Accountant for tradespeople and craftsmen

Electrician, plumber, cabinetmaker, welder, mechanic, or landscaper: when you're a tradesperson in Quebec, you spend your days on job sites and in the workshop, not on paperwork. Between quotes, customer deposits, materials to invoice, vehicles to depreciate, and tools that are replaced every season, the accounting for a manual trade is more demanding than it seems: VAT starting at €30,000 in revenue, provisional tax payments, and the choice between remaining self-employed or incorporating.

Find the ideal accountant for your sector, one who understands tradespeople and their businesses: small, often one-person operations, irregular contract income, equipment expenses, and the need to keep taxes simple. We'll introduce you to the right accountant for your sector, free of charge, as many times as you need, and we'll stay by your side every step of the way. No obligation. And for fees, there's only one benchmark: the Bankeo Barometer , based on 1,248 real cases.

• Choosing the right structure: self-employed or company, incorporation often becomes relevant around €50,000 of annual profit.
• In Quebec, the small business deduction requires 5,500 paid hours per year: a solo incorporated person often loses it at the provincial level, the calculation must be done before changing the structure.
• Depreciate tools at the right rate: tools under €500 are 100% deductible (category 12), equipment 20% (category 8), vehicle 30% (category 10).
• Smoothing out income from irregular and seasonal contracts: cash cushion and planned provisional payments rather than being imposed.
• Crossing the €30,000 threshold without getting caught out: VAT registration, compliant invoicing and recovery of CTI/RTI on materials and tools.
• Distinguishing between materials billed back and labor in quotes: the actual margin per contract depends directly on this.
• Regulating customer deposits and year-end material inventory are two points that the CRA and Revenu Québec are closely monitoring.

• Registration for GST (5%) and QST (9.975%) files as soon as revenues exceed $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
• Business income tax return: T2125 federally and TP-80 in Quebec for self-employed individuals; T2 and CO-17 for incorporated companies.
• Form T5018 to be produced if you pay subcontractors and construction is your main activity.
• Depreciation deduction (DPA): tools under €500 (category 12), equipment (category 8), vehicle (category 10), with supporting travel log.
• Provisional payments are due as soon as the net tax payable exceeds $1,800, both to the CRA and to Revenu Québec (threshold applicable to Quebec residents).
• Federal and Quebec source deductions (DAS) (RRQ, RQAP, FSS, CNESST) from the first employee or the first salary paid by your company.
• Invoices, receipts and contracts must be kept for six years; RBQ license and tax certificate required depending on the type of contract.

Should I incorporate as a self-employed tradesperson? Often, it's recommended once you reach a profit of around $50,000 per year, when you start leaving money in the business. Be aware of the Quebec requirement: without 5,500 paid hours, your business often loses the small business deduction at the provincial level. An accountant familiar with tradespeople can do the complete calculation with you, free of charge, before you change your business structure.

Do I have to charge VAT on my contracts? Yes, as soon as your revenue exceeds $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, you must register, charge VAT at 5% and VAT at 9.975%, and then file your returns. In return, you can reclaim the taxes paid on tools and materials (ITC and IRT). Your accountant will ensure you are compliant and choose the appropriate filing frequency.

How much does an accountant cost in this sector? According to the Bankeo Barometer , based on 1,248 real-world cases (2024-2026), the median annual salary for an accountant in Quebec is around $2,000, ranging from $500 to $6,000 depending on the sector and complexity. The Bankeo matching service is free: you pay your accountant directly at standard market rates.

How can you switch accountants as a tradesperson without the stress? You don't have to negotiate anything yourself: your new accountant will request the transfer of your files (tax returns, equipment and vehicle pre-authorizations, VAT balances) directly to your old accountant—a common practice among professionals. The best time is after the peak season or after the tax returns have been filed. We'll introduce you to an accountant who understands the trades, free of charge, within 48 hours, and we'll stay by your side until it's a perfect match.

Local or remote accountant for a tradesperson? Both work very well: invoice photos, cloud-based bookkeeping, and video meetings cover the essentials of daily operations. The important thing is that the accountant understands the realities of trades in Quebec: RBQ, CCQ, T5018, and rebilled materials. We support you according to your preferences, near your workshop or remotely, free of charge and without obligation.

I pay subcontractors on my construction sites: what are my obligations? If construction is your main business, you must file a T5018 slip for each subcontractor you pay and require their RBQ license and Revenu Québec certificate, depending on the type of contract. Clearly distinguishing between subcontractor and employee also prevents costly reclassification through source deductions. Your accountant will establish these procedures from the very first contract.