For as long as we’ve known each other, the conversation has always started the same way: “You know what would be a cool app?” We’ve tossed around the idea of doing something together forever. But “forever” is a long time, and frankly, neither of us is getting any younger. We finally reached the point where the “somedays” had to become “now.” We wanted a home for the apps, sites, and “just for fun” projects that actually interest us.
We aren’t necessarily looking to build a billion-dollar unicorn; we just want a creative outlet where breaking even would be a nice bonus. Thus, Heckle & Code was born.
But before we could write a single line of code, we had to survive the bureaucracy.
The Identity Crisis: More Than Just a URL
It started with the name. We needed something that fit the vibe, but in the world of business, you don’t just get to pick a name—you have to ask permission.
Before we even touched a domain registrar, we had to deal with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. We had to search the database, ensure our identity wasn’t already taken by someone else in the province, pay to reserve the name, and pay the fee to officially register the business ID. Only once the government said “Okay” could we go out and buy the domain to match. In theory at least. We did buy the domain on spec!
Step one was complete. We felt official. We felt unstoppable (except by arthritis). Then we went to the bank.
The Great Banking Disaster
We originally decided to start as a simple partnership. Armed with our RJSC registration, we headed to the bank to open a business account.
It was, in a word, a disaster.
The representative we dealt with seemed to, honestly, not know what he was doing. Names were misspelled, and the paperwork was a maze of errors. It eventually reached the point where a manager had to be pulled in to untangle the knot of mistakes just so we could have a place to put our money.
We left the bank experience exhausted, but we had an account. We were (finally) “open for business.”
The Pivot (Before We Even Started)
No sooner had the ink dried on the partnership papers than we had a change of heart. Looking at the road ahead, we realized we wanted the protection and structure of a corporation. Less personal liability, more professional “legs.”
This meant calling in the lawyers. Because we are based in Nova Scotia, we had to navigate the specific provincial laws to officially incorporate. This also meant we had to legally dissolve the partnership we had just spent weeks setting up.
Round Two: Back to the Vault
With our new incorporation papers in hand, we had to return to the bank to start over. We braced for impact, expecting another afternoon of managerial interventions and clerical errors.
Surprisingly? Smooth sailing. Maybe it was the corporate structure, or maybe the universe felt it owed us one, but the second bank account went off without a hitch.
The Foundation is Poured
Getting started isn’t just about the “Code.” Half of it is the “Heckle” you receive from the administrative world. We’ve spent a lot of time (and a fair bit of lawyer money) just getting the foundation poured.
But it’s done. We have the name, the provincial ID, the corporation, and a bank account that actually has our names spelled correctly. Now, we just have to figure out how to actually pay for the tools we need… which brings us to our next hurdle: the “Visa-less” debit card.
Stay tuned!