Name: AEC Stack
Author: AEC Stack

Question 1

What is AEC Stack?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack gives you the back office of a proper construction business. The systems a successful company runs on, already connected, and agents in the seats you'd otherwise hire for. They incorporate your company, handle your licensing and insurance, run your books, and find you work. Win a job and its drawings are read and measured for you, the specs become work registers, and the schedule builds itself for your crew to run from. It's the team you can't afford to hire yet, working from day one.

Question 2

Who is AEC Stack for?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack is built for trades professionals and contractors who want to start or grow a construction business. Whether you're a solo operator incorporating for the first time or a growing contractor with 10-50+ crew members, AEC Stack fits where you are now and stays with you as you grow. Available across Canada.

Question 3

How does AEC Stack work?

Accepted Answer

It starts with your trade, your location, and your goals. From there your setup is handled for you: incorporation, licensing, insurance, and registrations. Once you're running, your back office runs itself. Your clients, compliance, and documents stay current, and work that matches your trade comes to you. Win a job and its drawings are read and measured for you, the specs become work registers, and the schedule builds itself for your crew to run from. You don't learn software. You get the outcomes.

Question 4

What trades and construction types do you support?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack supports all construction trades: general contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, carpenters, roofers, concrete, excavation, and more. The incorporation and licensing requirements are tailored to your specific trade and the regulations that apply in your jurisdiction.

Question 5

How is AEC Stack different from other construction software?

Accepted Answer

Most construction software gives you tools and dashboards, then leaves the work to you. AEC Stack does the work. You don't get a checklist to incorporate: your incorporation is handled. You don't get a CRM to figure out: your clients are managed. You don't get a job board to scroll: work that fits your trade comes to you. You don't get a pile of drawings to measure by hand: they're read, measured, and turned into work registers for you. It's the difference between software and a team.

Question 6

What if I'm not ready to start a business yet?

Accepted Answer

That's fine. You can explore what's involved: the licensing requirements for your trade, incorporation steps, and insurance needs, without committing to anything. When you're ready, the guided setup is there.

Question 7

How does incorporation work through AEC Stack?

Accepted Answer

Your incorporation is handled for you. You share the basics about your business, and the structure, provincial registration, articles of incorporation, directors, and CRA filings are taken care of. You're not reading a guide and doing it yourself: the work is done for you and you're kept informed at each stage.

Question 8

Do I need a license to start a construction business in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your trade. Some trades require specific licenses (e.g., electrical and plumbing need ESA/TSSA certification), while general contracting has different requirements. AEC Stack identifies exactly which licenses and certifications you need based on your trade and shows you how to get them.

Question 9

How does WSIB registration work?

Accepted Answer

Most construction businesses in Ontario are required to register with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). AEC Stack guides you through determining whether you need mandatory coverage, how to register, and what your premium rates will look like based on your trade classification.

Question 10

What insurance do I need for a construction business?

Accepted Answer

At minimum, you'll typically need general liability insurance (usually $2M minimum), and potentially commercial auto, tools and equipment coverage, and errors and omissions depending on your trade. AEC Stack helps you understand what's required and connects you with insurance options.

Question 11

How much does it cost to start a construction company in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

Federal incorporation costs about $200, provincial registration varies. Add WSIB premiums (rate depends on your trade), insurance ($1,500-5,000/year typical), and basic tools and equipment. The total startup cost ranges from $3,000-15,000+ depending on your trade. AEC Stack's guided setup helps you plan and budget for each step.

Question 12

How do I handle HST and CRA registration?

Accepted Answer

If your revenue exceeds $30,000 in four consecutive quarters, you must register for HST. Even below that threshold, voluntary registration can be beneficial for input tax credits. AEC Stack walks you through CRA business number registration, HST setup, and payroll accounts if you're hiring.

Question 13

What is the operations hub (HQ)?

Accepted Answer

HQ is your central dashboard for running the business day to day. It brings together your client list, active projects, documents, compliance status, and team information in one place. Instead of switching between five different apps, everything lives in HQ.

Question 14

How does the CRM work?

Accepted Answer

The CRM is built for how construction businesses actually manage relationships: tracking leads, sending quotes, managing active clients, and following up on completed work. It's not a generic sales pipeline; it's designed around the way contractors win and deliver jobs.

Question 15

How does compliance tracking work?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack tracks your business compliance requirements: insurance renewals, WSIB status, trade license expirations, and regulatory deadlines. You get alerts before anything lapses. For growing teams, it tracks each crew member's certifications and training status too.

