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

Get Toronto trade jobs on Lynknester

Toronto’s housing stock runs from century-old semis to new condo towers, and the work that comes out of it is just as mixed. 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 Toronto

In Ontario, electrical contracting is licensed by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA): the business needs a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) licence and most wiring work needs an ESA notification and inspection. Electrician (309A) and plumber (306A) are compulsory trades, certified through Skilled Trades Ontario, which replaced the Ontario College of Trades in 2022. Gas technicians and fuel-burning appliance work fall under the TSSA.

Lynknester licence-checks pros in licensed trades against the official register (or by document) before they are matched to jobs. Make sure you hold everything your work requires.

Permits

For building permits, start with City of Toronto building 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 summer storms keep sending water into older basements, so backwater valves, sump pumps and downspout disconnections are steady work. The City’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program is one reason homeowners book them. The furnace and boiler season starts in October. Spring brings roofing and masonry repair after freeze-thaw, and condo boards need licensed electricians and plumbers all year.

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Trades in demand

Trades that come up most in Toronto: plumbers who install backwater valves, ESA-licensed electricians replacing knob-and-tube and older panels, TSSA-certified HVAC techs, roofers and masons for Victorian and Edwardian homes, and condo renovation specialists.

Before your first Toronto job

Check that your Ontario 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 Toronto 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.

Toronto FAQ

Do I need an ESA licence to list electrical work in Toronto?

If you do electrical work for pay in Ontario, your business needs an ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor licence. Lynknester licence-checks pros in licensed trades against the official register (or by document) before they are matched to jobs, so you’ll need to hold the licences your work requires.

Is basement flooding work popular with Toronto homeowners?

Yes. The City’s subsidy program for backwater valves and sump pumps keeps demand for that kind of plumbing work steady.

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 check licences?

Yes — for licensed trades, pros are checked against the official register (or verified by document) before they can be matched to jobs. For trades that don’t require a licence, there’s no licence to check. We don’t verify insurance, so ask your pro for their certificate.

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Hire local pros by trade

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

Selling your home in Toronto?

Guides for Toronto home sellers, with free quotes from local pros: