Small Electrical Contracting Crew

Home builders, general contractors, property managers, and small businesses such as shops, offices and restaurants.

Fixed-price bids or contracts for larger jobs, plus time-and-materials work. Margin comes from crew time and materials, and steady contractor relationships.

• Licensed electrician with solid field experience
• Estimating and bidding from plans
• Supervising apprentices and managing crews
• Managing cash flow, invoicing and suppliers

• Contractor licensing and permit rules differ by province, so check your provincial regulator
• Commercial general liability insurance and WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire, with rules varying by province
• Apprentice supervision ratios and hours must follow provincial apprenticeship rules
• Slow-paying contractors can strain cash flow, so check payment terms and holdback rules
• Bonding may be requested on larger commercial jobs
• Quebec has its own licensing (RBQ) and French-language requirements
• Winter and the building cycle can make workload uneven

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $30,000 to $100,000, depending on vehicles, tools, insurance, stock and how many people you take on. Check supplier and insurer quotes for your province.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $20,000 to $70,000, depending on crew size and the jobs you win. Winter and the building cycle can make workload uneven, so plan for quieter periods.

Check contractor licensing and permit rules with your provincial regulator. Also check insurance and WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire, apprentice supervision ratios and hours, payment terms and holdback rules, possible bonding on larger jobs, and Quebec's RBQ licensing.