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Straight answers
The questions people ask most about getting certified and starting and running a solar installation business in Ontario. Answered straight, with links to the official sources.
For the electrical work — panels to inverter to panelboard — yes, it must be done by licensed electricians under an ECRA/ESA contractor, with ESA permits. But the racking and mounting (a big part of the install) is not licensed work, which is why solar companies pair a Master Electrician/LEC with racking crews (often roofing-experienced). You can enter solar through the install/racking side without a licence; you just can't do or own the wiring without one.
Both, honestly. Underlying demand is rising structurally with power prices, net metering, and storage — that's real and growing. But demand also spikes and dips with whatever rebate/incentive program is running, and businesses built entirely on one grant have been burned when it ended. The hedge is a balanced offering (residential net-metering, commercial demand-charge projects, and storage) so you're not hostage to a single program.
On service, trust, and local reputation. The national players win on marketing spend and scale but are notorious for sales pressure and patchy after-sales service. A local installer who does clean work, handles the interconnection paperwork painlessly, answers the phone years later, and earns referrals competes well — solar is a 25-year roof penetration, so homeowners value an installer who'll still be around. Niche down (storage, specific roof types, a region) rather than fighting on ad budget.
Close to it. Every grid-tied system needs a net-metering application and connection authorization with Hydro One or the local utility, plus ESA permits and inspection — and customers expect you to handle all of it. The companies that are fast and reliable at the paperwork have a real competitive edge, because the bureaucracy is where projects stall and customers get frustrated. The wiring is the easy part; the approvals are the grind.
You need the electrical capability (a Master Electrician/LEC in the business or partnered), a racking/install crew, sales capability, and fluency in net-metering and rebate programs. Many start as the install/racking arm subbing to an electrical contractor, or as an electrician adding PV. Carry strong CGL (roof penetrations + water-intrusion exposure), keep Working at Heights current, and build toward adding storage as the next revenue layer.
The electrical work — panels to inverter to panelboard — must be done by licensed electricians under an ECRA/ESA contractor licence, with ESA permits. Many solar companies pair a Master Electrician/LEC with sales and racking crews. The racking/mounting itself is not licensed work, which is why partnerships between roofers and electricians are common.
Net metering credits a customer's exported solar power against their bill — it is the economics that sells residential solar in Ontario. Your business handles the interconnection application with Hydro One or the local utility; being fast and reliable at that paperwork is a genuine competitive advantage.
Demand is rising with power prices, net metering, and battery storage, and the work is system sales — design, install, interconnect — with strong ticket sizes. The risks: rebate/policy swings drive demand cycles, and quality matters because every install is a roof penetration with a 25-year warranty expectation.
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.