Subcontract scaffold erecting crew

Larger scaffolding contractors, construction firms and industrial maintenance companies that need extra crews at busy times.

Paid per job, per hour or by the amount of scaffold erected. Steady work from one or two firms can fill most of your week.

• Scaffold erecting experience or training
• Working safely at height
• Reliability and turning up on time
• Basic invoicing and record keeping

• Whether the CRA and your provincial board would treat you as self-employed or as an employee, so check this before agreeing terms
• WCB/WSIB coverage and clearance certificates, which are often needed to work as a subcontractor
• Commercial general liability insurance that covers scaffold erection work
• Relying on one or two clients, which makes income uneven if they lose work
• Provincial training and certification rules for erectors, which vary, so check with your provincial regulator
• Serious injury risk at height, so follow the site's fall-protection rules and speak up about unsafe set-ups

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your PPE, hand tools, vehicle and insurance. You use the contractor's scaffold, so you don't need to buy an inventory.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $16,000, depending on crew size and how consistently you are booked. Relying on one or two clients can make income uneven if they lose work.

Check whether CRA and your provincial board would treat you as self-employed or an employee. Also check WCB/WSIB coverage and clearance certificates, liability insurance covering scaffold erection, and provincial training and certification rules for erectors with your regulator.