Montreal trade pros: join Lynknester free, pay 15% only on completed jobs. No lead fees or contracts. Local licensing and permits.

Get Montreal trade jobs on Lynknester

Montreal’s plexes, outdoor staircases and long winters create a renovation market unlike anywhere else in Canada. This page covers what a trade pro needs to know before taking jobs here: who licenses your trade, where permits come from, what work is in demand by season, and how Lynknester works.

Licensing in Montreal

In Quebec, a contractor doing construction work needs a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Electrical contractors get theirs through the CMEQ, and plumbing and heating contractors through the CMMTQ. Workers on regulated job sites may also need a competency card from the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ).

Lynknester doesn’t issue or verify licences. Before you take a job, make sure you hold everything your work requires.

Permits

For building permits, start with Ville de Montréal renovation permits. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, gas) may come from the city or a provincial body, depending on the trade and the address. Confirm before work starts.

Seasonal demand

Heavy snow and repeated freeze-thaw cause ice dams on flat and low-slope plex roofs, and damage balconies and iron staircases. Spring and summer are peak season for roofing, masonry and balcony work. July 1, Quebec’s moving day, sets off a wave of painting, repairs and small jobs. Permits are handled borough by borough. The City notes that it does not issue permits for plumbing, electrical, or electric and gas heating work; those fall under provincial rules and the RBQ.

Trades in demand

Trades that come up most in Montreal: RBQ-licensed general contractors, CMEQ-member electricians, CMMTQ-member plumbers, flat-roof specialists, masons for brick plexes, and balcony and staircase builders.

French-language considerations (Bill 96)

Bill 96 (2022) strengthened Quebec’s Charter of the French Language. Businesses must be able to serve and inform consumers in French, and standard-form contracts, invoices and most commercial signage generally have to be available in French. If you quote or invoice Quebec clients through any platform, have French versions of your quotes and contracts ready. The Office québécois de la langue française publishes the current rules; check them directly or get legal advice, because this page is a summary, not legal advice.

Before your first Montreal job

Check that your Quebec trade certificate and contractor licence (if your trade needs one) are current, and that the licence covers the type of work.
Confirm whether the job needs a permit and who issues it. Build the permit fee and inspection time into your quote.
Carry liability insurance that suits the work, and register with your province’s workplace safety board if you have employees.
Write down the scope, price and payment terms before you start, so you and the homeowner agree on what a completed job means.

How Lynknester works for pros

Create a free pro profile on the trade pro join page.
Homeowners in Montreal post jobs on the post-a-job page.
Choose the jobs you want. You pay nothing to view or respond to them.
Finish the job. Lynknester takes 15% of completed jobs only.

There are no lead fees and no contracts. The optional Preferred Listing costs C$139 a month. Lynknester is new, so it doesn’t yet have user counts or reviews to show you. That’s why it costs nothing to join.

How this compares with other platforms

According to HomeStars support, HomeStars (owned by Angi) charges a lead fee when a homeowner shortlists you. Thumbtack’s pro page says pros pay per lead. Jiffy’s help centre says Jiffy takes a percentage of each completed job billed through its platform. Taskrabbit’s platform terms list a 15% service fee plus a 15% Trust & Support fee, both charged to the client. Fees change, so check each platform’s current terms.

Montreal FAQ

Can I work in Montreal without an RBQ licence?

Most construction contracting in Quebec requires an RBQ licence (through the CMEQ for electrical work, or the CMMTQ for plumbing and heating). Check the RBQ for the exceptions that cover your work.

Is there a French version of this page?

Not yet. This page is in English. Have French-language quotes and contracts ready for Quebec clients.

Who issues renovation permits in Montreal?

Your borough’s permit counter does, and many applications can be filed online. Plumbing and electrical work is regulated by the province.

How much does Lynknester cost for trade pros?

Joining is free. You pay a 15% fee only on jobs you complete. There are no lead fees and no contracts. An optional Preferred Listing costs C$139 a month.

Does Lynknester vet or insure pros?

No. Lynknester is a new platform and doesn’t vet pros, check insurance or verify licences. You’re responsible for your own licensing, insurance and permits.

Join Lynknester free as a Montreal trade pro · All Canadian cities

Hire local pros by trade

Guides for Montreal homeowners, with local licensing, permits and seasonal issues for each trade: