We use cookies to keep you signed in and to see what's working and what breaks. No advertising cookies, nothing sold. Details in our Cookie Policy.
Straight answers
The questions people ask most about starting and running a drain and sewer business in Ontario. Answered straight, with links to the official sources.
For cleaning, camera inspection, and jetting — generally no, which is why drain work is an accessible entry. But repairing or replacing the drain or sewer you diagnose is licensed plumbing work (306A) with permits, and many municipalities require a licensed contractor on the sanitary lateral. The winning model pairs unlicensed-OK diagnostics with licensed repair capability, so you never hand the lucrative fix to a competitor.
It's the defining decision. The big drain franchises sell brand recognition and a flow of emergency calls in exchange for ongoing fees and territory restrictions — valuable when you're starting with no reputation. Independent keeps all the margin and lets you build your own brand, but you must generate your own calls through Google reviews and local SEO. Many start franchise to survive early, then weigh going independent once they have a book; others build independent from day one with strong marketing.
Augers/snakes, a jetter (flush) unit, inspection cameras with locators, and a service vehicle — five figures to start properly. The big-ticket differentiator is trenchless capability (pipe lining or bursting rigs), which command premium pricing because they replace sewers without excavating the customer's yard. Many start with cleaning and camera gear and add trenchless once the call volume justifies the investment.
Google reviews and local SEO are the battleground — when someone's basement is flooding at 9pm, they search and call the top-rated result. Building a strong review profile, ranking locally, and being genuinely available (answering the phone, showing up fast) is the entire customer-acquisition game for an independent. This is exactly what franchises sell you; independents have to build it themselves.
For an established drain business, often yes — trenchless lining and pipe-bursting let you replace a failed sewer without digging up the yard, driveway, or street, which customers pay a real premium for. The rigs are a significant capital outlay, so it's a "earn it first" investment: build steady cleaning/camera/repair volume, then add trenchless as the high-margin upsell that differentiates you from snake-only competitors.
It can be very — emergency pricing (people pay urgently for a flooded basement), high-margin trenchless work, and recurring commercial/municipal relationships add up. The equipment and (for repair work) licensing are the barriers, and the call-generation grind is constant. But a drain business with strong reviews, trenchless capability, and a licensed repair arm is one of the more profitable plumbing-adjacent niches.
For cleaning, camera inspection, and flushing — generally no. For repairing or replacing the drain or sewer you find broken — yes, that is licensed plumbing work (306A) with permits, and many municipalities require a licensed contractor on the lateral. The winning model pairs unlicensed-OK diagnostics with licensed repair capability, so you never hand the lucrative fix to someone else.
The big drain franchises sell brand recognition and call volume in exchange for fees and territory rules. Independents keep the margin but must generate their own emergency calls (Google reviews and local SEO are the battleground). The equipment is identical; the question is whether you are buying a marketing engine or building one.
Augers/snakes, a flush (jetter) unit, inspection cameras with locators, and a truck — five figures to start properly, more with a trenchless lining or bursting rig. Trenchless capability is the big-ticket differentiator: replacing a sewer without digging up the yard commands premium pricing.
A sole proprietorship is cheaper and simpler to start, but you are personally liable for the business's debts and claims. Incorporating creates a separate legal entity that limits personal liability, can reduce tax once you are profitable, and reads as more credible to larger clients. Most contractors incorporate once they have employees, real revenue, or work on others' property.
Yes — construction is a mandatory WSIB sector in Ontario. Even independent operators and partners with no employees generally must register, and clients and general contractors will require a valid WSIB clearance certificate before you can work on their site.
You must register for and charge HST once your revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive quarters. Many contractors register before that threshold so they can claim input tax credits on tools, materials, and vehicles from day one.
Ontario's Construction Act sets the rules: a 10% holdback on most contracts, prompt-payment timelines (you must be paid within set periods after a proper invoice), and an adjudication process for disputes. Understanding holdback, lien rights, and prompt payment is essential to protecting your cash flow.