Company History
In 1957, Jack Cassoff began his career behind the counter of a fast food eatery in Youville Square. When a business broker sold that restaurant in 1957, Cassoff, a newly married young man, took the opportunity to forge a new career for himself as a business agent - a real estate agent specializing in the selling of businesses.

He started a business brokerage firm, called Active Business & Realty Inc. Today, the 51 year old business consulting firm, occupies 1,200 square feet of space in premises on Lucerne Rd in Montreal.

Throughout the years, the company’s evolution has been closely intertwined with the tremendous changes that occurred not only in business consulting… but in society at large. Active has become a landmark in the community based on its well deserved reputation and long track record.

Computers have become an important aspect of the business. Its Web site gets more than 25,000 visitors per month from local and foreign buyers who are looking for businesses to operate and/or invest in. The company's Business Match Computerized Data Base helps match Buyers and Sellers.

Lorne, 43 joined the family business 16 years ago and slowly began to learn the business under the tutelage of his father. "At that point, my father and I became partners," said Lorne, who admits to having gained most of his skills from imitating his dad. "There are no special courses or books to teach the business consulting industry and not everyone has the personality to sell businesses", Lorne said.

Jack, 70 is Active Business Inc.'s president, though he is semi-retired and Lorne essentially runs the company. But Jack, remains involved as a support and mentor for his son behind the scenes. His legacy, he says, is:

"Keep moving forward, don't stop working and believing, and one day you will find a solution and a deal that will present itself."