Sell your business in Nova Scotia

Most sales close 6 to 10 months after going to market, typically following up to a year of preparation. A buyer coming through the Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia rate of 27 percent. Taxes when you sell

Nova Scotia’s HST rate has been 14 percent since April 1, 2025. In an asset sale it 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

It applies when land or buildings are transferred to the buyer, at a rate set by each municipality. Halifax Regional Municipality charges 1.5 percent, or $22,500 on a $1.5 million commercial property. Keeping the real estate

Under section 12 of the Labour Standards Code, the continuity of employment is not broken by a sale of the business, including a transfer of shares, and service with the seller counts as service with the buyer. What happens to your employees

A buyer will usually ask for a clearance letter from WCB Nova Scotia. Under section 138 of the Workers’ Compensation Act, the Board can deem a buyer the successor to the seller and collect any assessment still outstanding.

Yes, by invitation. The Nova Scotia Nominee Program Entrepreneur Stream allows a newcomer to buy and actively manage an existing business that has had the same owner for the previous five years. The buyer must own at least one third of it and invest at least $150,000 in Halifax or $100,000 elsewhere in the province.