Question 16

How does document management work?

Accepted Answer

All your business documents, from articles of incorporation and insurance certificates to licenses, contracts, and quotes, are stored and organized in one place. You can access them from any device, share them with clients or inspectors, and they're automatically linked to the relevant parts of your business.

Question 17

Can I use AEC Stack from my phone on the jobsite?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AEC Stack is fully responsive and works on mobile devices. You can check your dashboard, look up client information, access documents, and manage your pipeline from the jobsite.

Question 18

What is dealflow intelligence?

Accepted Answer

Dealflow intelligence helps you find construction projects and opportunities that match your trade, experience, and location. Instead of searching through dozens of bid boards and networking events, relevant opportunities come to you.

Question 19

Does AEC Stack help with bidding?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack surfaces opportunities and gives you the context: project details, requirements, and how they fit your capabilities. From there the drawings are read and measured, quotes are priced against labour-rate benchmarks, and your bid goes out as a package the client can say yes to.

Question 20

What are benchmark intelligence features?

Accepted Answer

Benchmark intelligence gives you data on how your business compares: market rates for your trade, typical project sizes, and industry trends in your area. This helps you price competitively and understand where opportunities exist.

Question 21

Is AEC Stack only for Ontario?

Accepted Answer

No. AEC Stack is available across Canada. Licences, tax and statutory clocks follow the jurisdiction the business operates in, and the regulatory depth is built deepest for Ontario, where every licence, registration, and requirement is mapped.

Question 22

How are WSIB premium rates determined?

Accepted Answer

WSIB premiums are based on your industry classification code and your company's claims history. Rates vary significantly by trade: office-based work is much lower than high-risk construction work. AEC Stack helps you understand your rate class and what to expect.

Question 23

What CRA requirements apply to construction businesses?

Accepted Answer

You'll need a business number, GST/HST registration (mandatory above $30K revenue), payroll accounts if you hire employees, and proper record-keeping for expenses and income. AEC Stack's setup process covers each of these and tells you when each one applies to your situation.

Question 24

What safety training is required in Ontario construction?

Accepted Answer

Ontario requires mandatory awareness training for workers and supervisors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Depending on your trade, you may also need Working at Heights certification, WHMIS training, and trade-specific safety certifications. AEC Stack identifies what's required for your situation.

Question 25

How is my data protected?

Accepted Answer

All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, on enterprise-grade, SOC 2 compliant hosting. Your business data is logically isolated from other users. We never sell data or share it with third parties.

Question 26

Who owns my data?

Accepted Answer

You do. Your business information, client records, documents, and operational data belong to you. You can export your data at any time. If you stop using AEC Stack, we provide a complete data export.

Question 27

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can export your business records, client information, documents, and compliance data at any time in standard formats (CSV, PDF).

Question 28

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

You can start the guided setup immediately and work through it at your own pace. The business incorporation steps involve external agencies (provincial registration, CRA, WSIB) that have their own processing times, but AEC Stack tells you exactly what to expect at each step.

Question 29

What information do I need to get started?

Accepted Answer

Your trade, your location, and your business goals. That's enough to start the guided setup. As you progress through incorporation, you'll need identification documents and some decisions about business structure, but the system walks you through each one.

Question 30

What if I already have a construction business?

Accepted Answer

AEC Stack works for existing businesses too. Skip the incorporation steps you've already completed and jump straight into the operations hub: CRM, compliance tracking, dealflow, project delivery, and team management. The system adapts to where you are in your business journey.

Question 31

Can multiple people use AEC Stack for my business?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can add team members with appropriate access levels. Business owners have full access, while crew leads or office staff can be given access to the parts of the system they need.

Question 32

How do I get help?

Accepted Answer

Email support is available for all users. Our first cohort of businesses also has direct access to the product team for feedback and questions. We're building this alongside the people using it.

Question 33

What is your response time?

Accepted Answer

We respond to support requests within one business day. Urgent issues, especially anything affecting compliance deadlines, are prioritized for same-day response.

Question 34

Can I request features or give feedback?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We're building AEC Stack with our users. Feature requests and feedback directly shape what we build next. Our first cohort has a direct line to the product team.

Question 35

How do I get in touch?

Accepted Answer

Email us at support@aecstack.com. Whether you have questions about the platform, want to see a demo, or just want to talk about starting a construction business, we're happy to chat.

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