Going out on your own
How to start a waterproofing business in Ontario
Waterproofing — foundations, below-grade, decks, and building envelopes — is non-compulsory, but the completed-operations liability is severe, because failures show up as water damage years later.
Waterproofing at a glance
- Licence to do the work
- Not required — no certified trade for waterproofing
- Path in
- On-the-job — usually via foundation/restoration crews; manufacturer training
- Regulated by
- Municipality; manufacturers gate warrantied systems
- Insurance baseline
- $2M CGL — completed-operations is essential
The steps to start your waterproofing business
- 1
Incorporate your company
Most contractors incorporate (Ontario or federal) to limit personal liability, look credible to larger clients, and access tax advantages once profitable. You choose a named or numbered company, set directors and share structure, and file the articles. Budget roughly $400–$600.
Full guide: Incorporation - 2
Register your CRA accounts
Get a Business Number, then register for HST/GST (mandatory once you exceed $30,000 in revenue, and worth registering sooner to claim input tax credits), a payroll account if you will hire, and corporate income tax. This is free and done through the CRA.
Full guide: CRA Registration - 3
Register for WSIB
Construction is a mandatory WSIB sector. Independent operators and partners in construction generally must register even with no employees, and clients and general contractors will require a valid WSIB clearance certificate before letting you on site.
Full guide: WSIB & Provincial - 4
Handle waterproofing licensing & permits
No provincial trade licence is required for waterproofing. You need a municipal business licence, building permits where structural, WSIB, and insurance. Manufacturer applicator certifications (membrane systems) gate warrantied commercial work, and excavation scopes pull in locate and shoring requirements.
Full guide: Trade Licensing - 5
Get insured
Carry Commercial General Liability (typically $2M, $5M for commercial/industrial work), plus tools and equipment, commercial auto, and — depending on scope — builders risk and professional liability. Many contracts and clients specify minimum coverage before you can quote.
Full guide: Insurance - 6
Set up health, safety & compliance
Meet your Occupational Health and Safety Act duties: a health and safety policy, required training (WHMIS, Working at Heights where applicable), and — for commercial and public work — often COR® certification. This is also where any trade-specific safety tickets live.
Full guide: Safety Compliance - 7
Stand up your operations
Open business banking, set up construction-specific accounting, and understand your trust obligations under the Construction Act (holdback, prompt payment, and adjudication). This is the back office that keeps you paid and out of trouble.
Full guide: Operational Setup - 8
Get bid-ready and win work
Assemble your prequalification package — incorporation and WSIB documents, insurance and bonding letters, safety program, key personnel, and project references — then quote, send proposals, and collect on invoices. This is where a construction business actually makes money.
Full guide: Bid Readiness
Insurance for a waterproofing business
Latent water-intrusion failures make completed-operations coverage essential — and claims can arrive years after the job. Carry $2M CGL and keep tail coverage in mind.
Your launch checklist
The whole page in one list. Screenshot it, stick it on the dash of the truck.
- Incorporate your company
- Register your CRA accounts
- Register for WSIB
- Handle waterproofing licensing & permits
- Get insured
- Set up health, safety & compliance
- Stand up your operations
- Get bid-ready and win work
Waterproofing questions, answered
Do you need a licence? How much does it cost? See the FAQs.
Waterproofing overview
Licensing, regulators, and certifications at a glance.
Skip the paperwork. Let AEC Stack set it up
AEC Stack runs the whole process for a waterproofing business: incorporation, CRA, WSIB, permits, insurance, compliance, and the operations to win your first contract.
Start your waterproofing business