Starting, buying or scaling a boiler company in Quebec

The Quebec boiler market

Seven in ten Quebec households (70%) heated mainly with electricity in 2023; gas stood at 5% and wood at 4%, per Statistics Canada. A boiler business plan for Quebec should start from that mix: electric boiler service and replacement, hydronic systems in older multi-unit buildings, the gas niche where the network reaches, and customers comparing boilers with heat pumps.

For a boiler start-up the obvious bases are Montréal with Laval and Longueuil, and Québec City with Lévis; Gatineau, Sherbrooke and Saguenay are regional markets in their own right. Montréal and its suburbs have dense stocks of older plexes and apartment buildings, which is where much of the hydronic work concentrates. Gatineau is part of a cross-border market with Ottawa, and the rules on each side differ.

Climate and seasonality

Winters bring heavy snow and long cold, and the farther you go from the St. Lawrence lowlands, the longer the heating season runs. Expect demand to peak through the coldest months and plan installs and maintenance for spring through early autumn. In multi-unit buildings, the decision-maker is often a building owner or syndicate of co-owners, whose budgeting cycle matters as much as the weather.

Regulators to know

• The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) is the licensing body for contractors, and its safety remit covers gas, plumbing and pressure equipment. Its pages explain which licence subclasses a boiler company doing work for clients would need.
• The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) manages competency certification for workers in the construction industry, which shapes how you recruit and staff.
• The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) publishes guidance for businesses on French-language obligations.

We summarise and link; licensing and language compliance questions go to the regulator or your own adviser.

French-language marketing

Since Bill 96 amended the Charter of the French Language, French has to clearly dominate in commercial advertising and signs, and any website or social account aimed at Quebec customers needs a French version. For a boiler start-up, this is a planning item, not a translation job at the end. Your company name, van graphics, website, Google Business Profile, ads and care-plan documents all need French versions written for Quebec customers. Budget for it in your business plan.

Programs that shape demand, as of October 2026

Through LogisVert, Hydro-Québec pays homeowners grants toward heat pumps and geothermal installs, among other upgrades. Hydro-Québec also notes the federal heat pump rebate planned for 2027. These programs push many homeowners toward heat pumps, so a boiler company's website should explain clearly when hydronic heat remains the better fit, particularly in buildings already designed around it. Confirm current terms with Hydro-Québec before mentioning any amount.

Selling to building owners

In Montréal and Québec City, many boiler decisions are made by owners of plexes and small apartment buildings. A boiler company should treat them as their own audience, with a page that speaks to multi-unit heating and a maintenance contract priced per building.

Starting, buying or scaling in Quebec

Starting. Build a French-first brand from day one, and focus on building owners and plexes in a defined area. The business plan service includes the language budget.

Buying. Check the RBQ licence status and subclasses, the CCQ status of staff, and whether the agreement book and customer communications are already in French. The buy-side review covers the customer side.

Scaling. Recruiting runs through the CCQ framework, so plan your technician recruiting with that in mind.

Fees for Quebec clients are plus 5% GST and 9.975% QST. See pricing.