end closes across all entities
2. Proactive CRA Handling
- Filed overdue GST/HST returns and worked directly with CRA
- Responded to past GST/HST and limited corporation tax reviews
- Kept CRA accounts fully aligned with accurate books to prevent unnecessary audits
3. Scalable, Tech-Enabled Operations
- Implemented QuickBooks Online (QBO), DEXT, QBOP & Gusto to digitize receipts, books and payroll.
- Streamlined payroll processing and payroll vs contractor advisory
- Extended bookkeeping and payroll support to the US manufacturing entity, eliminating the need to coordinate with multiple providers
The Results
- 20–30+ hours per month freed up for the Operations Manager
- Monthly financial reporting is now reviewed consistently
- Improved cash planning, clearer tax owing visibility, and confident hiring decisions
- Successful expansion into the United States with a single point of accountability
- Lost GST credits and penalties eliminated through clean records and proactive compliance
- CRA demand letters stopped, and audit risk materially reduced
- Founder & Ops Manager regained peace of mind and shifted focus back to growth
Snow Cleared has worked with Transcounts for over 4 years, maintaining clean books, compliant filings, and reliable financial reporting across all entities.
Services Provided
- Payroll
- Bookkeeping
- AR & AP Mgt
- GST/HST Return
- Audit Support
- Liaison with CRA
- Year-End Support