Commercial fridge and freezer repair
Keep restaurant, shop and café coolers running with repairs and service plans.
- C$8k-35k
- Full-time
- Out and about
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A repair and maintenance service focused on commercial refrigeration: walk-in coolers, display fridges, ice machines and freezers. Fast response matters because spoiled stock costs businesses money.
Your first three steps
- Get refrigeration training or an apprenticeship and look into the certifications your province requires
- Visit independent restaurants and shops nearby, and offer a free check of their equipment with a service plan
- Set up a parts account with a local refrigeration wholesaler and price your call-out and after-hours rates
Who pays
Restaurants, cafés, grocery and convenience stores, bakeries, caterers and care homes.
How it makes money
Emergency call-out fees, labour and parts, plus recurring maintenance plans such as coil cleaning and seal checks.
Skills that help
- Refrigeration diagnostics
- Comfort with electrical and mechanical systems
- Reliable on-call availability
- Building trust with business owners
Watch out for
- Refrigeration work often needs a trade certification or refrigerant handling ticket; check your provincial regulator before you start
- Gas and electrical rules differ by province, so check what work you are allowed to do
- Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire
- On-call and after-hours demands can be hard to balance with other work
- Customers may have a few large contracts, so losing one could affect income
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: commercial fridge and freezer repair
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a commercial refrigeration repair business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on your vehicle, diagnostic tools, parts stock, certifications and insurance. Costs vary with the size of the equipment you plan to service.
How much can a commercial refrigeration repairer earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on your customers, service plans and call-outs. A few large contracts may make up much of your income, so losing one could matter.
What rules should I check before starting commercial refrigeration repair?
Check whether refrigeration work needs a trade certification or refrigerant handling ticket from your provincial regulator, and what gas and electrical work you may do. Also check liability insurance and WCB or WSIB coverage if you hire.
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