Trades & construction · Learn Hub

Buy or sell a trades business — the right way.

Free guides, playbooks and courses for buying or selling an HVAC, electrical, plumbing or contracting business in Canada — licensing, crews and recurring contracts included.

Get a free valuationBrowse trades listings

The fastest way in.

Three places to start, picked by the Deavo editorial team for trades & construction buyers and sellers.

Guide
Where value hides in a trades business

Recurring service contracts, crew retention and fleet condition move the multiple more than last year’s revenue.

Read →
Playbook
Selling an HVAC or electrical business

A start-to-finish walkthrough: licensing, WSIB clearance, warranty tail and technician retention.

Read →
Course
Valuing a trades business

A short self-paced track on SDE multiples, owner-dependence and Canadian sector benchmarks.

Read →
Sector snapshot

Trades & construction, by the numbers.

2.5–4.0×
Typical SDE multiple
6–9 mo
Avg. time to sell
#1
Diligence snag: owner dependence

Figures are illustrative ranges based on comparable Canadian transactions, not a valuation, deal or investment opinion — a human reviews any number you rely on.

№ iThe Learn Hub

Search, and you shall find.

Popular:Valuing an HVAC businessWSIB clearance certificatesTrade licence transferRecurring service contractsTechnician retention
3 curated resources·1 guide·1 article·1 checklist—all free
№ iiBrowse by format

However you like to learn.

Eight free formats covering every stage of a trades & construction deal.

1 article

Articles

Short reads answering one trades-deal question at a time.
1 guide

Guides

Step-by-step walkthroughs for buying or selling a contracting business.
Coming soon

Courses

Self-paced tracks that follow a trades deal, start to finish.
Free · ask any time

Ask an Expert

Plain-language answers, or send a question of your own.
Coming soon

Glossary

Plain-English definitions for trades and construction M&A terms.
Updated with the benchmarks

Data & Statistics

Sector benchmarks sourced from Statistics Canada & ISED.
Coming soon

Videos & Podcasts

Deavo staff explaining trades deals in plain English.
Free · no spam

Newsletter

One short update when we publish something worth your time.
№ iiiStart with your situation

What are you dealing with?

Each path bundles the guides, articles and expert answers that actually apply to you.

I’m ready to sell my shop
Explore this path →
I don’t know what it’s worth
Explore this path →
I’m buying my first contracting business
Explore this path →
Diligence is overwhelming
Explore this path →
How do I finance the purchase?
Explore this path →
Licensing & WSIB before I close
Explore this path →
Inside a path: “I’m ready to sell my shop”
01Article
Licensing, WSIB and bonding in a trades sale
02Guide
Selling an HVAC or electrical business in Canada
03Expert Answer
“How much is my HVAC business worth?”
№ ivFresh from the library

Editor’s picks.

See what’s new →
Editor’s pick
Valuing a trades business: SDE vs. contract base
Guide · 8 min read
New
Financing a trades acquisition (incl. CSBFP)
Article · 6 min read
Coming soon
Due diligence for contracting businesses
Video & podcast · in production
№ vFrom Ask an Expert

Questions people are asking.

All answers →

Answered by Deavo staff. Nothing here is a valuation, legal or financial opinion — a human reviews any number or document you rely on.

01How much is my HVAC business worth?Valuation→02Does a trade licence transfer to the buyer?Regulatory→03Do I need a WSIB clearance certificate to sell?Trust & Records→04Does CSBFP financing cover a trades purchase?Financing→05Who keeps warranty liability after the sale?Legal→
Ask your own question →
№ viStay in the loop

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Not sure where to start?

Tell us if you’re buying or selling a trades business — we’ll point you to the right guides.

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Sources

Every regulatory requirement and figure referenced on this trades & construction page traces to a primary source. Links were last checked on the dates shown.

  1. 01
    Workplace Safety and Insurance BoardRegulator
    Clearance Certificate — Operational Policy Manual
    wsib.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  2. 02
    Workplace Safety and Insurance BoardRegulator
    Clearance Certificate in Construction
    wsib.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  3. 03
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Are Your Contracts Assignable?
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  4. 04
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Key-Person Dependency
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  5. 05
    Innovation, Science and Economic Development CanadaGovernment
    Canada Small Business Financing Program
    ised-isde.canada.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026
  6. 06
    Treadstone LawLegal commentary
    Buying & Selling a Business
    treadstonelaw.ca·Checked Aug 14, 2026

Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.