Sell your business in New Brunswick

Most sales close 6 to 10 months after going to market, typically following up to a year of preparation. A buyer coming through the provincial nominee program adds its own approval steps to that timeline. How long a sale takes

In a share sale of a qualifying small business corporation, each owner can exempt up to $1,275,000 of capital gains in 2026 under the lifetime capital gains exemption. Gains above that are taxed at a top combined federal and New Brunswick rate of 26.25 percent. Taxes when you sell

In an asset sale, HST at 15 percent applies to the taxable assets unless the buyer acquires substantially all of the business and both parties file the election on Form GST44. A share sale carries no HST on the shares. Share sale or asset sale

Real property transfer tax applies when land or buildings are transferred to the buyer. The rate is 1 percent of the greater of the price paid and the assessed value, or $15,000 on a $1.5 million commercial property sold at or above its assessment. Keeping the real estate

Under section 89 of the Employment Standards Act, the continuity of employment is deemed unbroken when a business is sold or transferred, including by a transfer of shares, and service with the seller counts as service with the buyer. What happens to your employees

Yes. Under section 72.3 of the Workers’ Compensation Act, the buyer asks the seller for a WorkSafeNB clearance certificate. Without it, the buyer becomes liable for the seller’s unpaid assessments up to the fair market value of what it bought.

Yes. The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream allows a newcomer to start or buy a business in the province. The buyer must control at least 33.3 percent of the equity, invest at least $150,000 and hold a net worth of $500,000, and the business must have operated under the same owner for three years.