Supply-and-Fit vinyl windows and doors

Homeowners replacing old or drafty windows, landlords and property managers, and small builders who want one company to handle it.

You charge a job price covering the units, labour and your margin. Jobs are quoted per project, often several windows or a whole house at once.

• Accurate measuring and quoting
• Installation know-how
• Customer service and basic sales
• Organizing orders, lead times and crews

• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire (rules vary by province)
• Building permit requirements when you change the size of a window opening (check with your municipality)
• Measuring mistakes on custom-ordered windows can be expensive, so double-check every measurement
• Check any provincial rules on home renovation contracts, deposits and consumer protection, plus trade certification rules
• Supplier lead times can run for weeks and winter installs need careful planning
• Check whether current energy-efficiency rebate programs affect what customers ask for, but never promise a rebate
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are typically estimated around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on your tools, vehicle, insurance and how big a crew you run. Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on job volume and the size of the jobs you take.

Check with your municipality about building permits when you change a window opening's size. Check provincial rules on renovation contracts, deposits, consumer protection and trade certification, plus commercial general liability insurance and WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire.

You need accurate measuring and quoting, installation know-how, customer service and good organization of orders and crews. Estimates start at around 30 hours a week. Supplier lead times can run for weeks, so double-check every measurement.