Building heating and plumbing maintenance contractor

Property managers, condo boards, landlords and small commercial building owners.

Annual or monthly maintenance contracts, plus billed repairs and installation work. Repeat contracts give steadier income than one-off calls.

• Certified trade skills, with a licensed person leading the work
• Quoting and contract management
• Scheduling and managing a small crew
• Building relationships with property managers

• Larger buildings may involve gas, boiler, backflow or refrigeration rules, so check with your provincial safety authority
• Clients often ask for proof of insurance, WCB or WSIB clearance and safety records before awarding work
• Hiring means payroll, source deductions and workplace safety duties, which vary by province
• Property managers may pay on 30 to 60 day terms, so keep enough cash to cover wages and materials
• Winter is the busiest season, so plan crew hours and time off carefully
• Quebec has its own licensing and French-language requirements

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $30,000 to $100,000, depending on vehicles, tools and how large a crew you start with. Monthly revenue is estimated at about $15,000 to $70,000, depending on the contracts you win and building sizes.

Larger buildings may involve gas, boiler, backflow or refrigeration rules, so check with your provincial safety authority. Clients often ask for proof of insurance, WCB or WSIB clearance and safety records. Hiring brings payroll and workplace safety duties, and Quebec has its own licensing and language rules.

Estimates start at around 40 hours a week. Property managers may pay on 30 to 60 day terms, so keep enough cash for wages and materials. Winter is the busiest season, so plan crew hours and time off carefully.